Elvis came along at the right time as far as music is concerned, but as far as technology. Video footage didn't seem to capture him or show many of his shows. Especially the 50s , there's a few yes but compare to today's artist and the technology. KZfaq. interviews, behind the scenes. it's so much better. Many big events in his life are not filmed, like when he met Muhammad Ali. The beatles. No footage or interviews behind the scenes of his films. His first live Appearance in nine years at the international hotel, the black suit. never filmed, what's that all about. The Pearl Harbor showed he done When he came out of the army. was never filmed. There's a clip of it yes. Even the 70s we've only got a handful of shows really. Like 74, 75, 76. Nothing! They waited for 77 where he was overweight. He was never Properly interview on talk shows really. There is a couple mostly chopped up. Never a guest on a show or at the Oscars or music awards. He never done a world tour either. But in spite of all that he managed to outshine Any other artists. Imagine if he was starting today and the technology?

One thing that hurt me deeply was the fact that President Trump gave Elvis a medal that was the highest a private citizen can be awarded, However, nobody from his immediate family would come to the ceremony at the White House. I know that Elvis would have been very proud to have been there and accepted his award. He was too much of a gentleman to show such disrespect to the United States that he loved so much. Some guy that was either a distant relation of his or just a friend showed up and accepted the award for Elvis at the White House. I found this hard to believe. I, also, found it hard to believe that his ex. Is presenting the story that Elvis committed suicide with Lisa Marie at Graceland. Elvis loved that little girl more than anything else in this world. Lisa Marie is not only a part of Elvis, but she is also a part of his mother and father. He would never have done anything to hurt his mother He loved her much to much to have done something like that. He would have known in his heart how his mother would have loved HIS little girl!!! Elvis, I hope you have finally found peace, and maybe you and your grandson are having the time of your lives getting to know each other. 🙏✝️❤️

They neglected Larry Gellers influence in his search. Nobody liked his influence, but he put Elvis on his greatest search.

I still say that Elvis Greatest Performances is the best Elvis documentary yet. It focuses on his greatest performances with a little bit of history thrown in between. It is up beat, and informative.

You nailed it! They completely exhausted his childhood. That's great, but they should've taken the same detail to his career. I understand that it wasn't supposed to be a catalog of his hits and performances, but they don't show what a great artist and vocalist he is. I was disappointed as well.

Saw it when it came out. Not much, if anything new. Same old stories. Somewhere along the way, Elvis stopped searching for anything to prove. Lost his desire to record new material. Lost his desire to make good movies. Now having said that, he has Nothing to be ashamed of. He still, 44 yrs after his death, he still stands head and shoulders above ANY entertainer EVER! Still the greatest!

I remember having the same roller coaster of emotions while watching the searcher. It had great potential but lacked in too many areas. Baz should re-do it, the right way

Sounds like by the time they got to1970 they were watching the budget and just threw the rest of it together. The money they make off of Elvis it's shameful! Pricilla claims to still love Elvis, but I think it's just to keep herself in the spotlight and keep the money rolling in! He definitely was Not depressed the whole time of the seventies! It's telling that the one Elvis was closest to was Billy Smith his cousin and confidant, she cut ties with and has not been in contact with him or any of the Smith family since Elvis and Vernon died. Lisa grew up with Billy's sons right up until Elvis died. I'm surprised Lisa has never tried to contact them knowing how close her dad was to them. Anyway David I appreciate your take on things and as usual you are Right!

You make a lot of good points. Personally, while I enjoyed it overall, I did think there was room for improvement. You covered a lot of the issues I had with the documentary, so I don't have much to say other than this was a good review, and I agree with much of what you had to say. Haha

I totaly agree with you!! I was dissapointed the same way you are..So much greatness they are reglecting..

Definitely not boring, Great video bro.

I'm glad that you stated a lot of what I thought about because you or able to make some excellent points that I often thought about. They needed the high points instead of concentrating on the on the lower points as you said. And they needed some complete songs some of his best

I haven’t seen it yet- I gotta say, your observations are keen and astute. I think you’re spot on. As a lifelong Elvis fan, and a professional musician for over forty five years, I personally would love to see more attention to detail about his musicality, his ear, his musical instincts as well as his intellect. Too much ado has been made (not just since his passing forty three years ago, but since the beginning) about the ‘phenomenon,’ not the man as a musician and artist. I would have to say, the most comprehensive vantage point about who he really was, was about 45-60 minutes of interview conducted by Pierre Adidge and Robert Abel for the “Elvis On Tour” documentary. He seemed engaged and transparent in that interview. A majority of the American public couldn’t care less about the fine points and nuances of the man. I don’t get it- he was more artistically AND intellectually complex than most of his peers back in the day, and ANYBODY today. I’m sorry to say this, but I have to agree.........EPE does an ad hoc job of marketing him- like a box of cereal or a package of Doritos . Just to pander to the general public and casual fan. It’s like a graham cracker without the ‘graham.’ Bland and pedestrian. Certainly not Elvis’ fault. He left us all with a plethora of stuff to enjoy in his brief stay on this little blue ball. Nuff said - sorry.

I was like you, I saw bits of it and decided, No, this isn't something I want to watch; and after watching your review, I'm happy that I haven't seen it! Elvis from 1970 onwards is my fav, his vegas shows were phenomenal. Even his final show was powerful! The CD of it is my fav! But Priscilla likes to think that everything fell to pieces the second she walked out on him. Not true!

If they show only Priscilla, that's your answer. I know that Priscilla was only a 14-year-old when she met him and he was an adult, but for the love of God, at this point, when she ignores other people (in this case, other girlfriends...and even in other documentaries or TV productions where she is included in the production or as consultant, she ignores gfs like Anita Wood) is a little petty, don't you think? I understand it wasn't easy to live with a man like Elvis Presley, but let's face it, she made her fortune out of exploiting his image (and I'm grateful that she rescued Graceland and his legacy. I really love she did it) and it's been a long time. All of us know who she is because she is Priscilla Presley. She still uses his name and she was already divorced by the time Elvis passed away. That's the reality. And mind you, I'm not one of those blind fans. I know he was human and had flaws.

I've wanted to see this. Love your comments and observation. Not a boring post at all! You think the way I do, so I can so relate to your feelings! Good video!

I saw this when it aired the first time (in Chile) and I really liked it because it was the first deep and complete documentary of Elvis, and at the end it gives you a sad feeling like feeling sorry for Elvis for the things that as the King he was he couldn't do and achieve; and it's too focused against the Colonel as the bad guy (or heel as called in pro Wrestling) and like It's all his fault I agree that it's too negative, that left important moments aside, and it should be less sad that just a guy who reached the top and then gets depressed. Even though, I still recommend it

I agree. I think your critiques are very well founded. Part 1 was incredible and I think that part 2 was more controlled by Pricilla sadly. I did really enjoy what they did show and but you’re right they could’ve definitely done more talking about Elvis the way they talked about him in part 1. Also I think it’s wrong they totally ignored Linda and even cropped her out of photos she was in. I agree 7 out of 10. Could’ve been better. Sadly EPE doesn’t care at all.

Priscilla has to make it seem like his life went downhill after she left him.

Don’t have the product. Sounds to me that you have hit the nail on the head. Sounds very much like . A Priscilla production.That’s her story when she does interviews. ♥️🌹🇨🇦

I see the mouvie , you are totaly right ,you're comments are spot on .

EPE is ashamed of 70's Elvis it seems. Especially late 70's. 70's Elvis is my favorite time period. I would kill to see what 80's and 90's Elvis would of been like!!! We will never know. Smh

I might have to buy this and watch it. Thanks for the review!

Just catching up to this video. Totally agree - so much of it was really good - but they really cast him as so sad and depressed for years. We all know he had problems but so many truly great things were also done

Somehow I missed this video. But I must make 1 comment that drives me nuts on a regular basis. Someone needs to remind Priscilla that she is not Elvis's widow, but he's ex-wife!!!! I'm not even a Priscilla hater, but her actions In the last few years have really turned me off!

As a very new fan of Elvis I have to agree with you about the "glass half empty" part. I bought this DVD this week, it's the first Elvis product I bought from Amazon. While I understand they were trying to focus on the musical evolution of Elvis the artist in this documentary, I thought they were a little dismissive of Elvis' 70's output. I thought they would be a little more positive after they had dismissed most of his work in the 60's. They barely talked about the Aloha concert and the 4 years after that were presented as pretty much failure. Someone commented that the concert shows in the last few years were just not very good and perhaps should have been cancelled. But that was not the impression I got when I saw some footages from even the his last tour. I thought Elvis gave us some wonderful performances despite his health issues and prescription drug problem.

The program was lacking when it came to the 1970’s, no mention of the Nashville Marathon, no mention of the Stax Sessions, No detail of Madison Square Garden, when it came to Aloha they only used footage from the rehearsal concert not the actual broadcast. They go into great detail on on the gospel sessions for “His Hand In Mine” and “How Great Thou Art” and how he turned to these gospel album projects when he was at his most frustrated and darkest times but absolutely nothing for the “He Touched Me Sessions”. No mention of his number one albums in the 1970’s, he had great success on the country charts in the mid and late 1970’s. The footage was very lacking, bootlegs have better footage. All Priscilla no Linda and Linda Thompson could have gave great detail of 1972-1976, they really rushed the last act.

Notice Elvis has brown eyes on the cover of ‘the searcher’ not blue..!?

Hi! I just rewatched this video after originally seeing it 2 years ago. I agree with your commentary and I'd like to add that Priscilla was involved in the production of The Searcher, which explains a lot. She always pushes the "troubled, depressed Elvis" narrative and she's still doing that today. I'm not a Priscilla fan and never have been.

when i first read about this documentary i read it was going to be about Elvis in the recording studio and i was excited. it didn't turn out that way at all. you're right , the first part was good, but then the second part turned into the same old 'Elvis didn't do anything after the army ' we've heard so many times. they could have talked about Elvis' great early 60s recordings, or about his spiritual search more , but they just rushed through it.

i had essentially the same experience with it when i saw it, .... being an Elvis fan since i was 11 back in 1974 , i do not think this production was honoring to the greatest artist of all time... they had the wrong focus for the most part on the most important things, besides omitting things, even though there were some good things... it was disappointing, partly because it was somewhat misrepresenting Elvis' career... it did not give a true picture throughout... young people who do not know much about Elvis, will not get the real story in this film...

I didn't think it would be good, so I never watched it. I heard Priscilla was the producer and she says or does anything to portray him in a negative way. It's his legacy, not hers. Does she ever stop to think that her daughter and grandchildren may see and read these things? I hope that one day when she's gone Lisa will be able to debunk all these lies for her father. Clearly, anyone can see that Elvis was not chronically depressed. He loved what he did and it showed. He was always having fun and smiled a lot.

I think they need to do "Elvis the Searcher part two" to where they can get into more depth of his career and the things that his fans want to know more and see and hear his music (that's what made him famous in the first place!). I hope that they do a second one. It would be so interesting to me.

On " The Searcher " they talked about the power and the story behind " If i can dream " on the 68' tv special , and didn't play any part of that great song .

U so right brother

I always thought it was rather lame how all the people around Elvis were labeled as "hangers on" and "leeches." Just about everyone in the Memphis Mafia were indispensable people to Elvis. Charlie Hodge, for example, was right on top of it on stage with everything that Elvis needed. Joe Esposito was an absolute wizard as a road manager. Elvis would have had one hell of a time trying to do without him. Joe was the guy who could be doing twenty things at the same time when they were on the road or getting ready to be on the road. When Joe was absolutely swamped with handling the details of Elvis's death and the ensuing funeral, I have always wondered, who was there for Joe when he lost his best friend? Elvis's step brother David was always right at his left hand, instantly ready to jump in and do whatever needed to be done with extraordinary empathy and intuition. There are lots of falsely maligned and unsung heroes in the saga of Elvis Presley.

I agree with you. It's a no-risks documentary. Lots of talk by people who were not close to Elvis (Petty, Springsteen, ...) It's the kind of bland documentary that you can find in today's streaming platforms. It's not what I'd call groundbreaking.

I just watched it. Great commentary. It had so much potential but could have definitely used a third installment. Even as a casual Elvis fan, I could tell they were censoring a lot of less-than-flattering details about him. Priscilla being executive producer probably had a lot to do with it.

LOVED this movie!

Your right Elvis the man I got the documentary for my birthday and watched it last night I was disappointed in it too especially they way they show him in the later years that he lost his edge when in fact he still did great concerts at the end and they also didn't mention his life after Priscilla what happened to Linda Thompson and Ginger Alden Priscilla made it look like there wasn't life after her.In my opinion the best documentary about Elvis was This is Elvis

They did play Like a Baby alot,which is one of his best blues songs.

I've seen a lot of your posts and I agree with everything you say. they didn't put enough time into this.

🔥

Colonel Parker never got him on the Louisiana Hayride

I'd say the "fuzzy" footage interspersed throughout the film were stylistic choices. Thom Zimny, the director, used similar dramatic devices in all of his Springsteen docs. All things considered, I enjoyed The Searcher. I wasn't crazy about the narratives e.g., hyper-focusing on Elvis' depression, etc. That's always the story where Priscilla is concerned, unfortunately. What always gets me is, Priscilla never ever understood Elvis. She was not into his music and she was too young to have been able to fully understand his temperament. She'd never even seen him perform live until after they were married. Yet she is the "definitive" teller of Elvis tales. Jerry Schilling, as you know, was also a major part of this film and I had hoped it would have more emotional depth because of that. The film was beautifully photographed and held my interest. I agree with your commentary. It's obvious EPE pushed the gloom and doom narrative. Rather than focus on how resilient he was or how he was able to reinvent himself time and time again. And NO mention of Ann-Margret of course! No Linda Thompson, no Ginger Alden. Priscilla was having NONE of that. The Searcher could have been so much more and should have been so much more than it was.

Sounds like they were too cheap to spend on music and video footage for the production. Not enough of the man himself as you suggest, and I haven’t bought or seen it. This is a Priscilla, Jerry Schilling EPE production. The estate doesn’t own much Elvis material if any and EPE is desperate for cash. Talking Elvis in the 70s needs Linda Thompson’s perspective. How about Billy Smith.. Now there is a man who was there right at the beginning and all the way to that very last night in Aug 77. So you get Priscilla’s perspective mainly, and something not too controversial that will sell. 💵💵💵💵💵💵💵

it wasn't done well because elvis doesn't get respect!

Pricilla butters things up to suit herself

I'm gonna start collecting and watching movies about elvis now

Correction! Elvis attempted to write songs with Charlie Hodge like "You'll be Gone", but that old dragon pricilla criticised his efforts and that was that.

I have the same frustrations as you in all these documentarys and biographies it's the same narrative about the early years being the glory days and the 68 Special and then everything else being downhill. If they put as much detail into showing Elvis actual career and life in the 60's and 70's as they do the 50's it would be worthwhile but this is just another by the numbers critque of Elvis rather than a celebration of him or even an adult documentary that deals in hard facts. In all these years we are still searching for the defintive documentary. The Searcher is worth watching but if your a real die hard Elvis fan you will have seen and heard it all before. If there was anything new in this one I missed it.

Great review but I thought it was amazing lelf me feeling sad and so sorry for Elvis but loved it 9 out of ten

It's called HCG and still used in weight loss control.

I must admit I was disappointed with the documentary too! The trailers and the interviews and the build ups for it weren’t included in it the way they said it would be. I think I’ll have to watch it again and see how I feel about it now

I don't have this I may get it I ain't sure yet but I agree with you Priscilla does have to stick her fingers in everything she's not happy unless the money is touching her fingers that's probably why she never got married again she didn't want to let go of the Presley name

Elvis 56 I think is still my favourite documtee this is second would love to no your top three documtee thank u

I never believed he killed himself intentally. He was too religious to do that.

I felt the same way. They very much dropped the ball.

I haven't seen it, but almost anything that the estate is behind, I won't watch. Listening to you, I think I would feel the same way watching it. They, and I think Priscilla is a big part of this, have the attitude that Elvis didn't do anything after the 50's. In fact, Elvis wrote one song in the 60's, I can't remember the name, and he went to Priscilla for her opinion on it and she didn't like it. Like how dare her. She killed his desire by doing that. But, to me, "This is Elvis," is the standard for an Elvis documentary and they should have used some of that movies dynamics.

Thanks David for sharing your thoughts ❤ lol your vedio about 5years ago just pop up on my phone this morning 20th July 2024 lol . Elvis must be the only photographer and every details of Elvis and his life . I no theirs editors out there. Make stuff of Elvis goes good then the editor gets carry away on stuff . Thanks David again this story from you interesting ❤ from Sydney Australia. ❤️☕🌤️

Think they left out the Nixon meeting,lol,jungle room sessions, Stax,Beatles meeting.....

it's about making money not spending money!!..lol

This is Elvis is still the best doc,imo.

It's on Netflix!

They didn't say much about elvis spiritual search with Larry geller. Good analysis ....liked they put red west in there he knew elvis better than almost anyone

Oh, the hair !!! tall.

Completely agree. I think the biggest problem with the keepers of the Elvis flame is their absolute lack of imagination. Lack of understanding of how they have over-simplified the story. They have no faith in Elvis' real story. His real history. This should have been a 6 episode series. Sad.

Sounds more like a hit piece than a documentary

The thing I didn't like about it was there was to much talking over elvis performing the footage was bad. I agree with you

Hi David, No wonder you were dissapointed. I bet you got annoyed with them too. It's made me angry 😡 and I haven't seen it ha ha. Thanks for being honest xxx 💝

I agree with you 100%, but this is what we get when Priscilla is involved, that may be another story, but in my opinion, she's all about the money. Really, how can you have a documentary about the greatest singer of all time, it's 3 hours long, and you don't show even 1 entire song??? Then Priscilla comes out right before the showing and suggested that Elvis committed suicide, why, my opinion, to make more money.......great video

Childhood stuff was great,the way they used his bicycle as a metaphor, I think but it went downhill after that.Even the version of American Trilogy wasn't his best version, lol.

it would be a good academic documentary for those studying rock n roll as a subject at university...there was a lot of info about Memphis in the 40s and 50s but it was kind of 'dry' and little feeling and they pretty much skipped the 70's at was all about 68 special ...but interesting about the early days...but don't wanna see it again

You didn’t had too buy the video, it is on Netflix. Well here in the Netherlands. Much kindly greetings from the Netherlands.

It was same old same old only with petty and spring steins. Again they ignore his wonder ful performance s in seventies, undermine the via satellite concert 1 . 5 billion viewers, they still find some way of dismissing that, instead of saying, what a remarkable feat. The focus on his illness? He was still brilliant even through that. None of them even said what an accomplishment from this entertainer. They just focused on Fifties, Elvis was wonderful there too. But he did not become an icon till the seventies. At 36 he still had screaming girls, his sexy charisma? Humor along with those great vocals combined made him even more a magical force. Because he was not a songwriter, didn’t do hard rock, he was undermined by the great rock stars, until he died, they praised him to the skies. Elvis was constantly on radio til he died, constantly sold out shows, til the end. He was still a box office gem. He started with rock a billy, ended being an entertainer, which he always said he was,, he was voted artist of 20th century, medal of freedom, 4 hall of fames, 3 Grammys, 1. Billion viewers hip record for individual artist. They never said hardly anything of his lifetime accomplishments , including 31 movies box office hits he made in less then 10 years, never mind the art. Next doc should focus on accomplish ments the good times and fun he had with his movie costars, not critique movies, and the seventies. I’m tired oh him not getting credit due, he maybe was not Dylan, Elton John, so what, Singers have always succeeded without writing, Sinatra!! His iconic legend actually increased in seventies , he never went away. They all thought he d be all washed up after movies. Well surprise ? Surprise, he continued and just when Beatles broke up, til the day he died We have heard enough negative so called decline according to naysayers. He worked hard, great vocal talent and had a magic not even more talented had. He was definetly a music phenomenon. And documentary s should acknowledge that, and they didn’t here. Just same old biography.

Top channel unlike the new movie I really rated the searcher at least it was fact base unlike movie

What is is still jealousy in music industry, they just want acknowledge his talent in the seventies, even though he was wearing downs. He was great in Hawaii, barely said anything think via satellite. They praised him to skies when he died, with a few exceptions no one said positive things, in seventies, this show still does not add more too brilliance, even 77!concert was an important element, yes he was sick, no one wanted to see, but he still cut beautiful vocals, Elvis was rock opera, and a opera has tragedy this wasa real witness to a live phenomenon. Before his death. They will acknowledge this, I thought he was beautiful in his pain and struggles, yet could still belt it out, as far as I’m concerned, he did it!! A beautiful farewell, though unknowingly. But all these years it’s looked as a downfall. It wasn’t, a brave sick man went out there and gave all he had. When you think of the 27!club, Elvis did make it, he finished the last two concerts, had more to go. But he really did make til end of his life he kept going!

Did you get to see the video from Vince Gill Go Rest High On That Mountain with Elvis's picture throughout the video. My phone messed up and I had to redo it. I hope you saw it It is great. JoAnn Rumbley

Do you think they didn't have the rights to show the songs?

Is there a book of that.

They've just gotten greedy playing off Elvis name!

Very interesting I don't have seeing it yet but in 1977 wasn't everything on 8mm not VHS because when he did passed away in 1977 there was so much on 8mm film in the record shop to get at that time so were is it I think RCA have so many on tape and they don't digitized it because this cost money and remember Elvis most make money and not cost money and again I really don't like Priscilla and Linda or Ginger because I don't like money suckers, maybe they older fans remember that so much from Elvis was on 8mm in the 70's.

I believe someone messed with his medicine

It needed to have a piece of important trivia regarding David Bowie's ppl and Elvis' ppl talking about Elvis' next album after Moody Blue being produced by Bowie and the fact Elvis didn't like a single Bowie wrote for Elvis so he didn't record it yet wanted Bowie to produce him...

That's Priscilla!!! She Cannot take how he had some happy Meaningful happy times with Linda Thompson and other Women because She Cannot take that he had good times after her....they showed the same downgrade in the New Elvis movie because of Priscilla

I liked the first serie good, but the second half was not good. They had to make one season with 8 episodes. They didn’t showed what huge kind of humor Elvis had. I looked and listened to songs like “Don’t cry (Fatty) Daddy and Memories etc. What they showed, and I realy found that was good, was that Parker was an asshole. 👌👌👌👌 Great video.

Someone needs to do a documentary on just Aloha from Hawaii.

That great businessman Parker , refused to let Elvis go on a world tour where he would play to 100k+ packed stadiums , and instead had him running around performing in the same old tired venues in US states , to around 10k crowds . Seemingly missed a trick there , and if he couldn't personally travel , he could have appointed someone to represent him .

I thought it was great, but it would have been nice to see more of his performances. Can’t please everyone.

Hi what's your thoughts on new Elvis movie thank u

Of course it's about Pricilla, she is not my cup of tea..

I almost entirely agree with what you say here - i was totally disappointed with it, but yes they went into great detail about the evolution of music in the south in the 40’s & 50’s , but the clips were few and far between once we get into his career. The 70’s were shamefully skipped over... and the final song over the closing titles ‘The Power of your Love’ WTF? Probably most depressing tuneless song from 1969 ...why?? ...like u im glad i watched it but i will probably not be watching it again.. it was ultimately a very dry academic run thru of elvis’s life.

They were trying too show Elvis artistic side his musical knowledge on how he liked his arrangements setup in his music it was suppose to show his true artistic side..His voice one of a kind people stopped in there tracks when he was in there presence. They did say too interesting things that showed he was depressed Elvis was told the music didn't matter anymore I don't remember who told him that but that was pathetic nowonder he felt down Joe episeto an Priscilla both said there were suicide notes by Where ioe found Elvis it did show that Elvis had feelings like the rest of us do he was human.

They probably only did the negative side because they figured it would sell better for some reason.

I get what you're saying I grew up around that time era you missed it

Have not seen it yet,

The Searcher's failure to detail MSG '72, Aloha, the Grammy winning How Great Thou Art, and his late relationships with Linda and Ginger renders it a very flawed documentary. The 2 best of this type are the BBC shows from 1987. Check them out, they're on KZfaq.

What happened to Linda and Ginger,lol and Ann for that matter, lol.Also show with Sinatra, press conference..

I give it a 4

Yes, I was disappointed in it too.