AboutBeverly Taylor Expertise I can answer questions pertaining to his spiritual beliefs,his childhood,his parents,his marriage and reasons for breakup, his relationships and the woment he dated,his life as father to Lisa Marie,his personal struggles, his benevolent side,and the people who he took care of financially over the years, as well as his uncompleted dreams.
Experience I am a psychotherapist by training who has studied and analyzed the life and death of the greatest entertainer of all time.
Organizations Several Elvis organizations and many professional organizations.
Publications Several local and regional
Education/Credentials I have a Masters degree,2 licensures and multiple certifications in my field. I am also a free lance writer.
Question QUESTION: How accurate is the movie "Elvis and Me"? Why aren't their pictures of Priscilla when she was pregnant with Lisa Marie?
ANSWER: Hey there Laura! This is a pertinent question; and one which I think Elvis might appreciate an honest answer to since he isnt here to set the record straight! My perception about the movie and book by Priscilla Presley is as follows:
The book and movie continue to make money; however they also continue to perpetuate a LESS than accurate and complete description of Elvis' character. Many stories have a villain; and in this movie the villain is poor Elvis who cant defend himself! The damsel in distress of course, is Priscilla. She seems to be present HERSELF the way she would like to be viewed....helpless, totally innocent and taken advantage of. It appears she would garner lots of public sympathy through this; while Elvis would garner great disprespect. This I feel, is a travesty. The book and movie is through Priscilla's eyes, not Elvis' and not through the people who loved him and to this day defend him. Read what Charlie Hodges wrote and said when he was alive, what JD Sumners sang and said; listen to Kathy Westmoreland and read her book. It is clear they loved their friend and wanted to honor his memory in death; not dishonor it even if they could make alot of money doing so.
Priscilla writes in her book "He had his way with me." What a thing to write for your daughter to read about her dead father! Would most mothers put their daughters through that? The movie takes this and shows a ridiculous rape scene (of course perfect Priscilla is the victim; and who is the villain? Dracula? A serial rapist? Son of Sam? Charles Manson? the Boston Strangler? NO! It is Elvis Presley! Why would Priscilla degrade the memory of Elvis and keep his name though SHE divorced him for her karate instructor with whom she had been having an affair with? Hmmmmmm... I have been told she later said nothing happened like that...but books continue to be printed and the movie sadly circulated around the world.
There is little about Elvis' struggle in his life, which truthfully was much greater than poor pitiful Priscilla's life! But do you see this in the movie? No you do not. Do you see Elvis' generosity? No sadly you dont. Does Priscilla present her extramarital involvements fully here? No she does not. So basically one can sumise from the movie that Priscilla is pure as the driven snow; and Elvis ruined her life. Yeh, right! But she never stopped bearing his very famous, celebrity name! Not even when she was in a common law marriage for many years with a man and had a son by him.
I think it is pertinent that Elvis seemed to try to protect Priscilla's reputation when he was alive........could you say vice versa here? You tell me!
I personally view the movie as soap opera trash which degrades the memory of a man who cant defend himself and to answer your question; the movie is far from accurate.
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QUESTION: Wow, thanks so much for writing such a great answer! You didn't answer my question about there not being any pictures of Priscilla when she was pregnant.
Answer Sure thing about my opinion of the trashy soap opera movie! Sorry I overlooked your other question! I am not certain on this one; but it may be that Priscilla has kept those photos private. I have seen a few of her when she was pregnant. There are of course, plenty of people who saw her pregnant including all the Memphis Mafia members and Vernon, Elvis' father. If you notice her wedding dress; you will notice it is a dress that would cover up a pregnancy!
Let me know If I can answer any more questions Laura!
