Why was this ever filmed?


Elvis was in such bad at the time I always wondered why it was filmed in the first place? Of course they never knew he was going to die so was just another quick money grab by the Colonel?

reply

I just dug out the VHS tape I had of this from when it aired. It was so so much sadder now then in 1977. Had Elvis lived this would have totally destroyed his image and career. It was one thing being paraded out before those who loved him and paid to see him, but to show him on TV so sick and deteriorated was outright pathetic. If only he had anyone around him who loved him enough to force him into a hospital. And for a star of his stature to have nonstop announcements before he came on stage hawking Elvis merchandise was beyond degrading. Don't get me wrong I loved Elvis, I saw him at Garden here in NY but at this point in his life he needed to be hospitalized and with a new manager.

reply

Yes, it was totally done for the money. It wasn't as though he had an amazing new album out to promote or some other reason to film a concert special.

There was a feeling that it was four and a half years since he did any TV or movie project (the last being Aloha From Hawaii). So a TV special seemed a good idea at the time, even though Elvis's image and music were unchanged.

reply

I was weeks old when Elvis died. I greatly enjoy Elvis, including this performance (watching now for the first time). I didn't grow up with Elvis and can only look back at his career without ever being able to anticipate what's next or wondering what this performance might do to his career. Fat Slow Elvis, who I might add unfortunately could be thinner than myself and most of us out there, is just as entertaining as 1950s Elvis but for different reasons. I'm pleasantly baffled by his diehard fan base. The way they reach and fight over the neck towels covered in his sweat....amazing! So 38 years later, I am glad they made this concert so I could see what my older friends got to see before he passed away and get a glimpse of what Elvis really was like on stage in the end.

reply

Here's what I think happened, for what it's worth: On May 21, 1977, Colonel Parker paid a 'surprise' visit with Elvis Presley at his motel room in Louisville, Kentucky. I suspect that Parker was tipped off by Joe Esposito, because once there he firstly found Larry Geller attempting to block his entry, after which he barged his way past Geller and stormed into Presley's bedroom. Inside he found two or three unnamed bodyguards dipping Presley's head into an ice bucket in a frantic attempt to wake him up in time for that evening's concert. This, I'm afraid, was more or less Presley's life by that stage of his life, at which point he had become totally dependent upon prescription medications for almost all of life's basic daily functions - including going to sleep and waking up. This made life extremely difficult for those around him, particularly if the previous dose of medication had been taken at the wrong time, or with, ahem, one or two too many, which frequently happened.

Presley recovered sufficiently to at least stand on stage in front of the audience for an hour and a bit, while mumbling lyrics and band introductions. This particular tour went from bad to worse. By May 28 at Philadelphia's Spectrum Arena, Elvis looked dead on his feet and on the following night in Baltimore, complaining of stomach pain, he announced to the audience that he had to leave the stage to 'answer a call of nature.' He was gone for half an hour, during which time his doctors injected him with a mystery drug in order to perk him up for the rest of the concert. During his absence, Presley left Charlie Hodge to introduce the band members and have them play a number or two each. But he did return and performed songs rarely performed at that time, such as 'The Wonder of You.'

Colonel Parker knew he had to act fast. By June 1, there was a piece in the trade papers that CBS Television would follow Elvis on his next tour, between June 17-26. There would be a $750,000 payday split between Elvis & the Colonel. While they didn't exactly follow Elvis, they did film two concerts and were present outside the arenas for at least three others. The first concert they filmed, in Omaha on June 19, may well rank as the worst concert of Presley's career. It was an unmitigated disaster from the off; his bodyguards would not allow CBS cameras backstage to film him preparing for the concert. The reason was self-evident when a confused and clearly drugged Presley took to the stage. As he began singing, the slurring and the disregard for singing in tune were evident. The concert was almost unusable. Only 'How Great Thou Art', the standout performance of the night, and a couple of other medleys made the final show. The rest came from Rapid City on June 21, when a much improved Presley did allow cameras backstage, although almost none of the footage was used. While obviously still in the same physical condition as two nights earlier, mentally he was as sharp as ever, full of humour (and not a small amount of embarrassment).

Had Presley lived, it is likely that the Special would not have been screened in the state that it was. First of all, some of the best performances, such as 'Trying to Get to You,' were cut from the show; and there were rumours abound that he was thinking of trying to film some of the shows in August to get some improvement. However, there are also rumours that he had given up caring and, since the 'Bodyguard Book' was on its way, he might as well go the whole hog and have the Special screened. Had Elvis not died, he might have lived.

I hope this helps you understand a little of the context of the CBS Special, which was filmed about eight weeks before Presley's death. Cheers!

reply