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Rating:  - The Next Best Thing to Being There
Among the great tunes included here--Red West's "Separate Ways", "Ready Teddy" (from the Ed Sullivan show), "Lead Me, Guide Me", "Bosom of Abraham", "I John", 'Bridge Over Troubled Water", "You Gave Me a Mountain", and, of course, the showstopping "American Trilogy". By this point, Elvis' touring band--Burton, Tutt, et. al.--were a well-oiled machine. The look of wonder on Elvis' face as he stands back to let J.D. Sumner and the Stamps do their number "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" says it all. Incidentally, I hear they're going to release the soundtrack album soon, some 28 years after the fact...
Rating:  - Taking care of business on stage!
Elvis is still looking good here in 1972 and anyone who loves "the king" will dig the man on stage in his last theatrically released film. There's also plenty of revealing behind-the-scenes footage to get you a little closer to his fast-paced lifestyle. In the jammin' concert numbers, a great background orchestra supports him, highlighted by the highly proficient french horn player, who happens to be my dad's brother! Needless to say, we have bought several copies and can't wait for this to come out on DVD. Check this wild tour movie out. Viva Las Elvis!
Rating: - Elvis Slipping Away
This is Elvis in a decidedly post-comeback funk, looking tired, stoned and bored much of the time, going through a routine that he, very obviously, was no longer enjoying a great deal. At one point in the film, Elvis is sitting in the back of his limousine after a show and asks, half-heartedly, "How was the sound in that building" as if he could care less. As one of his bodyguards noted after his death, Elvis needed a challenge more than anybody he knew, and the challenge by 1972 was no longer there. Compare this depressing documentary with the exuberant, involved Elvis of his '68 Comeback Special and Elvis--That's The Way It Is in 1970 and you plainly see the rapid deterioration that ultimately would lead to his death in his Graceland bathroom only five years later.
Rating: - A Revealing Look at Elvis in Decline
"Elvis On Tour" (1972) is a revealing portrait of an artist in obvious decline. Compared to the excellent "That's the Way It Is," the Presley seen "On Tour" looks like a different person - he's overweight, less enthusiastic and somewhat distant. Nevertheless, it's a fascinating film because it shows a different side of Elvis. Among the highlights are Presley's gospel numbers with J.D. Sumner and the Stamps. The live segments, however, lack the spontaneity and energy that dominated "That's the Way It Is." As a result, "Elvis On Tour" succeeds primarily as a historic document rather than a concert showcase.
Rating: - Elvis Comes Alive
This is the single Elvis documentary to capture the real energy of his best live performances. He may not look his very best -- drugs and weight-gain are slightly evident -- but he is positively electric on stage. The filmmaker also conveys a real sense of Elvis as the leader of a working band, not just as a lone, packaged figure. Most of all, the film gives the viewer an appreciation of Elvis's gospel roots and how they colored his live performances and his selection of bandmates. The musicianship of his band is also on fine display. This may be the only Elvis concert film worth having. He is stiff in Aloha From Hawaii (if you've only seen that you'll be surprised at how mobile he is on stage here) and in Elvis That's the Way It Is he looks and sounds terrific, but the inter-spliced interviews and fan profiles are absolutely absurd. This is the real movie to have if you want to see Elvis live.
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