#GLADYS KRAVITZ SERIES#
#GLADYS KRAVITZ TV#

Armed with Thermostellar Triggering Devices, the Dark Star is on a mission to search for planets that might get in the way of Earth's attempt to colonize the galaxy, but after 20 years in space, the ship is malfunctioning a fair amount, and its crew have gotten more than a little star crazy.īorrowing much from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dark Star still holds up relatively well as a sci-fi comedy, even if some of the effects - like, say, the beach-ball alien - are definitely borne out of cost-saving measures. Set in the mid-22nd century, Dark Star isn't just the title of the film, it's the name of the starship that serves as the film's predominant setting. Over time, however, Carpenter gradually expanded it to feature-length and eventually got it into a limited theatrical release, which is pretty impressive for a flick that only cost a grand total of $60,000 to make. Written by Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon (the future screenwriter of Alien and writer-director of Return of the Living Dead who also starred in this film), Dark Star originally began its existence as a student film for the University of Southern California.

#GLADYS KRAVITZ SERIES#

Though Carpenter doesn't exactly look back on the film as a fabulous experience - his particular gripe seems to have been with his inability to participate more in the editing process - it was tremendously popular at the time and earned Russell an Emmy nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Special. While Elvis doesn't lead all the way up to Presley's death (it concludes in 1970), it still makes a concerted effort to cover as much of the King's career as possible.

But there are also some still-working faces in the mix, including Joe Mantegna as Joe Esposito and Ed Begley, Jr. The cast is filled with a number of familiar character actors, including Shelley Winters as Elvis' mama, Gladys, Kurt's own dad, Bing Russell as Vernon Presley, and Pat Hingle as Colonel Tom Parker. Indeed, given the recent popularity of another film with the same name, it's very much a Carpenter effort that deserves a higher profile.ĭebuting only two short years after the death of the King of rock & roll, Elvis finds Kurt Russell in the titular role, teaming him with Carpenter for the first - but certainly not last - time in his career, and with the actor lip-syncing to vocals by country singer Ronnie McDowell.

#GLADYS KRAVITZ TV#

While this is unquestionably a 'one of these things is not like the other' entry on this list - both because it's a biopic and a TV movie, two rarities in the Carpenter canon - it doesn't mean its inclusion isn't warranted.

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