January 8th, 2024. I had an interesting dream last week in which Elvis, dressed in a frou-frou outfit more befitting rock legend Prince than the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll, took the cape he was wearing and handed it to me. It was not like any cape I have ever seen him wear; this one was made of lace! As my daughter and I laid the cape on a table, we marvelled at the fact that it was a round lace table cloth that had been folded in half. On Elvis’s shoulders it looked like a beautifully designed and expertly crafted piece of costumery.
While the dream warmed my heart, I did not attach much relevance to it—until today.
I remembered, of course, that today is Elvis’s birthday; but I had no intention of posting anything. For personal reasons, I just did not feel ready. But when my FireStick failed again and I was unable to watch my paid channels, I was searching on my laptop for a movie on Pluto’s free listings. I was not searching for an Elvis movie, since I have more than one box set of DVDs and had just watched "Girl Happy” last night, when “Elvis has Left the Building” popped up. Ok, a dream, a rare movie, and add to that an EPE t-shirt at Giant Tiger (of all places)—all in one week. Was Elvis trying to tell me something?
This post is for you, Elvis. Happy birthday! And thank you for the inspiration.
Elvis Has Left the Building is a 2003 black comedy film directed by Joel Zwick and starring Kim Basinger as a cosmetics saleswoman who accidentally kills a series of Elvis impersonators as they travel to a convention in Las Vegas. John Corbett plays an advertising executive and her love interest. Tom Hanks has a cameo appearance as one of the dead Elvis impersonators. Angie Dickinson plays Basinger's mother, a former mechanic for the real Elvis, which explains why we see a young Harmony seated next to the ‘real’ Elvis (played by Gil McKinney).
The film opens with Harmony (Basinger) driving down a long, winding road, the music of Elvis playing on the radio. She feels that her life is empty and artificial. She is a traveling cosmetic saleswoman, setting up "Pink Lady" training seminars in the western portion of the United States. When she is asked if she's "one of those Mary Kay ladies," she replies, "No, we're pink, they're more salmon." While she is popular and successful selling "Pink Lady", there is nothing real or honest in her life.
As Harmony travels around the country, trying to figure out what is missing from her life, Elvis impersonators keep dying in her wake. She is romantically pursued by Miles (Corbett), but dismisses his advances for fear he might die too.
Credit for the above: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Has_Left_the_Building , with edits by C. MacArthur for SIDEBURNS Magazine.
I enjoyed the movie, a pleasant surprise that I happened upon on today of all days, Elvis’s birthday. Probably a lot of Elvis and ETA fans saw it 20 years ago, but it was new to me. What follows are comments from other viewers. C.M.
8/10 Relilies Funny, Funny, Funny: This movie was a delightful surprise. I laughed all the way through it. Although it poked some gentle fun at Elvis impressionists and a number of other things, it left the memory of the King alive and well. I wish I had seen it on the big screen.
I enjoyed seeing Kim Basinger in this movie and she was quite funny. She is still looking good. The romance in the movie was a bit predictable, but didn't take away from it at all. You just need to be in the mood to watch something silly and enjoy it for what it is. The cameo appearances by some well-known actors added to the film. I had to check the credits to make sure I was seeing who I thought I was seeing in one scene.
8/10 JoJo A Connection to Elvis: I'm not saying this is the best movie I have ever seen. It is, however, a pretty funny movie. I had a special connection Elvis (and still do) and watching this movie helped me, in a way, feel a little closer to him. The movie is about Elvis impersonators. Harmony clearly had a connection with Elvis like I did. She respected him like I do. And since I do, I was a bit hesitant about watching this movie. But as I started watching it, I realized it's not trying to offend Elvis, but it's simply giving out a message that maybe it would bother Elvis, having all the impersonators around. Knowing Elvis, it probably would. So, while this isn't the greatest movie around, it definitely gives a message in a humorous way. My connection with Elvis just got stronger!
9/10 Tkleeman: Elvis is angry and the Pink Lady is his emissary of doom!
This movie starts a bit slow, and you have to bear a bit of malice toward Elvis impersonators (who doesn't?), but it is hilarious. Kim Basinger is perfect as the guardian of Elvis's true spirit who unwittingly brings doom to a whole string of bogus Elvis's as she keeps pure the memory of her own childhood encounter with the real thing. And the Elvises all come to such delicious ends. The final mass annihilation of Elvises opens Harmony's eyes and we see finally see the angry Elvis behind all of the misfortune. If you like black humor, don't miss this gem. I only wish they had a found an actor to play the real Elvis who looked more the part.
Credit for the reviews: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377057/reviews, with edits by C. MacArthur for SIDEBURNS Magazine.