This is Elvis FACT OR FICTION ?

[dennyelvis]

I just been watching This is Elvis it was reshown in UK .... and at the start it shows his entourage preparing his hotel room for a gig in Portland .... was this true did he have that show planned or was this a bit of movie nonsense?
Also are there any obvious factual blunders in the film .... i always get a bit baffled by the one where in some accounts Elvis is already in the Army when Gladys takes ill ! :hmm: but in others he has'nt left yet ..... would love to hear of any there are in this biopic !

[Mr. Songman]

Elvis was scheduled to play in Portland, Maine on August 17, 1977. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas when his mother passed away.

[Albert]

One thing that I find very bad in this movie, is that they're using original footage and scripted footage through eachother. All the talking with fans ("He's working too hard", "it's because of the bodyguards") and newsitems ( "Elvis is in the baptist hospital behind me", "we found his girlfriend Ginger in the giftshop") are confusing.

They should add something like 'reconstruction footage' to those scenes. Many people today still belief that those clips (shot in 1980) are real. Just like the footage of the ambulance entering the hospital. It takes a lot of credit for this documentary because of the thin line between fact/fiction.

Another stupid thing is the huge range of jumpsuits that they supposably put in Elvis' hotelroom at August 16 (or 17). Like he was going to wear a jumpsuit from 1972 :doh:

I still have the silent hopes that they will redo this documentary/movie, but this time with different footage (25 years later we have/know much more).

[Captain Elwood David]

There are a ton of errors in This Is Elvis, ........... that really only matter to hardcore fans.

Some errors are very blatant, however. One that comes to mind is the use of 70's TTWII rehearsal footage in the context that EP was preparing for 1960's opening nights / events. There are others, too many to list, in detail.

The presentation of the EIC "Are You Lonesome Tonight" footage - entirely out of context, with a very obvious & intentional NEGATIVE slant - is also responsible for much of the misunderstanding surrounding Elvis' joking / mumbling during the spoken part of this song & in part, how the '77 Elvis is generally viewed in a severly skewed manner.

I also think it is highly likely that the purported "Ambulance" footage (from August 16, 1977) - circulating among hardcore / private collectors - is actually related to the filming / staging of "TIE."

---------------------------------

Even though I enjoy the movie a lot, I think it has contributed to much misunderstanding & MYTH in The Elvis World.


- Capt. "EL."

[Albert]

During musiclessons on school the "Are You Lonesome Tonight" scene from This Is Elvis was used to portray that Elvis forgot the lyrics often during the final part of his life and messed up his shows.

Fans know that Elvis loved to fool around during Are You Lonesome Tonight (along with the wonderfull "gay versions" with Charlie Hodge).

[quinn53]

Ok, sure the thing has mistakes. Personally, I think they did a hell of a good job. I showed the movie to a non- Elvis fan recently and she gained a lot of respect for Elvis.

[AKing]

I think "This Is Elvis" is more a movie than a documentary in many ways. It shows the producers slant on what happened. The errors mention in previous posts are many! What I liked more than anything about this movie is the fact that it showed a lot of footage that until that point in time was hard to come by and find! It remains a favorite despite it's many errors. But the true fans know what they are and disguard them as poetic licence.
I have a nice DVD of this movie with chapters etc... I hope one day they do revisit this film and give it the slant and error replacement that it needs to be a masterpeice.....

[Lonniebealestreet]

I also think it is highly likely that the purported "Ambulance" footage (from August 16, 1977) - circulating among hardcore / private collectors - is actually related to the filming / staging of "TIE."Very interesting! I've never considered that possibility. I used to have that footage on a VCD, which was very grainy (probably both because it was several generations from the master and because of the nature of VCDs), and from what's on there, I would never have made the connection. But, just because the footage used in the movie doesn't match up doesn't mean--like you suggested--that they weren't setting up the shoot or whatever. Furthermore, it could well have been a fan (the owner of the "Elvis van"?) who knew they were filming there and wanted to try and catch some of it on video. Then after he, or someone who ended up with the footage, thought about what he had and what it looked like, the Lichter within took over and the rest is history.

It seems like a car buff could watch that footage and spot some vehicles that wouldn't have been around yet in '77.

[Captain Elwood David]

Lonnie -

Two things make me question the "authenticity" of the film (Ambulance footage):

1. The quality (as you've stated) is extremely poor, yet suddenly (and dramatically) improves when it later shows footage of fans gathering @ the gates after the news was out. (Definitely not from the same source filming - yet made to appear so).

2. Observe carefully when the ambulance is exiting the gates & turning onto EP Blvd.. IMO, the traffic on the street (both, immediately before & after) matches what you see in "TIE."

I could, of course, be mistaken, ............. but remain highly skeptical of the footage being what it is purported to be.

-----------------------------------

On another note:

EP's "Are You Lonesome Tonight" from EIC was all "tongue-in-cheek." It has, IMO, unfairly been focused upon and incorrectly interpreted by both fans & non-fans alike.

The trigger for the event, can be heard, ........ when some fans in the audience can be heard yelling in reply to EP's rhetorical question during the lyrics:

"I wonder if, you're lonesome tonight .... ?"

To which some fans reply .............. " Y-E-E-E-E-E-E-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S !!!!!"

This immediately sends EP off on a tangent, as he jokingly starts playing around with the song.

You can hear it best on the CD & see EP's response during the EIC Outtakes.

Match 'em up guys, ............. I did. "AYLT" was an intentional comedy routine by 1977 (Hodge's "gay" routine, etc.).

"AYLT" has been blown, way, way out of context to advance an agenda (ie: an preconcieved & incorrect opinion). Much of it stems from "TIE."

--------------------------------

For the record, ............. I like "TIE" (always have) .............. voice-overs & all. Saw it multiple times @ the theatres when it debuted ............ and often return to it time & time again.

Like I said, the errors only matter to hardcore fans (and there are a lot, on both counts).


- Capt. "EL."

[Abbi]

Yes AYLT was turned into a comedy routine in Elvis In Concert but only after Elvis starts slurring the words. Watch carefully it is obvious his mouth is trying to form a word but he cant control his tongue. He did perform it as a comedy routine sometimes but I believe he intended to perform it straight in Elvis In Concert. I believe in Omaha he mentioned that he can sing but he can't speak, trying to hide the fact that he was slurring.
Yet despite this I admire Elvis for salvaging something out of a very embarassing situation.

[Captain Elwood David]

Abbi,

I've already discussed this in great detail on another MB and have no desire to get into lengthy debates again.

A few quick points to recap:

1. "AYLT" was not serious @ the other venue filmed for EIC. I see no reason to expect it to be any different on this occassion.

2. EP often made mistakes / screwed lyrics up while "officially" being filmed ('68 Comeback / TTWII & outtakes / OT / Aloha / ................. & yes, EIC, too). EP doing the same in EIC is seized upon by critics because he died several weeks later.

3. What you call "slurred" ................. I attribute, in part, to EP's tendency to stutter when speaking (especially when nervous) (eg: Jaycees speech). That said, I am not trying to blow off the fact that EP was medicated in 1977 (and many times in years prior).

--------------------------------------

Like I said, ................ I invite others to check it out for themselves .......... the "trigger" (EP smiles, laughs, & immediately starts messing around) ............ that I discussed above that starts the entire episode with "AYLT." It's a critical point to properly understanding what follows.

Minus the "trigger" event, I might be apt to agree with those saying otherwise. However, in light of the cause being evident, .......................

Suffice to say, .... I see things a bit differently.


- Capt. "EL."

[veronik]

During musiclessons on school the "Are You Lonesome Tonight" scene from This Is Elvis was used to portray that Elvis forgot the lyrics often during the final part of his life and messed up his shows.

Fans know that Elvis loved to fool around during Are You Lonesome Tonight (along with the wonderfull "gay versions" with Charlie Hodge).

Ok.Talking about the "gay versions"with Charlie Hodge comes to my mind a question and that is:Is it true that Elvis hated Gays?During a presentation in San Francisco,California an old buddy of mine who is gay says that he had the chance to meet Elvis in person,but he din't go because he was afraid that Elvis would reject him.I just can't picture Elvis rejecting someone because of gender preferencess.........but he was human.Maybe he did.I just wanted some fee back on this subjet and see who knows if it was true. :hmm:

[Mr. Songman]

Another stupid thing is the huge range of jumpsuits that they supposably put in Elvis' hotelroom at August 16 (or 17). Like he was going to wear a jumpsuit from 1972

Keep in mind that only a few of us know this. The general public would have no idea. That's why WE are here. They can't slip those things by us.

[Little Sister]

Ok.Talking about the "gay versions"with Charlie Hodge comes to my mind a question and that is:Is it true that Elvis hated Gays?During a presentation in San Francisco,California an old buddy of mine who is gay says that he had the chance to meet Elvis in person,but he din't go because he was afraid that Elvis would reject him.I just can't picture Elvis rejecting someone because of gender preferencess.........but he was human.Maybe he did.I just wanted some fee back on this subjet and see who knows if it was true. :hmm:

From what I've heard Elvis thought nothing special of gays if they didn't bother him. What most people - or men at least - feel. I mean, one of his best friends from the 50s was gay - Nick Adams - its not know if Elvis knew about at the time, but he did find out about it later... So I doubt that he HATED gays.

[Lonniebealestreet]

Thanks for elaborating on the ambulance video, Captain. That's very intriguing. I'll have to watch it again with that in mind. However, I no longer have my copy (long story)...but I recall it being available for download on some website not too long ago. I'll look around for it.

I know what you mean about whatever the fan yelled putting him in goofy mode. As I recall, as he heard it, you see the smile on his face widen and then it starts. The scene is certainly misinterpreted to a huge degree.

I'd have to watch it again to re-examine it, but as I recall my honest impression is that one of those goofs was likely an actual vocal miscue (but like the Captain was saying, he was susceptible to making them throughout his career), and in the rest of the recitation, he was just playing around.

But featuring it as they did in This Is Elvis was an obvious attempt to illustrate how bad he had become. "Look at poor pathetic Elvis--forgetting word after word in one of his signature songs." Give me a break.

That's not to say Elvis didn't have some difficulty with his speech during that show (and Omaha). But in that scene I fully believe it was almost all intentional.

Abbi, you're correct that he himself ackowledged that in Omaha. But I believe the Captain is also correct that most of it was a matter of his stutter coming out.

In spite of its faults, I also greatly enjoy This Is Elvis. The best segments to me are the ones featuring the songs Too Much Monkey Business, I've Got A Thing About You Baby, and Always On My Mind, as well as the clips showing some very frank discussion from Elvis :lol: and the karate segment.

I know what you mean, Albert, about all those suits being shown as potential choices for him to wear on the tour that never was. But since the producers had access to them--to an extent that surely never will be repeated--I don't blame them for using their artistic license to feature them all like that. It blows my mind to see them all being wheeled around like that...like it's no big deal. Of course at that time not too much thought had likely been given to their preservation, but regardlesss, it's something to see them all being moved around like that.

Access to the suits reminded me of the other great thing about the movie: the access to Graceland! It's so cool to see that footage inside the house pre-Priscilla's redecoration, including a good look at the upstairs.

Though Johnny Harra was bigger than Elvis was, I thought the opening re-enactment scenes with him in it were done pretty well.

Also clever (if not completely planned) and moving, was the transition from the funeral footage to the Hampton Roads performance of American Trilogy at the end of the movie. The way the camera (because of the helicopter it was on) pulled away from the scene below seemed to suggest an ascent to the heavens. And then Elvis in Hampton Roads looked pale and not unlike an apparition with that blue light on him; it was a little eery, actually. "You know your daddy's bound to die/But all my trials, Lord, will soon be over/...His truth is marching on"...It really all fits together quite well.

Although it leads to some misinterpretations, the movie is a really good crash course in Elvis history...well, it's like the "Cliff Notes" at least.

[Captain Elwood David]

I know what you mean, Albert, about all those suits being shown as potential choices for him to wear on the tour that never was. But since the producers had access to them--to an extent that surely never will be repeated--I don't blame them for using their artistic license to feature them all like that. It blows my mind to see them all being wheeled around like that...like it's no big deal. Of course at that time not too much thought had likely been given to their preservation, but regardlesss, it's something to see them all being moved around like that.
You are correct. When the film was made, EP's items were not generally viewed in the same light that they are today.

That all changed, of course, ......... once Graceland opened for the public in the early 80's and the area of collecting as relating to EP owned personal items didn't really "explode" until the early 90's.


Access to the suits reminded me of the other great thing about the movie: the access to Graceland! It's so cool to see that footage inside the house pre-Priscilla's redecoration, including a good look at the upstairs.
The extremely rare footage of the upstairs before it was Disneyfied for public consumption in 1982 is definitely a major treat for hardcore fans.

Would love to have all outtakes / cut scenes included as a "bonus" on a DVD re-issue; I'd buy one in a hot second.

Some very small details notwithstanding, the depictions of the events upstairs are - surprisingly quite accurate. Having Strada (who is no longer with us) & Esposito re-enact was a positive contribution for the history books / record; it is also the main reason serving the accuracy of the depictions.

--------------------------------------

BTW, ......... getting back to EP's "slurring" during EIC:

To those saying otherwise ..........

Sorry, .................... I just don't buy it to the extent that many are trying to sell it. If it were true, ........ EP wouldn't have been able to sing / perform as well as he did throughout the shows (once again, .......... "moments of trancendence", if you will).


- Capt. "EL."

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I think far to much is made of AYLT and the slurred speach goofing about :blink: Its like anything, if it is taken out on context you can make it look far worse than it actually was. I believe Elvis was still able to have fun and more especially could poke fun at himself and the songs he had being doing for many years.

To me this was one of the songs Elvis liked to goof about with, the laughing version illistrates this perfectly :D

[Captain Elwood David]

To me this was one of the songs Elvis liked to goof about with, the laughing version illistrates this perfectly
Yeah, ........... glad EP didn't do that version in 1977.

Just think of the field day everybody would have with that one. ;)


- Capt. "EL."

[Joe Car]

Personally I don't think EP hated anybody. He might have been uncomfortable around gays, but keep in mind your talking about years ago when it was viewed much differently and I dare say most "straight" men felt the same way as Elvis did back then.

[Mike DK]

One of Elvis' closest friends, Charlie Hodge, is gay. Not sure if he was gay back when Elvis lived or if he "came out of the closet" later on.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

One of Elvis' closest friends, Charlie Hodge, is gay. Not sure if he was gay back when Elvis lived or if he "came out of the closet" later on.


I didn't know that :supriced: not that it matters. I think if this was the case I think Elvis would have known and it didn't bother him obvioulsy.

[0349054]

Charlies isnt gay! He has a wife for Gods sake.

[Captain Elwood David]

Charlies isnt gay! He has a wife for Gods sake.
Agreed, ........... on both counts.

Lots of girlfriends, too ............ in EP's days.

------------------------

Besides, ............... even if he was, ............. who cares.

-----------------------

That said, Hodge could - at times - get extremely jealous of others around / close to EP (much like a woman in this regard ........... ;) )


- Capt. "EL."

[ComeBackChick]

One of Elvis' closest friends, Charlie Hodge, is gay. Not sure if he was gay back when Elvis lived or if he "came out of the closet" later on.

Charlie is gay? This is news to me! I had no idea! :blink:

[Davey]

Charlies isnt gay! He has a wife for Gods sake.
Well...so did Elton John but anyway...

Re. the jumpsuit scene, I think this was from the Omaha & Rapid City shows rather than the opening night of the August tour. I mean, why would they have cameras filming the beginning of the new tour, unless the tv special was considered unfinished (because of the planned 3rd show that wasn't given the go ahead to be filmed) and they wanted to film a few of the opening shows of the new tour to get some stronger performances for the special.

[Captain Elwood David]

The "jumpsuit scene" (if we are talking about the one where they wheeled them in w/ belts on the rack) was re-enactment - (same goes for the hotel, "Tonight @ 8:00" sign, etc.).

EP couldn't even wear most of the jumpsuits you see in that clip - in '77. Average "Joe" public - like with many other instances in the film - wouldn't know anyway.

I enjoyed the re-enactments from This Is Elvis. Still do.


- Capt. "EL."

[T_J]

I still can't believe the number of fans who think AYLT from Elvis in Concert was intended as a joke version. Of course he often messed around with the song, but he also sang it straight too and this was going to be an example of that. He doesn't jokingly change a word and then start to mess around. He completely loses his way because of the impact medication has on his speech. Yes he laughs, but he's laughing to cover up embarrassment over the loss of control. Like a pro he ends up using one of his familiar joke lines in an effort to convince people that he'd meant the whole thing as a joke all along. I guess that worked, considering how many buy into that. Just look closer and see the flicker of concern on his face when it starts to go wrong. Check the eyes. This was not a joke, it was a screw up and not one that he found amusing, despite his efforts to hide it.

[Mr. Songman]

Omaha was just as bad if not worse. He completely skips a line then stops and starts over. Are You Lonesome Tonight is disasterous in both the Omaha and Rapid City concerts and was not much better during all of 1977. There are many soundboard shows as well as audience recorded shows that prove this. In one particular show, he left out the line "Does your memories stray." He stops the song and asks what the line is and Estelle, of the Sweet Inspirations tells him, "does your memories stray." She has to repeat it at least 3 times because he can't hear her. After repeating "does your memories stray" for the last time, Elvis asks her, "does yours?" Estelle quickly replies "yours did." After he says, "cute, cute, Estelle" he starts the song again. He would have been better off not doing the song at all during the final tours.

[Captain Elwood David]

TJ -

I still can't believe how some want to attribute everything (every stumble, miscue, mistake) EP ever did wrong in the later 70's ......... to drug use.

It's an easy cop-out & negatively self-serving ........... and incorrect .............. view of the events.

----------------------

Songman -

I view the instance of which you speak ........... more as a reflection of EP's terminal apathy (ie: going thru the motions with little / no preparation or rehearsal) ....... doing the minimum to get by / get the job done.

If you really get right down to it, the man shouldn't have even been touring later in '77.


- Capt. "EL."