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Elvis Presley wanted Tony Curtis' role, could he have pulled it off ??

posted 11 years ago by gullwing592003
12 replies | jump to latest

Elvis played serious demanding roles in King Creole & Flaming Star that showed promise of Elvis emerging as a serious respected actor so I wasn't too surprised that Elvis wanted to play Joker Jackson. Even for Tony Curtis this was a demanding change of role. Sidney Poitier was already known for these kind of roles & Noah Cullen was just another feather in his cap.

Can any of you see Elvis as a convict chained to Sidney Poitier ??

I know....let's try not to laugh too hard.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

Can any of you see Elvis as a convict chained to Sidney Poitier ??

Ah - no. I can understand why he was advised not to take the role. That it would have been beyond him, I have no doubts.🐭

[–] marckymarc71 9 years ago

Disagree. Elvis could have been a good actor but Col. Parker never gave him the chance. He auditioned for, and won, the role of Jimmy in THE RAINMAKER, but Parker insisted he drop the role because it would hurt his image. He really only got one solid director/script in his entire career--Don Siegel's FLAMING STAR, and he was quite good.

Reminds me of John Wayne--just an average actor, but put him with a director like Hawks or Ford and he became very good.

"Who's running this airline?!"

[–] [email protected] (2042) 2 years ago

They also wanted Elvis for The Fugitive Kind, Thunder Road, and Midnight Cowboy. The Colonel nixed them all of course. TFK was written with him in mind too and Robert Mitchum wanted him badly for the part but when he couldn't get him, he played the role instead. I think Elvis could've played those 2 roles to perfection.

[–] Seth_Rogue_One 8 years ago

Ah - no. I can understand why he was advised not to take the role. That it would have been beyond him, I have no doubts.

I think it was because they thought the movie would be too controversial, a white guy chosing a black friend over a white woman, Elvis himself wasn't racist but alot of his fans were especially during that time-period.

Death to mainstream cinema!

[–] he88 10 years ago

He could, but it would have been different for him to take the role because he was still a performer. In those days playing such a racially intensive role could have been troubling for someone performing around the country. Tony Curtis only had to deal with Hollywood. Much less adjustments after most any role. But I think Elvis could bring on the angry white guy feeling that the world never gives him a break. He did a few angry white guy roles...

[–] wordsatplaytoday 8 years ago

I cannot see Elvis doing this nor can I see the great actor SP playing opposite Elvis.

[–] Seth_Rogue_One 8 years ago

No I don't think he could have at all.

And he wanted to act against Sammy Davis Jr.

Death to mainstream cinema!

[–] pedroburbankado 8 years ago

Elvis could have had the part of Tony in West Side Story, his owner turned it down

[–] Gary O. (1016) 6 years ago

In response to the OP, I don't see why it wouldn't have worked. Elvis wasn't a great actor but I thought he was good.

[–] slimone (7996) 6 years ago

No way!!!

[–] [email protected] (2042) 2 years ago

Perhaps in 10 years if he had honed his acting with serious parts and without the draft or the Colonel interrupting/subverting him. But the idea was for both Elvis and Sammy Davis Jr. for the part. I don't think either could've pulled this off in 1958. Besides, Elvis was 23 but looked 17. He looked way younger than his age and you needed a more mature actor for the part imo.

[–] WarrenPeace (2267) a year ago

No.
I cannot see that.

He prob. would have insisted on doing the singing, instead of Sidney, and it would have been Jailhouse Rock instead.