The first volley in the never-ending "Presley movie" blitzkrieg, the made-for-TV
Elvis: The Movie stars Kurt Russell as the King, Season Hubley as Priscilla, Pat Hingle as
Col. Parker, Shelley Winters as Elvis' mom, and Bing Russell (Kurt's real-life father) as Elvis' dad. The film recounts Presley's life from age ten to his 1969 Vegas comeback. Presley imitator
Ronnie McDowell expertly dubs in Kurt Russell's renditions of "Love Me Tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," et al. When first telecast on February 11, 1979, the ratings for
Elvis: The Movie went through the roof, even beating out a competing telecast of
Gone With the Wind.