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Tears Of A King

September 16, 2006 | Video
From the press release: What do you think of when someone mentions Elvis Presley? The music, the outfits, and his gyrations during his early career, of course. What you probably don't think of is his spiritual side, witnessed by notes he left in a Book of Mormon. A new movie, currently in production, shows that side of the "King".

On an Orem soundstage, production is underway on a new movie about Elvis Presley, but it will not focus on his music. Fans certainly remember the King in his early years -- young, vibrant. Prior to his death, Presley struggled with alcohol and drugs, which is well documented. What isn't, was his spiritual journey in those last years.

Rob Diamond, Director/Screenwriter: "Elvis was very interested in spirituality. To me he was a seeker of truth and knowledge, and any information that could make him a better man."

Rob Diamond has written and is directing "Tears of a King" which explores that part of Elvis' life. The movie looks at the period when Presley studied the teachings of the LDS Church. He was given a Book of Mormon and visited with missionaries a number of times.

The producers wanted to make this film, after examining Presley's Book of Mormon, which is now in the church's historical department. The Osmond family, which knew Presley, was given the book after his death, and donated it to the church.

On various pages throughout the book, are handwritten notes, believed to be written by Presley. He'd underlined the word "KING" throughout the book; and on one page, there is this: "My daughter Lisa needs this church. She's nine. Please help her..."

Rob Diamond: "My feeling of looking at the passages that he marked, were of a man that was hurting and sincerely wanted help from his maker."

The numerous handwritten notes-- though not authenticated as being Presley's-- were the inspiration for the film.

Rob Diamond: "And so, hopefully, when people walk away from the film they won't care whether he studied Mormonism, Judiasm or whatever, that they are drawn to a man who was seeking truth and peace in his life."

No one will ever know, however, whether Elvis indeed found it.

The movie "Tears of a King" will be released next year, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Presley's death.
Source:Google
benny scott wrote on September 16, 2006
Elvis struggled with alcohol?? Come on,that's something new to me! As for the drugs: yes, he had a problem with pills, uppers and downers, etc, but they were prescripted drugs. And for once and for all : when will the word "drugs" not always be associated with street-or harddrugs like cocaine,heroin, etc.... In Europe,(on the continent) when you read or hear the word " drugs " people immediatly associate it with hardrugs. In Great Britain and the USA the word drugs doesn't always mean harddrugs.One can go to the " drugstore " and buy some aspirine . If in Europe you want to buy aspirine you go to a "pharmacy". I remember some words of a Pat Boone-song: " I'll be home". Pat sings " at the corner-drugstore, each saturday we would meet ". I wonder if people, here in Europe,who hear this song, think Pat Boone also took drugs.
Natha wrote on September 16, 2006
Well said, Benny Scott.
chrisc wrote on September 16, 2006
"My daughter Lisa needs this church. She's nine. Please help her" - sounds very bogus to me!
Lovetheboy wrote on September 16, 2006
Benny you are so right!! Boy I am so fed up of all this. Elvis was the most wonderful, caring, loving, dedicated to his fans, wonderful soul and gorgeous and music like you will never hear again, stage presence like no other HE WAS AND STILL HIS THE KING. This is getting so so old and yes he took some pills so am I, that what we do when we are sick and YES THEY WERE PRESCRIBED. So let it be for God Sake...
SuziB wrote on September 16, 2006
Elvis was addicted to prescription drugs, and he hoodwinked many doctors into supplying huge quantities - a fact, it doesnt make him a bad person, in my view it increases the compassion and love people should feel to a tortured soul in the days when treatment of drug addition were basic to say the least
dannyboy1 wrote on September 16, 2006
Amazing that this cult is trying to claim Elvis as one of their own. I guess anything that will suck the people in will be used. Elvis went from Protestant Christian with traces of Roman Catholicism ("Miracle of the Rosary") towards New Age (influence of Larry Gellar), but now we're expected to believe he turned to the cults as well? Why doesn't EPE intervene to stop this?
EspenK wrote on September 17, 2006
Hmmm... I thought that it's been known for quite some years now that it wasn't "just" prescripted drugs that Elvis dealt with, but also "street drugs", with coke being one of his favorites? Wasn't this mentioned in "Last Train To Memphis", even? Not that it makes much of a difference, but I've always considered the "prescripted drugs"-emphasis to be nothing but an official statement regarding his death...
Jerome wrote on September 17, 2006
never heard of Elvis having an alcohol problem, don't think this is true. And reading a book about Mormon isn't that special because he'd read many books. Final remark: why come with this after 30 years?
SuziB wrote on September 17, 2006
Cocaine is often prescribed...
Steve V wrote on September 17, 2006
Excuse me while I vomit. I am so sick of this crap!
cathyreno wrote on September 18, 2006
hello everyone, well, well, I don't know about the above 'tears of a king' and of course it would coincide with the 30th anniversary.. It will get aload of attention. I thought Lisa said she still has all his books left in his room as she mentioned she would go in and read some of them (source 'elvis by the presleys') I'll give it the benefit of doubt but I'm sure it won't be the only weird documentry on next year.. T C B
Crawfish wrote on September 18, 2006
I truly wish EPE would step in from time to time. We are sick and tired of all this; and now, 30 years after to release this, smacks of commercialism to me! As Cathy says, wait for next year and the flood of material. Lets all brace ourselves! But totally agree with Chrisc and Jerome. Wish people would just let it rest and stop trying to make money off Elvis' back!
charmainevoisine wrote on September 19, 2006
Yet another b.s. movie being done about Elvis, where adequate research has not been done once again. First with Rhys Johnathan Myers (lets not get in about that one) lol Now this one claiming Elvis had a drinking problem, now give me a break. There does not appear to be a website for this Robert Diamond and/or even one for the movie "Tears of a King" for that matter. Generally when one is promoting a movie they are producing, there is a website for the movie, would you not agree?
see see rider wrote on September 24, 2006
It's been said through the years that Elvis didn't allow alcohol in the house let alone be an alcoholic..please. He did however have a family member either on his dad or mother's side that was a Alcoholic (if I'm not mistaken) which is why there was no booze ever allowed in the house. But I agree wholeheartedly with Benny Scott and some others on here..This crap needs to stop, I don't know where these people get half of their information from but it's been 30 years since Elvis's death..So it's high time these idiots let it go.
Jerome wrote on September 24, 2006
Reading some things about Mormon, I can't imagine Elvis would feel good by this religion.. (hopefully not) And concerning Lisa "needing this church", she would still be married now to Michael Jackson and Nicolage Cage at the same time (to name a few)
hana0_0 wrote on September 19, 2007
No one really knows what happened, maybe it's true. We'll find out when we are all dead, then we could ask the king what really happened. And there is a webside for this film; "tearsofaking.com" ('o')