Elvis
On Tour
went further behind the scenes than "That's
the Way It Is", and Elvis was more involved in the film.
He gave a long tape interview in September 1972 to producers Pierre
Adidge and Bob Adel and parts of
the tape were used in the film, for instance, at the start, where Elvis
spoke about his father's scepticism of Elvis' becoming a guitar player,
and where he also talks about his early movements on stage and his Gospel
singing.
The film begins very excitingly with Elvis singing "Johnny
Be Goode" over the credits, and this opening sequence is
the best in any Elvis film, using the multi-image effect. Elvis is filmed
arriving at the auditoriums, waiting nervously backstage (surrouded
by his aides and his father), and then appearing on stage to rapturous
welcomes. The multiple-image effect is used throughout the film, to
great effect, though mesmerizing in such songs as "Polk
Salad Annie", with its stunning karate ending. Part of several
concerts are shown, interspersed with rare footage of the first Ed
Sullivan Show, Army induction, Elvis in his gold suit, and
other clips and stills. The audience can never appreciate what's coming
next; the film reflects a real Elvis concert - unpredicatable and exciting.
Two of the best segments showed Elvis in the L.A. studios recording
"Seperate Ways", and then driving
to his jet plane with J.D. Sumner and the
Stamps and Charlie
Hodge. Elvis is seen being driven to and from the concerts, running
the gauntlet of fans as he exits and enters the hotels and concert halls.
He's seen rehearsing, teasing fans, and giving outstanding performances
of songs like "Bridge Over Troubled Water",
"An American Trilogy","Lord
You Gave Me A Mountain", "Lawdy
Miss Clawdy", and so on. Two very telling scenes are when
he is riding in a car. A faraway look comes into his face as he smiles
at some rememberance, and when the cameras stayed on his face while
listening to the Stamps do "Sweet
Sweet Spirit".
In between shots of Elvis singing and kissing his fans in "Love
Me Tender", many "kissing" scenes from previous
MGM movies were edited in, and this made for a very entertaining segment.
There were scenes of preparations for the concerts by the stage crew,
and of fans arriving excitedly at concerts and waiting for Elvis to
arrive on stage. The inevitable fan interviews were included, but they
fitted in more smoothly than in TTWII.
A Travelogue of where the tour had taken Elvis to (in April 1972) was
shown while the original "Mystery Train"
record was played. Graceland was shown in all its beauty; the music
gates swing excitingly open and Vernon Presley
rode a horse with the house in the background. There was a tantalizing
glimpse of the Trophy Room and a few of the Gold Discs, as Vernon
told about the wild fans. Shots of Elvis Presley Boulevard segue into
a great clip of the June 1972 press conference. A highlight sequence
showed Elvis on his plane wuth the mayor of Roanoke, and then meeting
fans at the airport.
Elvis wa seen in several jumpsuits of deep red, white and light &
dark blue. The outfits were studded and spangled, and had matching capes.
He looked a little heavier than in TTWII,
but with just as magnetic a personality.
A lot of action is packed into the film, along with nostalgia and good
music. Like the Elvis shows themselves, it had to finish; and the end
of the film shows Elvis running off stage after "Can't
Help Falling In Love" and into a waiting limousine, which
carries him swiftly and safely away from the seething thousands beyond
the footlights. As the closing credits roll, "Memories"
is the perfect background music to the travelling and backstage scenes
being shown. As the film fades, there's a reprise of the shot of Elvis
in the car, smiling at some distant memory.
Elvis On Tour is a marvellous film,
capturing Elvis doing what he did best; singing for his fans. Like TTWII,
it will always be a cherished, favouirite movie and a fitting memorial
to the King.
Excerpt
Taken From The Complete Elvis
