Elvis Presley regretted turning down the book A Star Is Born
Joel Brokaw, son of the late Hollywood agent Norman Brokaw, wrote a biography of his father, “Driving Marilyn.” Brokaw described how Elvis Presley desperately wanted to work with Barbra Streisand, but was forced to turn down the role.
One of Elvis Presley’s biggest regrets was not sharing the screen with Barbra Streisand.
The claim was made by Norman Brokaw’s son, Joel Brokaw, who wrote a biography of the late Hollywood agent titled “Driving Marilyn.”
Brokaw, who represented Presley as well as Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood and other top stars, died in 2016. He was 89.
Elvis Presley would have turned 90 on January 8. (Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
“I talked to Priscilla Presley, who was also a client of my father’s,” Joel told Fox News Digital. “I asked her about the relationship with [his manager] Colonel [Tom] Parker. She mentioned that there was only one time when they had any differences.”
According to Joel’s book, Presley had the opportunity to act alongside Streisand in “A Star Is Born” from 1976. However, Parker “discouraged” this, believing that “Barbra might minimize him”.
“It was a decision Elvis regretted,” Joel wrote.
Joel Brokaw’s book, “Driving Marilyn,” is now available. (Lyons Press)
Joel told Fox News Digital that at the time, Presley yearned to be taken seriously as a Hollywood actor. He looked The star of “Rebel Without a Reason”. James Dean as an inspiration. However, Parker wanted Presley to prioritize performing – even if that meant doing mediocre musicals.
“Elvis wanted to branch out into meatier … acting roles,” Joel said. “[But] Colonel Parker really liked the status quo of Elvis making these movies with soundtracks. A lot of songs… came out of movies. [And the films] were fun and easy. It topped the first residencies that any artist had in Las Vegas…Elvis, I think, was one of the first people to do that.”
WATCH: ELVIS PRESLEY REGRETS REJECTING ‘A STAR IS BORN’: BOOK
“It was a very neat… marketing strategy,” Joel said. “But Elvis wanted to develop as an actor. And so Colonel Parker turned down the opportunity, the offer to have Elvis star in the movie ‘A Star Is Born’ with Barbra Streisand… He didn’t want Elvis to be overshadowed by Barbra Streisand.”
Barbra Streisand played Esther Hoffman in the romantic drama “A Star Is Born.” (FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)
“That was the only blemish on their relationship, according to Priscilla,” Joel added.
The author had his own theories about why Parker was adamant that Streisand would overshadow Presley.
“Perhaps part of Colonel Parker’s apprehension about pairing Barbra Streisand with Elvis may have to do with their current trajectories and careers,” he explained.
“Elvis wanted to develop as an actor. And so, [his manager] Colonel Parker turned down the opportunity, the offer to have Elvis star in ‘A Star Is Born’ with Barbra Streisand…He didn’t want to see Elvis overshadowed by Barbra Streisand.”
Joan Blackman and Elvis Presley in the movie “Blue Hawaii” from 1961. The singer was deeply dissatisfied with his Hollywood career. (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
“Elvis was on top for so long. And as we got into the 1960s, the British Invasion, the coming out of the Beatles, Elvis started to lose a lot of his shine and popularity.
“Barbra Streisand was on her way up,” he noted. “I think so [Parker] felt maybe the momentum was more on her side at the time.”
The original 1930s film starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, with Judy Garland and James Mason in the 50s remake. Streisand starred in her version alongside Kris Kristofferson.
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Kris Kristofferson went on to star opposite Barbra Streisand in “A Star Is Born.” (Screen Archives/Getty Images)
The fourth version of the romance between a young up-and-coming artist and an up-and-coming artist premiered in 2018. It starred Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper and was directed by Cooper.
In November, Priscilla confirmed that Streisand had Presley in mind to play her on-screen love interest, but Parker told him not to take the part.
“Barbra offered him the part,” Presley’s ex-wife said People magazine in November. “The colonel talked him out of it, saying, ‘Oh, that’s not going to be good. She’s going to be in charge, not you. Her movie, not yours’.”
Norman Brokaw, left, sought-after talent agent, represented Elvis Presley. He is seen here with Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker. (Brokaw Family Collection)
“Elvis regretted it because he felt he could have played the part,” added the 79-year-old.
In 2023, Streisand wrote in her memoir, “My Name Is Barbra,” that she considered Presley to appear in the music-focused drama before the role went to Kristofferson. She flew to Las Vegas to meet with Presley in an attempt to convince him.
“We talked about the movie and Elvis was interested,” the 82-year-old wrote, as reported USA Today. “But obviously it didn’t work. Marty [Erlichman, her manager] says Colonel Parker asked for more money than we could afford. AND [producer] Ion [Peters] he says that the colonel wanted to produce a film. I’m not sure about that.”
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Priscilla Presley also confirmed that her ex-husband wanted to work with Barbra Streisand. (Oscar Abolafia/TPLP/Getty Images)
“I know Elvis had put on a lot of weight and was no longer at the top of his game, although he still drew big crowds,” she said. “Maybe the story was a little too close to his life, so the colonel talked him out of it.”
Presley’s complicated relationship with Parker is explored in a new Netflix documentary“Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley.” Features interviews with Priscilla and his close confidant/business partner, Jerry Schilling, among others.
In the film, Presley is heard describing how frustrated he was with making money-grabbing musicals versus taking on more serious roles.
Barbra Streisand wrote that she traveled to Las Vegas in hopes of convincing Presley. (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
“Hollywood’s image of me was wrong, and I knew it, and there was nothing I could do about it,” Presley said. “I didn’t know what to do. I just felt obligated to do things I didn’t fully believe in.”
“They couldn’t pay me anything in the world to make me feel like I had any satisfaction,” Presley added.
Presley’s Hollywood career took such a nosedive that the Grammy winner is heard singing the children’s tune “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” in the 1967 film “Double Trouble.”
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Elvis Presley with Annette Day in “Double Trouble”, circa 1967. (FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)
“It’s a crime to me,” Priscilla said in the film as she watched the scene.
“It is a crime,” she emphasized. “To put him in that situation and sing that song. It made him a laughingstock. And he knew it.”
Director Jason Hehir said that Presley felt so defeated and trapped by his film career that he would sometimes become “physically ill”.
The Netflix documentary “Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley” is available for streaming. (Netflix)
“He was deeply unhappy. He couldn’t get out of bed,” Hehir said. “Many … don’t realize how disillusioned he was … He was taking these movie roles and seemingly just taking the easy way out and cashing huge checks. But that wasn’t his ambition as an artist.”
“It was always a frustration for him,” Hehir said. “… He couldn’t even get out of bed because he was so hungry for an artistic challenge. But he locked himself into these movie deals, and his management allowed him to be locked into these movie deals.”
“It shed light on what was really important to him – performing,” Hehir continued. “And I think that frustration of him not being in front of a live audience for seven years and instead just being on film sets making all the mediocre movies – the light bulb went off above his head.
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Director Jason Hehir told Fox News Digital that Elvis Presley was eager to make his mark as a star, much like his idols James Dean and Marlon Brando. (Netflix)
“He wanted to do something for himself, not for his management. Not for the movie audience. He wanted to get back to the Elvis he wanted to be.”
Presley died in 1977. He was 42 years old.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
