Elvis On Tour (1972)

[Albert]

ELVIS ON TOUR

Theatrical-Release: 1972
Studio: MGM
Director: Pierre Adidge & Robert Abel
Producer: Pierre Adidge & Robert Abel
Film Length: 93 mins
Colour/B&W: Colour


Cast:

Elvis Presley

Story:

This great documentary follows Elvis on his 1972 national concert tour.

Movie Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=NL&hl=nl&v=-aXRw2qiBIo

Songs:


Johnny B Goode
See See Rider
Polk Salad Annie
Seperate Ways
Proud Mary
Never Been To Spain
Burning Love
Lighthouse
Lead Me Guide Me
Rock My Soul
Love Me Tender
I John
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Funny How Time Slips Away
American Trilogy
I Got A Woman
A Big Hunk O' Love
Lawdy Miss Clawdy
You Gave Me A Mountain
Can't Help Falling In Love
Memories

[LeMond]

I prefer this movie over That's the way it is because it captures Elvis on tour through the United States and that's exactly what he did the most in the 70's.
I especially like the scenes before and after the shows and the footage of Elvis at the airport.

[Wendy56]

CREDITS:

Metro-Goldwin-Mayer
Produced and directed by Pierre Adidge and Robert Abel
Photographed by Robert Thomas
Opening act by Jackie Kahane
Edited by Ken Zemke
Montage supervised by Martin Scorsese
Research by Andrew Solt, Carole Kismaric, and Jack Goelman.
Elvis' wardrobe by Bill Belew

Released on November 1st, 1972

MUSICIANS WITH ELVIS:

James Burton
Charlie Hodge
Ronnie Tutt
Glen Hardin
Jerry Scherff
John Wilkinson
Orchestra director: Joe Guercio

Background and vocals by:

Kathy Westmoreland
The Sweet Inspirations
J.D Sumner
The Stamps Quartet

[Wendy56]

SONGS:

* Johnny B. Goode
* See See Rider
* Polk Salad Annie
* Separate Ways
* Proud Mary
* Never Been To Spain
* Burning Love
* That's All Right (Mama)
* Lead Me, Guide Me
* Bosom of Abraham
* Love Me Tender
* Until It's Time for You to Go
* Suspicious Minds
* I, John
* Bridge Over Troubled Water
* Funny How Time Slips Away
* An American Trilogy
* Mystery Train
* I Got a Woman/Amen
* A Big Hunk o' Love
* You Gave Me a Mountain
* Lawdy Miss Clawdy
* Can't Help Falling in Love
* Memories

* Lighthouse (sung by J.D Sumner and The Stamps Quartet)
* Sweet Sweet Spirit (sung by J.D Sumner and The Stamps Quartet)

[Wendy56]

Elvis on Tour is one of my favorite movies (documentaries). It was the second Elvis movie I ever saw, and the second documentary to capture him during live performances. This one was focused on Elvis' road show. *1 “We follow the singer's 15-city tour in the spring of 1972. The tour started in Buffalo, New York, and came to a rousing conclusion in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Much of the tour centered in the South, where Elvis' popularity reached a peak in the 1970s.”

From the very beginning, (movie) audience' attention is captured. The sequence introducing the title of the film is great: very “Vegas-style” with neon lights. The multiple-screen (split-screen: screen divided, showing different —multiple— perspectives of a scene) creates dynamism and excitement while “Johnny B. Goode” song is playing. Precisely, the split-screen is one of the principal characteristics of Elvis on Tour. By 1972, these kind of techniques where new and original.

To keep increasing fans adrenaline, this documentary starts with “See See Rider”. Elvis used to sing this particular song (not in every concert…) to begin his show, so it is a powerful way to commence the film. What a performance! In that same tone, “Polk Salad Annie”, “Never Been to Spain”, and many wonderful songs can be listened too.

The original idea of Elvis on Tour was to show the “real Elvis”, backstage and off-guard. But that didn't happen exactly like that. *2 “According to filmmakers Pierre Adidge and Robert Abel in the press kit for the documentary: ‘… after we filmed [Elvis] on tour and were allowed to shoot and record in places he had never allowed cameras in the past, we finally asked if he would mind talking about himself. He thought awhile and finally agreed’”. Those Elvis' comments didn't reveal the “truth” or something about him beyond the limits, however, those words were certainly useful and interesting to his fans.

As this film was thought to give an idea to the public of how the “king's” live performances were, movie-audience is able to see Elvis during the process of making up a concert. During the film, we can see him backstage, getting ready to offer an unforgettable show in every occasion. Also, people have the chance to observe how stage was prepared: audio and lighting checking, plus other activities related to it.

In helping to provide the audience a complete experience of being a part of a live show, sequences of people arriving to the place where performance was going to be done, are being displayed on screen. Scenes of Elvis backstage are great. We can even look his expressions (face gestures): feeling his nervousness and impatience to fill the audience with his music and presence.

There's a cool flash back to the 50s. Two performances of Elvis from the October 28th “Ed Sullivan Show” (“Don't Be Cruel” and “Ready Teddy” songs). Due to split-screen, public can see the reactions of fans from that time along Elvis is singing and dancing. Maybe filmmakers tried to demostrate the “king” was still popular and acclaimed for young and old audience, just like the beginning of his career.

Quick references to the Army epoch (by some pictures and sequences) and the Madison Square Garden conference are presented in Elvis on Tour documentary as well. Even Vernon Presley did a small appearing on screen talking about his son. Disc Jockey George Klein (he's now leading programs at “Elvis Radio Sirius” via Internet) can be viewed there too.

The “gospel-side” of Elvis wasn't greatly known in the 50s. (though he has marvelous songs from that era), instead, this facet is openly-expressed in Elvis on Tour. We can see the “king” doing some rehearsals along with his band. The ultimate Elvis-gospel-feeling can be remarked in the middle-film: songs like “Lighthouse”, “Lead Me, Guide Me” and “Bosom of Abraham” prove Elvis' passion for that beautiful kind of Music.

Two of my favorite songs are included in this film: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “I Got a Woman/Amen”. The first one is a touching, but powerful version; and the second song lights up the stage with pure energy. Actually, the whole repertory selected for Elvis' second documentary was awesome. His voice was magnificent by the time of 1972 (and beyond that date).

To finish the film, (and to continue with the idea of making the movie-audience feel how a live concert was) the chosen song was “Can't Help Falling In Love”. The final credits are accompanied by moving scenes of Elvis and his band in rehearsals. Also, many cute-fun moments portraying them off-concert, showing they good relationship, are displayed on screen.

Elvis on Tour is an excellent film. I truly love and hardly recommend it. Is a caring view of Elvis, after “That's the Way It Is” documentary.

Funny fact: The cost of this film production was of 600,000 dollars. It was recouped in only three days (in movie theaters). Elvis' fee was of 1 million dollars (!)

Quotes (and more info) can be found in this book: :-D

*1 DOLL, Susan. Best of Elvis. USA, Publications International, 1996, pages 88-89.
*2 Ibidem.

[Tommy]

Hi Wendy,

Excellent! Really like the whole review. Some very interesting details were written that I didn't know about. Thank you and keep up the great work.

Thank you for being a true Elvis fan.

Tommy

[Wendy56]

Excellent! Really like the whole review. Thank you for being a true Elvis fan.

THANK YOU for reading my review... I tried to make it right. I'll keep doing something similar (or hope so). I LOVE Elvis!!!!!!! Want to be "a good fan" for sure!
Thanks for your kind words.

[Tommy]

You are welcome Wendy,

Tommy

[Hans]

Excelent review Wendy. A treat to read..!

[Wendy56]

Excelent review Wendy. A treat to read..!

Thank you (for reading my text) Hans!

[nabelt24]

Good review, Wendy! I can't wait untill they deliver a "Special Edition" of "Elvis On Tour"!!!! I hope it's just around the corner!!!!

[Wendy56]

Good review, Wendy! I can't wait untill they deliver a "Special Edition" of "Elvis On Tour"!!!! I hope it's just around the corner!!!!

T-h-a-n-k-s nabelt24. Yes, Elvis on Tour is an excellent option. I'm sure you're going to enjoy it.

[Indre]

I love ALL the Elvis documentaries. I don't watch them, I eat them, suck them in, I swallow them, lol...there was a time a few years ago when I couldn't live a day without watching at least a short excerpt of some documentary. Usually it was the Johny B. Good part, or the Burning Love, Proud Mary parts in THIS movie, or any other cool stuff from That's The Way It is, or This Is Elvis, or Aloha....Now I don't have a VCR, so I am satisfied with audio material.....ok, will stop now, I just wanna say that I'm a huge admirer of this movie, and if anyone hasn't seen it, I highly recommend to watch it

[Trev1]

Hi Wendy,

Your review is great, I think Elvis on Tour is a very well made documentary...

I have some thoughts on what I and would think other fans would like to see in a deluxe DVD edition of Elvis on Tour ::

1. Tha full original documentary (obviously)
2. A full concert from spring 72'
3. Elvis's full press conference from the Madison square gardens concery

Any other thoughts on what you would like to see included?

It will probably be years before anything happens but heres hoping!

Trevor

[Wendy56]

Hi Wendy,

Your review is great, I think Elvis on Tour is a very well made documentary...

I have some thoughts on what I and would think other fans would like to see in a deluxe DVD edition of Elvis on Tour ::

1. Tha full original documentary (obviously)
2. A full concert from spring 72'
3. Elvis's full press conference from the Madison square gardens concery

Any other thoughts on what you would like to see included?

It will probably be years before anything happens but heres hoping!

Trevor

Thank you so much for reading. I wrote that review long time ago... Tried to do my best. Hope I have improved myself in that.

And about your question, well, I'd love to see the whole thing! You're SO RIGHT: Elvis On Tour is an awesomedocumentary. I guess that 72 spring concert would be great to watch. I'm already waiting for that deluxe DVD edition.

Thanks once more for reading.

Best Wishes.

[franny]

Wendy56, thanks for your great reviews!

I was just wondering, wasn't the song Always On My Mind in the 1972 Tour?
I didn't see it on the list...Does anyone know?

franny

[Wendy56]

I was just wondering, wasn't the song Always On My Mind in the 1972 Tour? I didn't see it on the list...

Yep, the song is included, as far as I know... (Sorry about that ). But I guess you better question to Albert, Tommy or Sonny... They're such Elvis experts.

[Sonny]

From memory, I guess "Always On My Mind" wasn't in "On Tour".

Some of the "On Tour" footage was used in f.i. "The Great Performances" dvd series, while playing "Always On My Mind".

But if I'm wrong, correct me, please.

Sonny

[amzietamzie]

I think you're right Sonny. I just watched Elvis on Tour recently and thought I remembered seeing Always on My Mind on it, but it never came up. So yeah, the Great Performances sounds like that's where the footage is.

By the way, GREAT review Wendy! I love this film!

[franny]

I think Always On My Mind is on the Elvis on Tour CD, but it wasn't in the movie version...maybe that's what I was thinking...

franny