Eddie Presley
Encyclopedia
Eddie Presley is a 1992 dramedy film directed by Jeff Burr
and featuring Duane Whitaker
in the title role. It is based on a one man show
Whitaker had written and performed in Los Angeles
.
Whitaker plays Eddie Presley, a former successful owner of a chain of pizza restaurants who, against the wishes of his father (Joe Estevez
) and mother (Whitaker's real-life mother Barbara), decides to sell his business in the pursuit of living his dream of becoming an Elvis Presley
impersonator
, going so far as to legally change his last name to "Presley." After several years, he's living in his van and desperate for work. After his boss (Lawrence Tierney
) fires Presley from his night security job for sleeping (with the Polaroids
to back it up), he finally lands a gig in a seedy Hollywood bar (managed by Roscoe Lee Brown). After a technical malfunction, he proceeds to bare his soul to the audience in an improvisational one man show
, where he admits to spending time in a psychiatric hospital
after suffering a mental breakdown
(Bruce Campbell
and Quentin Tarantino
make cameos
as orderlies at the hospital). Meanwhile, in his personal life, Presley has to deal with a cheating girlfriend who ends up working in pornography
, while remaining oblivious to a co-worker who truly loves him.
It's probably the most well received movie of both Whitaker and Burr.
.
Jeff Burr
Jeff Burr is an American film director, Writer and producer best known for his work in horror sequels, such as Stepfather II, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Puppet Master 4 and 5, and Pumpkinhead II....
and featuring Duane Whitaker
Duane Whitaker
Duane Whitaker is an American actor.Duane Whitaker is probably best known for his role in Quentin Tarantino's popular 1994 film Pulp Fiction as Maynard, the sadistic pawn shop owner. He wrote and portrayed the title role in Eddie Presley...
in the title role. It is based on a one man show
One man show
The term one-man show often referred to comedian, who would stand on stage and entertain an audience. With the advent of feminism, words and phrases such as one-woman show and comedienne have entered the modern-day lexicon....
Whitaker had written and performed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Whitaker plays Eddie Presley, a former successful owner of a chain of pizza restaurants who, against the wishes of his father (Joe Estevez
Joe Estevez
Joseph "Joe" Estevez is an American actor, director, and producer.He is the younger brother of actor Martin Sheen and the uncle of Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Renée Estevez, and Ramon Estevez.-Early life:...
) and mother (Whitaker's real-life mother Barbara), decides to sell his business in the pursuit of living his dream of becoming an Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
impersonator
Elvis impersonator
An Elvis impersonator is someone who impersonates or copies famed American musician Elvis Presley. Professional Elvis impersonators can work all over the world as entertainers, and such tribute acts are in great demand due to the unique iconic status of Elvis...
, going so far as to legally change his last name to "Presley." After several years, he's living in his van and desperate for work. After his boss (Lawrence Tierney
Lawrence Tierney
Lawrence Tierney was an American actor, known for his many screen portrayals of mobsters and hardened criminals, which mirrored his own frequent brushes with the law....
) fires Presley from his night security job for sleeping (with the Polaroids
Instant camera
The instant camera is a type of camera that generates a developed film image. The most popular types to use self-developing film were formerly made by Polaroid Corporation....
to back it up), he finally lands a gig in a seedy Hollywood bar (managed by Roscoe Lee Brown). After a technical malfunction, he proceeds to bare his soul to the audience in an improvisational one man show
One man show
The term one-man show often referred to comedian, who would stand on stage and entertain an audience. With the advent of feminism, words and phrases such as one-woman show and comedienne have entered the modern-day lexicon....
, where he admits to spending time in a psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
after suffering a mental breakdown
Mental breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
(Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
and Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
make cameos
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
as orderlies at the hospital). Meanwhile, in his personal life, Presley has to deal with a cheating girlfriend who ends up working in pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
, while remaining oblivious to a co-worker who truly loves him.
It's probably the most well received movie of both Whitaker and Burr.
DVD release
Tempe Video released a two-disc special edition of Eddie Presley in 2004, including a director's cut, commentary with director Burr, cast and crew, and many short subjects about the film, including a tribute to the late Lawrence TierneyLawrence Tierney
Lawrence Tierney was an American actor, known for his many screen portrayals of mobsters and hardened criminals, which mirrored his own frequent brushes with the law....
.