Jill Holloway: Was Elvis really a "ladies man?"

Dec. 26—I love to watch a movie when I'm with my parents during the holidays. While home on Saturday night, I noticed the movie Priscilla was available On Demand for rent. With my sister at her fiancé's and my parents wanting to spend time with me, I asked if they wanted to watch the movie. I had secretly been dying to see it myself, but was unable to find anyone to see it with.

My parents accepted my invitation and we all sat in our living room gathered around the t.v., waiting to learn more about the somewhat private life of Priscilla Presley.

The movie was co-produced by Priscilla and based on her 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me. While for Priscilla the movie may have felt like she could finally breathe and tell her truth, her late daughter Lisa Marie Presley was reportedly very opposed to the film and felt like it painted her late father, Elvis as a predator. In some ways, she's not wrong.

The movie begins in 1959, when Priscilla (Beaulieu) meets Elvis in Germany at a party hosted at his home. At the time, Priscilla is only 14, while Elvis is 24. Despite the age difference, Elvis is quite taken by Priscilla and casually begins dating her.

Priscilla's parents aren't fond of the idea, but know that Elvis will eventually find another girl who he fancies.

When Elvis returns to the states following his stint in the military, Priscilla is devastated, but her parents can finally feel relief. Until, Elvis calls in 1962, proclaiming his love for Priscilla and inviting her to visit him in Memphis at Graceland.

Although reluctant at first, Priscilla's parents agree to let her fly and see and stay with Elvis. While there, Priscilla sees a different side of Elvis as they travel to Las Vegas and indulge in heavy drinking, gambling and prescription drug usage.

When Priscilla returns to Germany, she feels she can no longer go on without Elvis. Her parents eventually agree to let her move to Memphis and live at Graceland, where she can complete her senior year.

My parents paused the movie at that scene to tell me they didn't care how much I liked someone, that never would've happened. I don't disagree with them. I know the movie didn't show every detail, but based on the movie, the father had only two in-person interactions with Elvis. To let his daughter move to another country after a letter and a phone call from a celebrity 10 years older than her seems dangerous.

However, Priscilla moves in and quickly learns life at Graceland can be quite lonely with Elvis gone all the time on movies. It is no easier at the local Catholic high school, where the girls all whisper about her.

When Elvis finally returns, he critiques Priscilla's looks and encourages her to dye her hair and wear more eye makeup. He has her model clothes for him and highly suggests she stick to only solid colors, as patterns do nothing for her body.

While somewhat hurt by his critiques of her clothes, Priscilla is happy Elvis continues to take note of her and longs for his physical affection as well. Elvis refuses to show her any intimacy though, hurting Priscilla's feelings and wondering what she doesn't have to offer.

While home alone again, Priscilla sees magazines that Elvis is being intimate with his co-star and flies out to confront him, where he turns violent and insists she leave.

He later apologizes and says he didn't mean it. He would go on to do this numerous more times.

Feeling continuously isolated, Priscilla stays in the relationship and feels all is well when Elvis proposes. On the night of their wedding, Elvis is finally intimate with Priscilla, thus getting her pregnant shortly after.

Priscilla later gives birth to Lisa, who grows up under the watchful eye of a nanny.

At this point, Elvis is always on the road and refuses to let Priscilla or Lisa come and see him, saying it's no place for a baby. When he does return home, he refuses to show Priscilla any physical affection.

It is never outright stated, as many believe Elvis to be a "ladies man," but the movie did leave many curious if Elvis was actually attracted to women. At one point, Elvis becomes somewhat of a philosopher and pastor, leading me to believe he found the sole role of intimacy as a way to procreate and nothing more.

He never had any female friends over; he only surrounded himself with his backup singers.

Priscilla's need for affection led her to begin a relationship with her karate instructor. While it is unclear if Elvis ever knew about the affair, Priscilla visited him after his show one night, and he forced himself on her, saying he was a real man. Again, leaving many to question why he felt the need to prove this.

This was the final straw for Priscilla, who ends the movie by filing for divorce and going to live a life of her own.

Overall, the movie was good and leaves me wondering if anyone other than Priscilla herself knew the real Elvis and where his heart truly lied, rather that be with men or women.