Elvis Presley and Austin Butler Showcased Side by Side in Captivating Comparison Videos
Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 movie “Elvis” has been well-received, with a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.4/10 on IMDb. However, some critiques include its portrayal of Elvis’s controlling manager, the fast pace over depth, and Luhrmann’s bold visual style.
Uncut Magazine views the film as a theatrical event with brief appearances from famous characters. Critics agree that Austin Butler’s performance as Elvis is outstanding, described as “stunning” and “terrific.” Butler’s portrayal is showcased in the video below.
“Jailhouse Rock” is known from Elvis’s third movie in 1957. After serving in the US Army from 1958 to 1960, Elvis filmed “G.I. Blues.” In 1961, he performed at a fundraiser for the USS Arizona, his last for seven years, as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, focused his career on movies and soundtracks.
As Elvis’s films became repetitive and Parker restricted him to soundtracks, Elvis felt discouraged. By 1967, with his movie career fading, Parker set up an Elvis Christmas show on NBC. The show was redirected by TV producer Bob Finkel to include iconic performances like “Jailhouse Rock” and “If I Can Dream,” shown in the following video.
The story behind “If I Can Dream” is intriguing. It was created for the ’68 Comeback Special as a response to the times, especially after the assassinations of Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., which impacted Elvis. Despite Parker’s different preference, Elvis and the show’s director chose “If I Can Dream” to end the special.
The success of the Comeback Special led Elvis to record more non-soundtrack music, producing hits like “In the Ghetto” and “Suspicious Minds.”
The videos highlight Austin Butler’s portrayal of Elvis, with Butler performing some of his own singing, though for certain scenes, his voice was mixed with Elvis’s.
Butler spoke about his extensive preparation for the role, including voice coaching for a year, driven by a sense of duty to Elvis and his family and fans.
