Kurt Russell vs. Dale Midkiff

Diehard Elvis fans prefer Kurt Russell as Elvis over Dale Midkiff. Actually, what they prefer is the Elvis that's depicted in Elvis the Movie instead of Elvis and Me. People just don't want to believe their King was that messed up. Elvis was never a bad person. He was just a man who wasn't mentally equipped to handle the kind of fame and fortune that came his way. Instead of handling it, he escaped into a world of drugs which altered his personality over time. That doesn't make him a bad person, just a human being. When made up, Russell does physically resemble Elvis more, but Midkiff possesses the natural charisma that caused the world to fall in love with Elvis. This charisma is evident in Midkiff's performance of the King. He never received the credit he deserved for his portrayal of Elvis. He gives Elvis an emotional depth that Russell didn't bring in his performance. Russell's performance focused more on the physical side of Elvis instead of the emotional side. Elvis the Movie also focused on Elvis' life before the drugs turned him into a different person. Fame and power can be a drug in itself and it takes an unusual person to keep all that in perspective. As great as Elvis was, he was swept into a world he ultimately couldn't handle. This post is not meant as a cut against Elvis or Russell, whom I love by the way. It’s simply meant to give credit to Midkiff who is a very talented and overlooked actor.