Elvis and the Beauty Queen (1981 TV Movie) User Reviews

The King of Rock 'n' Roll pursues and captures an innocent heart.

[michaelRokeefe · 4/10 · 12 August 2001]

In 1972, after his wife left to go her own way, Elvis Presley began dating Linda Thompson. Miss Thompson, a good-humored, long haired, lovely, statuesque beauty queen, is charted to fill a void in Elvis' life. When Elvis' divorce became final, Linda was already in place as the legendary performer's live-in girlfriend and travel companion until 1976.

This is a gaudy look at their love affair and companionship. Linda whole-heartedly tending to her lover's needs and desires. And even putting up with his swallowing medications by the handful and introducing her to her own love affair with valium. At times this movie is harsh and dark of heart; a very unattractive look at the 'King' and his queen.

Don Johnson is absolutely awful as Elvis. Over acting to the hilt is not attractive. Stephanie Zimbalist lacks the classiness of Linda, but does the job pretty well. Supporting cast includes: John Crawford, Ruta Lee, and Rick Lenz. Watching this twice is more than enough for me, but don't let this review stop you from checking it out. For most Elvis fans that I have conferred with, this is not a favored presentation.

Casting every bit as bad as you think

[jescci · 4/10 · 14 May 2004]

You may say to yourself, "Don Johnson as Elvis? Can that work? Is it possible? Seems like an terrible choice to me, but perhaps I should have an open mind. Maybe I'll be surprised. Maybe he can pull it off."

NOT!

Don Johnson is not a bad actor. But he is an awful Elvis. He's too short, too weak-voiced, too sharply featured ... well you've already imagined how bad he would be. Add to that a hokey black wig and heavy-handed eye-liner and mascara and it's a big fat embarrassing mess.

The best I can say is that since Johnson's acting is decent and since his impersonation is so far off, after a while you don't even think of him as Elvis anymore. You see him as some other crazed pop star instead. Then, on that level, the movie becomes watchable.

Stephanie Zimbalist is also not ideally cast as the tall, beauty queen, Linda Thompson. But she is attractive in her own right and plays the part with the honesty, elegance and intelligence we've come to expect from all her roles. There may be too much intelligence in her performance. You have to be kind of a dope to stick with a dope abusing dope.

There's nothing new to this story; we've heard it many times before. If you've looking for new info or insight, you won't find it. It's told as a love story - an unrequited one: Linda for Elvis and Elvis for drugs.

Not the worst. Not the best.

[jwpeel-1 · 18 April 2004]

I still remember when I first saw this movie on television and the entrance of Don Johnson as Elvis made me laugh out loud. His high pitched voice was so unlike Elvis, it was almost like a Saturday Night Live routine that was SUPPOSED to be ridiculous. Stephanie Zimbalist I found impressive as an actress, but the only reason I could see to watch this movie at all was to hear Ronnie McDowell's excellent voice impression of Elvis seen on stage. As expected, the Las Vegas jumpsuits were perfect, but it isn't enough to make this anything but an interesting curio. Better to watch the Kurt Russell film "Elvis," directed by John Carpenter. They need little bit of trivia. Elvis Presley did play a character named John Carpenter in one of his later films.

The worst

[smalltownlover2003 · 1/10 · 28 July 2003]

I'm a Don Johnson fan, but this is undoubtedly the WORST movie, done by anybody, that I've ever seen. The acting was bad, as was the cinematography. Don should stick to doing action, because as The King, he just didn't cut it.

Enjoy Every Perspective of Elvis

[awebb-88562 · 10/10 · 29 July 2022]

This is a good movie from Linda Thompsons perspective. I've seen other reviews say it's not a factual movie. It actually is a factual movie. One has to understand that names, places, costumes, and certain situations were either trademarked or names would have to be granted permission. It's also Hollywood. So you have to suspend real life, use your imagination and enjoy the movie. Nobody is Elvis Presley and, if you're a fan, nobody ever will. So don't knock Ms. Thompsons version of how she saw life with Elvis. It's a movie.....enjoy it.

Sonny pushes up his sleeves and takes on the KING!

[rtsenn · 2 November 2004]

WOW! This is the worst Elvis tribute movie I have ever seen. Don Johnson is HORRIBLE! Looking at him in the cheesy wig and over the top jump suits almost made me puke. This is supposed to be a docudrama, it is neither! I know that this movie is from Linda Thompson's perspective but man is it ever bad writing.

Elvis is an icon and an American treasure. The filmmakers should have been required to run this by E's estate. As a die hard Elvis fan I would never recommend anyone see this film. "Elvis" with Kurt Russell is the definitive Elvis tribute and the singing by Russell is awesome! His reprise in "3000 Miles to Graceland" is awesome as well.

There is a reason that Don Johnson is out of work, and this film shows why! He should stick to singing "Heartbeat" and leave the Elvis songs to the KING!

A Poorly Made Movie.....

[Samcold01 · 28 April 2004]

first off....let me start with the biggest problems in the movie.....events.....she claims to have been with Elvis for 5 years....actually only 4 ..he never wore...a blue suit in his Hawaii Concert in 1973....where is Joe Esposito? the body guards that were in this movie were never in The Memphis Mafia ...where is Lisa Marie....christmas time...and not 1 mention of her? i mean come on...she needs to get real...if i were you i wouldn't watch this movie...unless you want to see countless lie after lie...the only thing she did in the movie...was make Elvis look bad and made herself look like An Angel...where have i heard that story line before...oh yeah Elvis And Me...but thats another story.

Thats Just My Opinion, I Could Be Wrong.