3000
miles to Graceland
3000
Miles To Graceland Trailer
International Elvis week in the city of sin sounds like enough trouble.
Enter five Elvises, each with a bullet slingin' guitar, a bad attitude and
an evil agenda.
Starring Kevin Costner as Murphy, an ex-con and the mastermind behind this
heist of a lifetime, and Kurt Russell as Michael, the good guy to Costner's
bad-boy, this slick feature blends matrix-style action with a good old
fashioned heist! The cunning plan, orchestrated by Murphy and Michael, prison
cellmates of five years, involves their small gang of ex-con friends including
Joseph Hanson (Christian Slater), Gus Watson (David Arquette) and
Benjamin Franklin (Bokeem Woodbine), dressing up like Elvis impersonators,
swaggering into the Riviera Hotel and Casino during International Elvis Week.
Decked in high collars, glittering belted jumpsuits and sideburns, the gang
hits the strip in search of their jackpot.
Believing that he is the King's illegimate child, Murphy has a particular
bone to pick with the Establishment, which long ago denied him his just
desserts for being so royal. And so Murphy's decision to run the Riviera in
his Elvis get-up is motivated not only by the fact that the haul is
some $3.2 million, but also by his obsessive need to wear the glittery
caped costume, big wig, wide belt, and sunglassses.
This is clearly seen in the extended shoot-out scene at the casino.
When things go angry, an intense gun battle breaks out and they flee via
a dramatic helicopter escape, leaving the hotel in ruins, a high body count
in their wake and one of their own dead (Benjamin Franklin).
But when Murphy betrays his men, attempting to murder each one and keep
the full stash for himself, Michael escapes with the loot and sets out to
launder the marked currency. Along the way, he hooks up with
Cybil (Courteney Cox), a beautiful grifter with small-town baggage
and big-time dreams. Determined to retire from his life of crime but
unable to shake his opportunistic one-night stand, Michael careens
through state lines with Cybil by his side, Murphy on his tail and law
enforcement in hot pursuit.
Five years of shared cell time provided Murphy and Michael with enough
personal information to predict the other man’s moves.
Now their knowledge is put to the test in a high-stakes game of
cat-and-mouse that escalates to an explosive finale in the remote Pacific
Nothwest.
Starring Cast; Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, Courteney Cox, Christian Slater,
Kevin Pollak, David Arquette, Jon Lovitz, Howie Long, Thomas Haden Church,
Bokeem Woodbine, Ice-T, David Kaye, Louis Lombardi,
Shawn Michael Howard (Roller Elvis).
Director; Demian Lichtenstein,
Don Carmody (Executive producer),
Richard Recco (Screenwriter),
George S. Clinton (Composer),
Mary E. McLeod (Costume Designer),
Geoff Wallace (Set Designer),
Scott Martin Gershin (Sound Designer),
Michael Williamson (Sound Designer),
Yves Cameron (Stunts Coordinator),
Davis Franco (Cinematographer),
Willie Heslup (Art Director),
Michael J. Duthie (Editor).
Released by Warner Brothers in the year 2001.
Russell not only had the change to work wit Presley as a boy, but he
portrayed the King in “Elvis,” the 1979 television movie for which he
received an Emmy nomination.
Donning Elvis garb once again in “3000 Miles To Graceland,” the actor
notes that this time around, dressing up as the King felt different.
“I didn’t have to be Elvis, I just had to wear the costume, which in
itself is a lot of fun,” says Russell.
“It’s always fun to get into the monkey suit,” says Kurt Russell,
“You feel like Elvis.”
“Being in Vegas dressed as Elvis made the whole experience on this
film worthwhile for me,” says Christian Slater, who plays Hanson.
“Walking through the casino with guns hidden under the Presley cape
was unforgettable.
The Elvis theme throughout the story definitely sets it apart from
other films of its genre. I love the idea of setting a heist during
an Elvis convention.”
David Arquette jumped at the chance to be robed in the iconic costumes.
“Personally, I’m a big fan of an outrageous wardrobe,” says the actor.
“I love that whole larger than life 70s thing. Elvis was the king of that.
I put the outfit on and immediately started shaking, wrinkling up my forehead,
curling my lip, the whole bit.
The wig and chops are a little uncomfortable, but add the glasses, belt,
big collar and cape and it’s just so funny…Why did Elvis wear a cape?”
Christian Slater concurs, “You just start feeling the Elvis vibe. All of
his moves flood back into your mind and you think you’re the king for a moment.
It’s fun. The first thought that came to me when I put on was that Elvis really
knew what he was doing.”
Some
facts and photo's:
Above you'll see some unpublished photo's, taken on the set of
"3000 Miles To Graceland"
Photo left (Kevin Costner), Photo 2 (Bokeem Woodbine), Photo 3 (Kurt Russell),
Last photo (Christian Slater).
This is Franklins Elvis wig while robbing the
Riviera and these are the shades Christian Slater wore while robbing the
casino.This is the cassette player Jack listened to while piloting his chopper. Jack sings in the cockpit of his helicopter as he races through the empty desert. He's wearing his Vietnam helmet that reads "Death From Above." Who can forget Howie Longs rendition of "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover", "Get on the bus Gus, no need to dicuss much, listen to me and set yourself free."
* Poster introducing "International Elvis Week". This is the only poster that survived the final "shoot-out". This poster is clearly seen in the scene where Christian Slater (the little photo in the beginning of this page), dressed in his red "Elvis On Tour" jumpsuit, is shooting like a mad man.
* Riviera gold glass used in the movie.
* Spent gun shell casings that came from the 5 Elvis' guns during the "shoot-out and getaway scene". The 5 Elvis' were Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell, Christian Slater, David Arquette and Bokime Woodbine.
* This was Gus (David Arquette) holster while robbing the casino.
This original Crew Badge is clearly seen on the two unpublished photo's.
This Elvis suit was worn by Kurt Russell, you can clearly see the blood on the suit and matching cape. During the extreme shoot-out, Franklin (Bokeem Woodbine) was shot and Michael carries him to the roof of the Riviera Casino. When the helicopter fnally arrives, and the 5 Elvis bandits are in the chopper, Franklin dies in Michaels' arms. During the beginning of the movie, a few Elvis impersonators do their Elvis moves on "Such A Night." All Elvis' hit the famous karate stance and palm punch.
"3000 Miles To Graceland" is the 2nd movie where Kurt Russell is wearing an Elvis jumpsuit.
View "Elvis, The Movie" Too!!
"3000 Miles To Graceland." This CD contains the following tracks; Killing Time (HED P.E), It's Gonna Kill Me (Filter), Bleeder (Nothingface), Mansion On The Hill (A3), Smartbomb (BT), In 2 Deep (Kenny Wayne Shepherd), Who's Your Uncle (Uncle Kracker), Come In Hard (Hardnox), New Disease (Spineshank), Angel Dust (Bender), Loaded Gun (Hednoice), Franklin's Requiem (George S.Clinton), Such A Night (Elvis Presley)
"3000 Miles To Graceland" (Warner). Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building....with $3.2 million in stolen jack. As leaders of a gang who pull off a daring Las Vegas casino heist while disguised as particpants in the town's International Elvis Week, Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner are armed, dangerous and sporting hunka-hunka sets of awesome sideburns. Awesome, too, is the film's supporting cast: Courteney Cox, Christian Slater, David Arquette, Kevin Pollak, Howie Long, Ice-T, Jon Lovitz and more.
Get in, strap down, hold on. 3000 Miles To Graceland, directed and co-written by Demian Lichtenstein, is one kicky, volatile, heat-seeking missile of an action thriller.