Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
HBO film takes a clear look at Elvis
“Singer Presents Elvis,” a 1968 special on NBC, remains a powerful testament to Elvis Presley’s trailblazing talent. It’s so potent that the HBO documentary “Elvis Presley: The Searcher” keeps returning to it.
The NBC program was the singer’s comeback, summed up his career and launched him into the future. At just one hour, though, it could do only so much.
The gorgeous three-and-ahalf-hour documentary, debuting Saturday, celebrates Presley as a towering entertainment figure deserving of respect.
Yet the program, which has Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, as an executive producer, is cleareyed about the superstar. It acknowledges his addiction to prescription drugs, his subpar late touring and his self-destructive, lonely fade-out.
In offering a rounded portrait, “Searcher” director-producer Thom Zimny puts Presley’s priceless contributions to American music and culture in context. Presley worked hard and set a peerless example that transcends the Elvis of the Las Vegas years.
The documentary explores his youth, his devotion to gospel and his stellar blending of country, blues and rock. The film praises his timing, phrasing, producing skills and dynamic style.
The abundant clips back up the praise. He could shake the country with his hips, play along with Steve Allen’s insults or keep pace with Frank Sinatra.
Helping make eloquent cases for Presley are Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Emmylou Harris and Robbie Robertson. Presley’s movies were harmful to his image as an innovator, Petty says.
So was Col. Tom Parker, Presley’s obsessive manager, who cared most about money and merchandising. Parker limited Presley as singer and actor, the film explains. Petty wonders why Parker had such influence.
The documentary shares clips from a few Elvis movies but nothing packs the power of the NBC special, a program we are told presented Elvis as he was. Priscilla Presley says he was a nervous wreck before the program. Yet fans responded to his electrifying turn.
Even after “The Searcher” has noted Presley’s death in 1977, it returns to the special and his performing “If I Can Dream.” The NBC show was the best thing Presley left on film — until now.