I had seen this years ago but it's currently listed on Amazon for rental with "2020" as the date.
Narrated by Levon Helm, this one hour documentary follows Elvis through his 21st year, from relative obscurity to the end of his anonymity.
We see a ludicrous juxtaposition that occurred on two different live tv shows-Perry Como singing "Boom Diggity" while Elvis gyrates to "Hound Dog." Como was safe. Elvis was dangerous. There was zero doubt about who's influence would triumph. What is left unsaid in this comparison is that Americans had been flirting with danger for decades. After all, how "how you gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Par-ee" was the question posed in both world wars. Elvis was both innocent, sexual, country, blues, black R&B, and gorgeous.
The film follows him wandering into a store in Times Square, fully unaware that he would never be anonymous again. Various tv hosts attempt to quell critics of his hips by putting him in a tux or teaming him with a Bassett hound but he couldn't be tamed.
Ironically, he got wardrobe advice from Liberace and longed to be like the closeted James Dean. Like any devoted son he bought his parents a house, and hopped off a train in Memphis to walk home alone.
Soon after his life was forever changed by the inevitable fame his talent demanded.
This year before the deluge is a quixotic, painful look at his loss of innocence. A must see.
Narrated by Levon Helm, this one hour documentary follows Elvis through his 21st year, from relative obscurity to the end of his anonymity.
We see a ludicrous juxtaposition that occurred on two different live tv shows-Perry Como singing "Boom Diggity" while Elvis gyrates to "Hound Dog." Como was safe. Elvis was dangerous. There was zero doubt about who's influence would triumph. What is left unsaid in this comparison is that Americans had been flirting with danger for decades. After all, how "how you gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Par-ee" was the question posed in both world wars. Elvis was both innocent, sexual, country, blues, black R&B, and gorgeous.
The film follows him wandering into a store in Times Square, fully unaware that he would never be anonymous again. Various tv hosts attempt to quell critics of his hips by putting him in a tux or teaming him with a Bassett hound but he couldn't be tamed.
Ironically, he got wardrobe advice from Liberace and longed to be like the closeted James Dean. Like any devoted son he bought his parents a house, and hopped off a train in Memphis to walk home alone.
Soon after his life was forever changed by the inevitable fame his talent demanded.
This year before the deluge is a quixotic, painful look at his loss of innocence. A must see.