I went to the cinema yesterday to see the new Elvis film. It was enjoyable enough, just enough in fact to create a thirst for the real thing. I bought Elvis on Tour on DVD some time ago, after reading the excellent Peter Guralnick books, but had never got round to watching it. Here is the real thing in 1972: jumping into limos after a mad dash from the arena concerts, striking poses in his red, white and powder-blue sequinned jumpsuits, goofing around with his support crew (aka the Memphis Mafia). But that stuff is just at the margins. This film is about his performances on stage at numerous venues, with full songs from his back pages, as well as new material (he needs a lyric sheet for the opening to Burning Love). It's powerful, heady material. He is not the trim, lithe, beautiful early Elvis here (there's a brief montage covering that exalted period), but nor is he yet so fat that he can't cut some kung-fu shapes.
I'm only scoring it 6 because of what's not included in the film, which may be unfair, because it's about the tour performances. But there is no perspective here on the private Elvis, just hinted at perhaps when he looks forlornly out of the limo window. There's no-one there to ask, 'Whatcha thinking about Elvis? We'd love to know.'
I'm only scoring it 6 because of what's not included in the film, which may be unfair, because it's about the tour performances. But there is no perspective here on the private Elvis, just hinted at perhaps when he looks forlornly out of the limo window. There's no-one there to ask, 'Whatcha thinking about Elvis? We'd love to know.'