Movies

Elvis and the Colonel: Clark takes jabs at Parker [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Dick Clark, executive producer of the NBC television movie Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story, launched an attack against Colonel Tom Parker during a January press tour promoting the American Music Awards.

“I’ve held that story for 20 years,” he said. “I wanted it told so badly because it’s the classic example of horrendous mismanagement. Elvis was a great talent, a national treasure.”

He went on to state some facts about Colonel Parker’s mismanagement of Elvis’ career. The comments were out of character for Clark, who almost never comments negatively on anyone. He has been inside the music industry for over 40 years, launching the careers of countless performers, and his influence is a contributing factor in the continued popularity of rock music.

Clark is a genuine rock ‘n’ roll legend and must have many more horror stories to tell, yet this is the first time he has truly opened up.

“It’s my contention that had Elvis been handled properly and had loved ones around him who really cared, who weren’t just sucking his blood dry, he might be alive today,” he said.

These comments lead one to wonder how Clark could have possibly been satisfied by Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story, a poorly-made movie which did little to bring down the Colonel and instead made Elvis a villain. [Perhaps] this movie somehow got away from Clark, and, before he knew it, his original idea had been transformed into the fiasco which aired on NBC in January.

“(Parker) kept (Elvis) in a cage like an animal. He trotted him out like a trained bear,” Clark said. “Oopsy daisy. Stop. Time. I can’t say these things. You draw your own conclusions.”

See Elvis and the Colonel review on page 10.

Elvis and the Colonel: Buried In His Part [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter. I have edited out segments where I was overly harsh against this actor, as I now realize he was just trying to do a job even if I disliked the results.

Robb Youngblood gave an awful performance as “Elvis” in the NBC television movie Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story. Judging from recent interviews, Youngblood seems to feel that his portrayal of Elvis will jumpstart his [. . .] career.

“I’ve been struggling as an actor,” Youngblood said. [. . . .] “Until two years ago, I waited tables and tended bar. But hopefully I won’t have to do that anymore,” he said. [. . . .]

Youngblood was chosen from over 1,000 actors who auditioned for the role of “Elvis.” He insists that he did not get the part just because of his resemblance to Elvis. [. . . .]

Youngblood holds the “distinction” of being the first actor in a major US production to portray Elvis in his coffin, a fact which he is proud of. Although he was at his acting best during that scene, Youngblood could not even keep his eyelids from moving slightly.

Not only does Youngblood hope Elvis and the Colonel will help his acting career, he also hopes the movie will help start his singing career, for he also sang about half of the songs in the movie, while lip-synching the rest. He refuses to identify which of the songs he sang. They are easy to identify when one remembers that the rest of the songs were recorded by Ronnie McDowell, who has musical talent. [. . . .]

Youngblood has apparently recorded a country music album and said, “I hope to have that out in the spring, soon enough after this movie so it gives me some bounce.” [. . . .]

Elvis and the Colonel: The Way It Was [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

One mistake after another occurred in the NBC television movie Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story, which aired in January. On the rare occasions when the movie’s makers did decide to check their sources, it appears the only reference they bothered to use was the 1979 TV movie Elvis starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter.

Below is a listing of some of the many factual errors which appeared in Elvis and the Colonel:

  • “Elvis” is shown giving his mother a pink cadillac after they were already living at Graceland. In reality, Elvis gave her the car in 1956, while they did not move into Graceland until May 1957.
  • “Elvis” is shown in Elvis and the Colonel filming the movie Change of Habit in the 1950s. In actuality, Change of Habit was filmed in 1969 and was his last acting role.
  • “Colonel Parker” mentions that “Elvis”‘ gold cadillac could be toured while he was in the Army. The real Elvis did not even purchase the gold car until after his service in the Army.
  • Preparations for the taping of the 1968 ELVIS television special (now known as ELVIS: ’68 Comeback Special) are shown occurring in November of 1968. In reality, the special was taped in June of 1968.
  • The ELVIS special is a live broadcast in the movie. In actuality, ELVIS, as mentioned above, was taped in June 1968 and did not air until December of that year. It was the 1973 television special Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii that was broadcast live to some locations around the world.
  • “Elvis” is shown singing “Are You Lonesome Tonight” in a white, double-breasted suit during the ELVIS television special. In reality, “If I Can Dream” was the only song Elvis performed in the special wearing that suit.
  • “Heartbreak Hotel” in the movie concludes the ELVIS special. In actuality, “If I Can Dream” was the final song sung by Elvis in the special.
  • “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey) opens “Elvis”‘ opening night performance in July 1969 at the Las Vegas International Hotel in the movie. The fact is, the real Elvis did not begin using “Also Sprach Zarathustra” until 1971.
  • “Elvis” wears a white jumpsuit for the July 1969 opening performance in the movie. In reality, Elvis wore a simple black outfit for his first concert in years. The jumpsuit worn by the actor is a distorted version of one worn by Elvis in the film Elvis: That’s The Way It Is, which was from an August 1970 performance.
  • “Elvis” sings “The Wonder Of You” at the 1969 concert in the movie, while the song was not really performed by Elvis until 1970.
  • “Elvis” is shown extremely overweight by September of 1971 in the movie, which escalates until a 1973 performance in which he appears obese. In reality, Elvis was at or near his ideal weight during these years, as proven by video and photographs.
  • “Elvis” is shown in the movie complaining to “Colonel Parker” about turning down A Star Is Born in August 1973. In actuality, Elvis had not yet been offered a role in this 1976 movie.
  • “Elvis” and “Priscilla” never divorce in the film! Despite the fact that the real couple divorced in October 1973, the movie “Elvis” tells of a nightmare in July 1976 in which he dreamed that “Priscilla” had left him. In a 1981 courtroom scene, the judge refers to “Elvis” as “Priscilla”‘s late “husband,” instead of “ex-husband.”

Review – ELVIS: THE LOST PERFORMANCES [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 17 when I wrote this review back in 1992 for The Elvis Beat #2, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Elvis: The Lost Performances (Turner Home Entertainment), starring Elvis Presley, directed by Patrick Michael Murphy, released June 24, 1992.

“There was a guy who said one time . . . he said, ‘You never stood in that man’s shoes or saw things through his eyes. Or stood and watched with helpless hands while the heart inside you dies. So help your brother along the way, no matter where he starts. For the same God that made you made him, too – these men with broken hearts.’ I’d like to sing a slong along the same line,” Elvis finishes his beautiful speech and the band breaks into “Walk A Mile In My Shoes.”

Elvis: The Lost Performances is by far the best Elvis video ever. Hours of unseen footage from Elvis: That’s The Way It Is (1970) and Elvis On Tour (1972) were rescued from an MGM vault in Kansas, an abandoned salt mine. From this footage, one hour was chosen for The Lost Performances.

Part one gives the viewer a front-row seat at Elvis’ August 1970 engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. These are the most spectacular parts of this video, allowing fans to relive the excitement, or perhaps experience it for the first time. This is Elvis at his best.

The next segment gives a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse of Elvis in rehearsal for the aforementioned concerts. These clips demonstrate Elvis’ magnificent personality and sense of humor. Also of interest, Elvis sings several 1950s songs which have never been released in 1970s versions.

Finally, the clock turns to 1972 and Elvis is spotlighted on tour in Hampton, Virginia, and Greensboro, North Caroline. The highlights of this part are Elvis singing “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and “How Great Thou Art.”

A lot of effort was made to produce this video, and it shows. Turner Entertainment Company and Elvis Presley Enterprises are to be commended for their dedication to releasing “pure” Elvis on this video; the songs have not been cut and there is no annoying narration. It’s just Elvis, and that’s all his fans ever wanted.

This video really shows “the great performances” and no fan should be without it.

Songs:

  1. “Introduction/Walk A Mile In My Shoes”
  2. “The Wonder Of You”
  3. “Don’t Cry Daddy/In The Ghetto”
  4. “There Goes My Everything”
  5. “Make The World Go Away”
  6. “Just Pretend”
  7. “Heartbreak Hotel”
  8. “Twenty Days And Twenty Nights”
  9. “Love Me”
  10. “Hound Dog”
  11. “Don’t Be Cruel”
  12. “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water”
  13. “I Was The One”
  14. “The Cattle Call”
  15. “Baby, Let’s Play House”
  16. “Don’t”
  17. “Money Honey”
  18. “All Shook Up”
  19. “Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel”
  20. “Are You Lonesome Tonight”
  21. “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
  22. “How Great Thou Art”
  23. “Release Me”
  24. “I Can’t Stop Loving You”

Rating: 10 out of 10

New releases examine two phases of Elvis’ career [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 17 when I wrote this article back in 1992 for The Elvis Beat #2, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Wednesday, June 24, was, perhaps, the best day for Elvis fans in the past 15 years. It marked the debut of two long-awaited releases.

The first new release is RCA’s ELVIS: The King Of Rock ‘n’ Roll – The Complete 50s Masters (List Price: $79.98), a five-CD set which contains every master studio take recorded in the 1950s, several alternate takes, live tracks, and previously unreleased material (140 songs in all). 500,000 units were pre-shipped to record stores.

Included are “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin,” the songs an 18-year-old Elvis paid to record for his mother in 1953.

The other release is even more monumental. The Turner Entertainment video Elvis: The Lost Performances (List Price: $19.98) contains an hour’s worth of never-before-seen outtakes from the 1970s concert movies Elvis: That’s The Way It Is and Elvis On Tour. 25 songs are performed on this video. See review on page 6.

THAT’S THE WAY IT IS and ELVIS ON TOUR outtakes to be released [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 16 when I wrote this article back in 1992 for The Elvis Beat #1, the first issue of my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Turner Home Entertainment, which owns the rights to MGM’s Elvis: That’s The Way It Is (1970) and Elvis On Tour (1972), plans to release outtakes of both films on video in the near future.

That’s The Way It Is follows Elvis through rehearsals and several performances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Although hours and hours of footage were taken for the film, only the original footage from the less than two hour movie has been released yet.

Elvis On Tour follows Elvis on and off stage during an April 1972 tour. Again, many unreleased hours are yet to be seen.

We have no word on the release date of these videos, but The Elvis Beat will keep you informed with the latest information.