PSfilmfest – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

The world premiere of a remarkable documentary was last night – part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival. I, and the audience, loved Elvis, Rocky and Me: The Carol Connors Story.

Carol (and her boxing gloves) with Screenwriter: Dahlia Heyman and Director/Producer/Screenwriter: Alex Rotaru

The documentary is based on her blockbuster memoir by the same name (the audiobook was recently nominated for a Grammy). Watching this documentary felt like opening a time capsule packed with charisma, chaos, and the unmistakable spark of a woman who refuses to dim.

Carol Connors is the kind of dynamo who could write a hit, charm a legend, and still get herself kicked out of a studio by Dionne Warwick – all before lunch.

To know her, is to love her – say all of Carol’s friends.

I heard the name before, but admittedly I didn’t know a lot about Carol Connors, other than she dated Elvis Presley (after he co-starred with Ann-Margret in “Viva Las Vegas”), co-wrote the iconic Rocky theme song (minimalist but powerful lyrics to “Gonna Fly Now” – which was nominated for an Academy Award) and had a #1 hit single (“To Know Him Is to Love Him”) recorded by The Teddy Bears, which became a major hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1958, where it stayed for three weeks and launched producer Phil Spector’s career. It went on to have several renditions after that – my favorite sung by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and EmmyLou Harris (their version became a #1 country hit and was featured on their Grammy-winning album “Trio“).

I guess that alone seems like enough right? However, there’s so much more that I wasn’t sure where to begin writing this post because…

Before the documentary even begins, you realize Carol Connors didn’t just witness pop culture history…she helped write it, one hook, one heartbreak, and one heavyweight anthem at a time.

I did a bit of research beforehand, but had no idea of the scope of her legacy. Some people live a life. Carol Connors lived a soundtrack. One that starts with Phil Spector, flirts with Elvis Presley, and punches its way into the Oscars with Rocky.

With **Kathy Garver** (from *Family Affair,* an author and voice for Carol’s memoir audio book – see links of where to buy below.

The documentary is interspersed with interviews on major talk shows and snippets of conversations she’s had with Hugh Hefner, Mike Tyson and O.J. Simpson.

Believe me, I’m still not giving too much away. Remember the legendary Shelby Cobra roadster designed by Carroll Shelby? Connors wrote “Hey Little Cobra.” Here’s the fun part: she didn’t just write it about the car – she wrote it for Carroll Shelby himself, after he told her that if she wrote him a hit, he’d give her a Cobra. And he actually did. The song became a major hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Only Carol Connors could turn a conversation with Carroll Shelby into a chart‑topping hit, and drive away in the car she wrote about.

At the end of the documentary, there was a Q&A followed by Carol singing a song called “You Loved My Night Away“that she wrote (music & lyrics) on the day Elvis Presley died. They stayed friends up until the end. She still has a beautiful voice and the song is also beautiful.

What a glamorous, fabulous life.

Director/Producer: Alex Rotaru

Executive Producer: Julian Warshaw.

Screenwriters: Dahlia Heyman, Alex Rotaru

Cast: Carol Connors, Bill Conti, Talia Shire, Mike Tyson, Diane Warren, Dionne Warwick, Barbi Benton, Irwin Winkler.

The Film Festival is on until January 12^th, 2026. Film Finder and Tickets:

https://www.psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2026/film-finder/elvis-rocky-and-me-the-carol-connors-story

https://www.psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2026/film-finder

*You can buy Carol Connors’ memoir Elvis, Rocky and Me from major online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, or directly from the publisher BearManor Media, with options for paperback, hardcover, and Kindle e-book, plus an audiobook narrated by Kathy Garver.

This Masterpiece of a movie is part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival – 2025.

Photo courtesy of Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025

This movie is beautifully filmed, told through the innocent but savvy eyes of gun toting, cigarette smoking Bobo; the eight-year old daughter of Zimbabwean land owners.

The title grabbed my attention while scrutinizing the multitude of film listings online. Then I noticed that it was filmed in South Africa and set in Rhodesia in 1980, the year Robert Mugabe took power as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and started the end of white colonialism.

The history of land ownership in Zimbabwe is complex and deeply rooted in colonial history. Who owned what first is a bit sketchy. Hmmm…sound familiar?

The war began as a struggle against the white minority government led by Prime Minister Ian Smith, who had declared unilateral independence from Britain in 1965. This declaration was made without the consent of the majority black population. The war resulted in significant loss of life and displacement, with estimates of around 20,000 people killed overall. The conflict also led to the end of white minority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe as an independent nation.

Throughout the movie, Bobo keeps referring to her black help as “Africans” and white people as not real Africans. Here’s a little bit of info about that: the classification of white Africans as non-Africans has deep roots in the history of racial segregation and apartheid in South Africa. During the apartheid era (1948-1994), the government implemented strict racial classifications that divided people into categories. It is that same division today that causes violence, harm, conflict and confusion.

As it so happens, I’ve been messaging back and forth with a friend I met in Cape town who is originally from Zimbabwe. I told her that I was interested in seeing this film. Her reply: “Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight is a true story about my home town in Zimbabwe. OMG read the book years ago. It’s a film???? Jealous. Tt takes place in my town. Did it mention the name Bulawayo?

Good info, because I did not know that it was a screenplay from a book which piqued my interest even more so. The movie was adapted from Alexandra Fuller’s real life memoir by the same title.

What’s even more impressive about this film is that Embeth Davidtz; the Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Actor, was able to capture and convey a story so compelling and frightening without showing the actual violence which took place. You know it’s coming, but you don’t know when and how. Keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.

Bobo is played by seven-year-old Lexi Venter who is amazing as a mature but also innocent child, in almost every scene. It took me a while to realize that Bobo’s mother was played by Embeth Davidtz, who was here in person for Q&A after the film. An astounding performance as a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, fighting to keep her family’s land. What an awesome accomplishment in every department. Now who’s jealous!

Davidtz, who was born in the United States but raised in South Africa, chose to shoot in her home country and cast an entirely South African cast. The scenery is breathtaking.

Before the start with **Embeth Davitz.** Photo: d. king

My late husband and I travelled almost everywhere in Africa and I remember he wanted to show me Victoria Falls, which is located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River. We were told that the Zimbabwe side was still not totally safe even though this is in the order of about 20 years ago now. So we went to the Zambia side and stayed at the famous Royal Livingstone Hotel instead. A luxurious hotel on one side of the Falls with wild life freely roaming the property. I was in awe. Of course, my friend from Zimbabwe claims that her side is even more beautiful. Cannot imagine unless I go back someday. The sunset cruise on the African Queen on the Zambezi was just heaven. Had to throw that in as it’s one of my fondest memories.

I hightly recommend that everyone see this movie.

In closing; the story of war and hate versus good and peace is as old as humanity itself. Despite this, there’s a persistent flicker of hope that refuses to be extinguished. The path to peace is challenging, but not impossible. Let’s just stick with this hopeful possibility.

Palm Springs International Film Festival Tickets:

https://www.psfilmfest.org/

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