The iconic singer opens up about his dissatisfaction with his film career and the impact on his personal life in “Return of the King: The Fall & Rise of Elvis Presley”
In the newly released documentary Return of the King: The Fall & Rise of Elvis Presley, viewers gain an intimate look at the personal struggles and reflections of the legendary rock ‘n’ roll icon. The film, which is now streaming on Netflix, delves into the complexities of Elvis Presley’s 1968 comeback and offers a candid glimpse into his thoughts on the entertainment industry, his career, and the profound disillusionment he felt in Hollywood.
The documentary explores the time leading up to his iconic 68 Comeback Special, which revived Presley’s career after a period of stagnation. At the heart of this story, Presley shares powerful insights into his dissatisfaction with his Hollywood film career. “Hollywood’s image of me was wrong and I knew it, and I couldn’t do anything about it,” he confesses in the film, revealing his sense of obligation to roles and scripts he didn’t truly believe in. “At a certain stage, I had no say so in it,” he adds, expressing his frustration with not being able to control his artistic direction.
Despite starring in over 30 films, Presley admits he felt increasingly trapped. “They couldn’t have paid me no amount of money in the world to make me feel I had any satisfaction inside,” he reflects, revealing the emotional cost of his success in Hollywood. Presley’s deep yearning for creative authenticity and personal fulfillment became more pronounced as he took on roles that didn’t align with his true identity as an artist.
His ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, also weighs in on the painful reality of his later career. Viewing a scene from the 1967 film Double Trouble, she expresses her disbelief at seeing Elvis, a Grammy-winning artist, perform a children’s song like “Old MacDonald.” “That to me is a crime,” she remarks, sharing how Elvis himself was aware of the absurdity and humiliation of such roles. “It made him a laughingstock. And he knew it.”
Priscilla, who remains deeply connected to Elvis’ legacy, also speaks to the emotional toll his career took. “Musically, I think he was pretty happy with how things had turned out,” she shares in a recent interview. “He loved knowing that his music meant something to people,” highlighting the importance of authenticity in his musical journey, which gave him more satisfaction than his acting ever could.
As the documentary reveals, the 1968 comeback was a turning point for Presley, not just professionally but personally, giving him the opportunity to reconnect with his fans and reclaim his voice. The film serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities behind the fame of one of the most iconic figures in music history.
