What Elvis Presley's Meteoric Rise And Eventual Fall Reveal About America

In the new documentary “The King,” writer-director Eugene Jarecki takes Elvis Presley’s 1963 Rolls-Royce on a ride across America. Along the way, Jarecki talks to commentators like James Carville and Van Jones, musicians John Hiatt and Chuck D and actors Alec Baldwin and Ethan Hawke about Presley’s continued influence on America.

Here & Now contributor Andrew Lapin (@AndrewLapin) reviews the documentary, followed by host Jeremy Hobson’s conversation with Jarecki (@EugeneJarecki).

“Elvis was the epitome of the American dream for so long, and I grew up with that deep love that Americans have for him,” Jarecki says. “And as I got older and started to take stock more closely, I had to ask myself about many dreams and about many nostalgic ideas. How true are they still today? What do they mean to me today?”

Interview Highlights

On Elvis