WAS NEW MOVIE ABOUT ELVIS PRESLEY FINANCED BY THE KING HIMSELF?
SARASOTA, Fla. -- A new independent film about Elvis Presley was financed by a mysterious backer -- and some say that backer is none other than The King of Rock and Roll himself, alive and well at the age of 64!
Presley supposedly died in 1977. But rumors have persisted since then that the legendary singer faked his death and is still in hiding.
IS ELVIS ALIVE after all? The King of Rock and Roll is rumored to have backed a movie spoof featuring a pink Cadillac and other "Elvis" memorabilia which hints that he is still very much among the living.
The movie All Shook Up, by maverick filmmaker Don Bauer, is a lighthearted spoof based on the idea that Elvis is alive. The story is so farcical and playfully "over the top" that it seems to gently ridicule the whole concept.
And one man who worked closely with the project since it's inception says that's probably just why Elvis took an interest in it.
"When Don asked me to work on the film, he didn't have the money to make it himself," said the source, who asked that we not use his name. "All he had was a brilliant script by Wes Smith and Art D'Alessandro -- and a dream.
"But he told me not to worry, that he would have backing when it was time to start shooting.
"Don's usually a very open person but he played this very close to the vest.
"He wouldn't tell anyone who he was going to go to for the money. The banks had turned him down."
The source, who worked on several other productions with Bauer, got curious and began secretly following the Florida filmmaker.
"One night around midnight I saw a light in his office and a Cadillac parked outside," he says. "I waited and watched. Finally Don came out with another man. It was dark but there's no doubt in my mind who the man was. It was Elvis!"
The very next day, Bauer had the money in the bank and production started.
Bauer himself denies the story. "It's completely ridiculous," he says. "The King is dead."
But others say it makes perfect sense.
Screenwriter Wes Smith says: "If Elvis wanted to dispel rumors that he's alive, I can see where he'd love our script.
"It makes fun of the whole idea, treats it lightly."
But another source close to Bauer says Elvis is not happy with the final cut.
"I heard a message on Don's machine shortly after we wrapped," he says.
"I recognized the voice as Elvis. The man sounded angry and said that some of the scenes hit a little too close to home, that people might recognize some of the characters as real and use them to track him down.
"He was clearly upset."
The controversial film is finished but is not yet available to be shown at this time.
Bauer denies that the delay is due to pressure from Elvis.
Meanwhile, Bauer is offering movie lovers a chance to familiarize themselves with the film by visiting his website at http://allshookupthemovie.com.
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