Coquette girls rise: Sofia Coppola’s most recent film, Priscilla, has finally been released in cinemas! It’s a take on Priscilla, rock and roll legend, Elvis’ wife, and her life and relationship with the glitzy star, based on her 1985 memoir Elvis & Me.
In true Coppola style, the film is filled with baby pinks and powder blues, and all the clues of girlhood. But where was it all filmed? Die-hard Coppola and Priscilla fans may be wondering where the real life Priscilla filming locations are – and we have the answers for you.
Ontario
Due to the film being a period piece and a biopic, Coppola was very particular about the Priscilla filming locations, as she wanted them to be as realistic as possible. The entirety of the film was shot in Ontario, Canada. Toronto was the major location used, with artificial sets built throughout, designed by Tamara Deverell, and the rest was done on sound stages.
Sets
The majority of Priscilla was filmed on sets. The film needed a very specific mid century-modern vibe necessary for the backdrop of Elvis and Priscilla’s lives, and this needed to be constructed. The only thing that changed from the style back then was the height of the ceilings which had to be raised for Jacob Elordi’s height…
Graceland
Elvis’ famous home, Graceland, was shot using two locations. For the exterior, the crew simply shot it on location in Memphis, Tennessee. The late singer’s mansion still stands today with its white columns and musical gate. Elvis is buried there, as well as many members of his family, and the house is preserved as a museum, which fans can visit. You can get a feel for Elvis’ hometown on Contiki’s USA Road Trip!
The interiors of the house had to be constructed via various sets throughout the city of Toronto. Elvis’ bedroom, and other personal rooms, were reportedly never photographed, so the crew had artistic licence to make it up and get inspired by his eccentric personality.
American diner
The film starts in Germany at a US army base, when Priscilla Presely, then Beaulieu, is invited to a party at Elvis’ house. The scene was shot in a diner in Toronto which has all the charm of typical American diners you might imagine when fantasising your road trip across the USA. This is true to real life, as the military wanted to bring as much of a sense of home as possible to the soldiers during their stay in other countries.
Frankfurt Airport
The airport scene where Elvis and Priscilla temporarily part ways was masterfully shot behind a studio building. Yup! All the German signage was added during post-production and the rest was a constructed set dotted with screaming fans.
Las Vegas casino
In Priscilla we see her driving down the palm-tree lined streets of Las Vegas, and these shots were filmed on location – it’s hard to emulate these iconic views in Toronto. But the casino scenes were all staged in the Canadian city at the real life Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre. The deep reds and glittering golds brought the casino to life, and this location became the setting for Elvis’ stage performances, and the couple’s cinema date. You can visit this Priscilla filming location on Contiki’s Grand Canadian trip.
