Priscilla is a biographical drama film that tells the story of Priscilla Presley, the wife and muse of Elvis Presley, one of the most famous and influential singers of all time. The film, directed by Sofia Coppola and starring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, follows Priscilla’s life from her teenage years in Germany, where she met Elvis, to her marriage and divorce with him, and her career and legacy as an actress and entrepreneur. The film also depicts the personal and professional challenges of Priscilla and Elvis, such as their age difference, their infidelity, their drug abuse, and their fame and fortune.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the film is the recreation of Graceland, the iconic mansion and estate of Elvis in Memphis, Tennessee, where he and Priscilla lived for most of their marriage. Graceland is not only a place, but also a symbol of Elvis’s music, style, and culture, and a pilgrimage site for his fans and admirers. The film captures the beauty and the history of Graceland, as well as the secrets and the drama that happened behind its walls.
But how did the film manage to recreate Graceland, when the real one is still a museum and a tourist attraction, and not available for filming? The answer is: by using a stunning 19th-century castle in Scotland, that bears a striking resemblance to Graceland, and by using digital effects and props to transform it into the King’s home. Here are some of the facts and details that reveal how the film brought Graceland back to life.
The Location of the Castle
The castle that was used as a stand-in for Graceland is Ardross Castle, a Scottish Baronial mansion in the Highlands, near the town of Alness. The castle was built in the 1850s by Sir Alexander Matheson, a wealthy and influential MP and opium trader, who landscaped the gardens and parkland, with a pond, a fountain, and a formal garden. The castle was sold in 1937, and was bought by the McTaggart family in 1983, who restored and renovated the property. The castle is now used as a luxury venue for weddings, events, and filming. The castle has hosted several celebrities and dignitaries, such as Prince Charles, Madonna, and Tom Cruise.
The castle was chosen by the film’s production designer, Anne Ross, who was looking for a location that had a similar shape and size to Graceland, as well as a similar style and atmosphere. Ross said: “We wanted to find a place that had the same grandeur and elegance as Graceland, but also the same sense of isolation and mystery. Ardross Castle had all of that, and more. It was a perfect match.”
The Transformation of the Castle
The castle was transformed into Graceland by using a combination of physical and digital techniques, that altered its appearance and details. The exterior of the castle was painted white, to match Graceland’s colour, and a replica of Graceland’s gate, with the musical notes and the name, was installed at the entrance. The interior of the castle was also modified, by adding furniture, wallpaper, carpets, and curtains, that replicated Graceland’s rooms, such as the living room, the dining room, the jungle room, and the bedroom. Some of the props were original items from Graceland, that were loaned by the Presley family, such as Elvis’s guitars, records, and costumes.
The digital effects were used to enhance and complete the transformation, by adding elements that were not possible or practical to recreate physically, such as the swimming pool, the carport, and the surrounding landscape. The digital effects were also used to remove any traces of the castle’s original features, such as the turrets, the towers, and the battlements. The digital effects were done by the visual effects company Framestore, who used photos and videos of Graceland as references, and worked closely with the film’s director and cinematographer, to achieve a realistic and seamless result.
The Impact of the Castle
The castle had a significant impact on the film’s story and mood, as well as on the film’s cast and crew, who spent several weeks filming there. The castle provided a realistic and immersive setting for the film, that allowed the actors and the filmmakers to feel and portray the emotions and the events of Priscilla and Elvis’s life at Graceland. The castle also created a contrast and a tension between the glamour and the tragedy, the love and the betrayal, and the fame and the loneliness, that marked their relationship.
The castle also had a personal and emotional impact on the film’s stars, Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, who played Priscilla and Elvis, respectively. Spaeny said: “It was amazing to be in that castle, and to feel like we were in Graceland. It was like stepping into another world, another time, another life. It was very inspiring and very moving.” Elordi said: “It was surreal to be in that castle, and to feel like we were Elvis and Priscilla. It was like living a dream, a fantasy, a nightmare. It was very challenging and very rewarding.”
Priscilla is a film that recreates the life and the love of Priscilla Presley and Elvis Presley, two of the most iconic and influential figures in the history of music and culture. The film also recreates Graceland, their home and their symbol, by using a castle in Scotland, that was transformed into the King’s mansion. The film captures the beauty and the history of Graceland, as well as the secrets and the drama that happened behind its walls. Priscilla is a film that brings Graceland back to life.
