Elvis on Tour (1972)

hyped garbage

A Masterpiece!

A Disappointing Continuation

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Five years from his death, Elvis was still an amazingly powerful stage presence. When this documentary was filmed in 1972, Elvis's face had puffed out and he wore garish, polyester-looking costumes but he was still a handsome man with an incredibly seductive voice. Near-sighted and stage-frighted, he is disarmingly humble company in this understated road and concert film."He wanted to run where his feet wouldn't go…Like a bridge over covered water, I will ease your mind…Train, train coming down the line…I can't help falling in love with you…" Wherever he is going in his music, Elvis draws you in in this excellent film -- before ever-adoring, screaming crowds or singing in the back seat of a car with his gospel-inspired sidemen.Elvis evidently went seriously downhill at some point, but I was happy to see he seemed to be doing OK so late in his life. He had an incredible gift to share and this wonderful film captures why he will always be loved.

this documentary was excellent. it is the king at his finest. he comes onto the stage sings a brilliant see see rider with all the surge of electricity of his entrance then he bursts into an excellent Polk salad Annie and rocks the joint. then throughout the film he sings love songs and dramatic songs and more rock songs all with the rawness and power that is the king Elvis Presley! this documentary deserved the golden globe that it had won. it is a professional---yet raw and rocky performance by the king following him from his changing room to the stage and then off stage into his limo and then on to the next city. this film deserves a lot more than what it got in the ratings i would give it a 9/10 because it is not just a film---it is a film of the king of rock'n'roll doing what he does best!

I should stay on the fence for this one. I mean, it's always an either/or situation when it comes to Elvis Presley: either you subscribe to a fanatical worship of him, going so far as to calling him the King, or you attack him with a generous portion of cynicism, remarking more about his capes, kung fu and his weight than about his music. Well, for me, it's always about the music. His music is what lives on. And the music is what works best in this film. Being able to watch him rehearse with band mates while backstage was an amazing 'fly on the wall' experience. Elvis had a love for music that was inspiring, and as you can see on the film, even his band members shared in the love for music and were very much in awe of him and his musical abilities. I guess that's what I take away from the film most, his love for music, whether it's country, blues, gospel or rock and roll, Elvis loved music. It was also a great thrill to see his band working out through their first live rendition of 'Burning Love' or to hear his dramatic rendition of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. These moments are definitive proof of Elvis' ability to captivate an audience, just stunning. However, I could have done without the cheesy '2001' intro, but you must remember, it was the 70's and who knows, you may get a perverse chuckle from hearing it. The 'Love Me Tender' film montage left me feeling sad in a number of ways. 1) In the clips we see Elvis as a young man, fit and charismatic, brimming over with so much promise. Then to cut back to see the current Elvis on stage in his capes. Just depressing.2) The film images for the montage were taken from all of those films he made when he should have been concentrating on his music. Ironicly, the films kept him from making great music for a long period of time. Given the choice, I would rather he made music instead of 'Girls Girls Girls' or 'Viva Las Vegas' or any movie. It almost gives credence to something that is said in the film, in a totally non related way, when a loud speaker declares, "The Elvis Presley Show is a complete sell out".All in all.....fans will loooooove the movie. People who can take or leave Elvis will deal with the movie and appreciate his talents, or at least they should. Those who are not fans will laugh at his costumes, his posse and his sides....hairy and otherwise. And you know, that's just not a good enough reason.Me? I guess I lean more towards the 'either'.7/10.Clark Richards

This is a good film for those that consider themselves as fans. The film shows many behind the scenes footage as well as concert footage. The casual fan may become board, and I would probably recommend Aloha From Hawaii for a simple concert with polished sound. However, this film goes beyond the concert and shows the preparation, fan fair, and a glimpse into a superstar's life. Elvis still looks to be in good health, and one must consider the fashion of the 1970's. This is before giant screens, laser shows, and special effects were on the scene. So extravagant costumes added to his persona. For the most part Elvis seems to be very jovial, but a few times (e.g., When staring out of car window and when receiving a gift from a town official {Though he is humble and respectful}) somewhat bored and reflective. One must also consider that this is filmed approximately five years before his untimely death (i.e. His appearance remained good up until approximately the last two years of his life). The spiritual side of the man is also shown to a great degree in this film, with several gospel songs sung by him and his backup vocalist.