Product Details

• Actors: Elvis Presley
• Directors: Pierre Adidge, Robert Abel
• Producers: Pierre Adidge, Robert Abel, Sidney Levin
• Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Original recording remastered, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: French
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: August 3, 2010
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (133 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003HKN51Q
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,876 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Elvis on Tour (Blu-ray Book)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After the solid success of Elvis: That's the Way It Is, and with his career as a movie actor having reached a standstill, Elvis Presley undertook a second concert documentary. Elvis on Tour trails after the King on a few concert dates in 1972, as he powers through a curious set list that downplays the classic hits in favor of the likes of "Polk Salad Annie" and "Proud Mary." Rehearsal footage, preshow jitters, and after-hours sessions singing gospel with the gang are included; most revealing is a sequence that follows Elvis off stage and into his waiting limo, where he towels off in exhaustion, cracks a few jokes, and listens to the praise of the entourage. These glimpses are a logical counterpoint to the concert material; less explicable is the rundown of Elvis's early years, which hardly fits the subject at hand--and frankly reminds us that Elvis looks pale and just a bit puffy at this moment in his life. The fun stuff includes a workout on the still-new "Burning Love" (Elvis has to read from a lyric sheet), committed takes on "Bridge over Troubled Water" and "I Got a Woman," and a spirited "Never Been to Spain," a song that fits Elvis's taste for simple, dramatic builds. That, and Elvis giving a stage introduction to "the guy that gives me my water and my scarves and so forth." The movie's structure feels a little random, not that that will matter to fans. At times it catches the King looking undeniably weary of it all, except in those moments when a song really catches him (certainly during the gospel moments) and you see just how utterly "in the music" he was. The split-screen approach is intact, and the film's "montage supervisor" was a young fellow named Martin Scorsese. Note about this 2010 edition: The original song that played under the opening credits, a cover of "Johnny B. Goode," has been replaced (apparently due to rights issues) with a live "Don't Be Cruel." --Robert Horton

Product Description

15 cities. 15 nights. Catch him if you can! The show is over but the fans cry out for what every Elvis Presley fan wants. More! Then, an announcer speaks the words the packed house doesn’t want to hear: "Elvis has left the building." But what an incredible show lingers in minds and hearts. Elvis on Tour is the Golden Globe-winning Best Documentary chronicle of Presley's whirlwind 15-cities/15-nights 1972 tour. They are nights to remember, paced here with more than 25 numbers that embrace the rocker Elvis, the gospel Elvis, the ballad Elvis, even the kung-fu Elvis. In between tour stops come more moments to treasure--montage sequences (supervised by Martin Scorsese) showcasing Presley's early career and movies. More!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

128 of 130 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars superb music documentary August 17, 2004

By Alejandra Vernon HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:VHS Tape

Director Robert Abel and producer Pierre Adidge present a marvelous look at Elvis in this documentary, using concert, rehearsal and backstage footage, as well as clips from the early days of his career, and a montage of him kissing his co-stars while "Love Me Tender" is performed. Excellent use of split-screen techniques are used, and the cinematography is always interesting.
Elvis looks in great shape from the neck down, quite trim and with the athletic flexibility to do deep leg lunges, and delivering each song with enormous emotional and physical energy. His face shows much dissipation however, and tells another story; the feeling one gets from this film is of a desperately sad man, a hurting soul, putting a brave mask on for the world. There is also not even a flicker of ego...we see only a hard-working guy, with not a shred of arrogance. He wears his flashy clothes with grace, style and humility, and sings his heart out, and it's a beautiful thing to see.

His voice is occasionally wobbly (and the sound quality also has its variables), but for the most part he shines, particularly in the songs with a spiritual theme. "Bosom of Abraham," "I John," and especially "American Trilogy" and "You Gave Me a Mountain" are very moving, and terrific listening.
His band is wonderful, and his back-up singers, The Sweet Inspirations and J.D.Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, an added delight.
Song list:
"Johnny B. Goode" (film titles)
"See See Rider"
"Polk Salad Annie"
"Separate Ways" (recording studio)
"Proud Mary"
"Never Been to Spain"
"Burning Love"
"Don't be Cruel" (over early stills and clips)
"Ready Teddy" (Ed Sullivan Show)
"That's All Right"
"Lead Me, Guide Me" (rehearsal)
"Bosom of Abraham" (rehearsal)
"Love Me Tender"
"Until it's Time for You to Go"
"I John" (rehearsal)
"Bridge Over Troubled Water"
"Funny How Time Slips Away"
"An American Trilogy"
"Mystery Train" (at an airport)
"Suspicious Minds"
"I Got a Woman"
"Amen"
"A Big Hunk of Love"
"You Gave Me a Mountain"
"Sweet, Sweet Spirit" (exquisitely sung by J.D. Sumner and the Stamps)
"Lawdy Miss Clawdy"
"Can't Help Falling in Love"
"Memories" (final credits)
You don't have to be an Elvis fan to enjoy this film, but you're guaranteed to have a deeper appreciation of his talent, and understand why he was "The King" after seeing it.
This is one of the best music documentaries I've seen, up there with Martin Scorsese's "The Last Waltz," who incidentally, is listed as Montage Supervisor in the credits of this film.
Total running time is 93 minutes.

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This video rocks, entertains . . . and saddens July 7, 2006

By T.M. Reader VINE™ VOICE

Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase

To start, I won't labor through listing all of the music on the concert video. Reviewer Alejandra Vernon did that nicely in her excellent Spotlight Review.

This is not my favorite Elvis concert video from a musical perspective - that would be "The '68 Comeback Special". But this video belongs on your Elvis shelf because it reveals an Elvis that we have not seen in his earlier work.

Pensive, tired, still unselfishly giving of himself to his fans. The thrill is gone and it has become work. He has a constant trail of people following him, depending on him, and he has the burden of projecting that Elvis image continuously.

There is a lot of off stage footage, which shows him to be thoughtful of and genuinely generous with his fans. He looks great for his age, but he is aging, and he seems sad. It's interesting that his only apparent joy in life (at least in this on the road, tour environment) seems to be music, including especially the impromptu off stage stuff . . . singing to himself in the limo, jamming gospel backstage with the band members. He's very likeable (loved by millions, of course) and one is glad to see him find escape in some good thing that he enjoys.

The on-stage music is good but is lacking a bit of the fire of his younger years. The stagework in the video is a montage from the series of stops on the tour. Clearly some of the concerts are better than others. At some he is a bit reserved and his famous stage posturing and movement is stilted and a parody of earlier times. He is HOT at a couple of them and, again, you can tell that he never stopped loving the music. The video brings it out clearly. Quite remarkably, we also see that he is still dealing with stagefright.

Speaking of the music - It seems that in every concert video (by anyone), there is a standout performance. In this one it's Elvis' imperfect but driving performance of "Burning Love". He introduces it as a "new song", has to read the lyrics for much of it, and it is incomplete. The lyrics are a variation on what will later become maybe his last great #1 Hit recording. He even seems a bit embarrassed by the "silliness" of the tune . . . but he WAILS it out like the Elvis Presley of 10 years earlier.

This video does a pretty good job of showing the phenomenon of Elvis at (or a bit past) his peak: truly bigger than life, unarrogant, flashy but unassuming as only he could be, weary, human, lovable. I hope that God received him into the habitations that he loved to sing about.

Recommended - for Elvis fans, music lovers, and students of remarkable people.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Supurb concert performances from a fifteen-city tour November 1, 1998

By A Customer

Format:VHS Tape

This superb video focuses on the spectacular, 1972 Elvis Presley concert tour. Its chock full of entertaining segments of this captivating superstar, both on and off stage. Highlighting performances from his fifteen-city tour, he is clothed in an impressive array of costumes. All of them adorned with jeweled belts, capes and scarves. His presence on stage is totally spellbinding. Included are flash-back performances of a very riveting, young Elvis, as he sings and gyrates to "Don't Be Cruel" and "Ready Teddy." This is the actual performances as seen on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. Enjoy film clips of his boyhood days. Included are actual scenes of the famous hair cutting when he was inducted in the army. Experience Elvis singing all your favorite songs, up close and personal. See him perform "See See Rider," "Polk Salad Annie," "Proud Mary," "Burning Love," "Suspicious Minds," "Funny How Time Slips Away," " An American Trilogy," "I Got a Woman," " Mystery Train," " A Big Hunk O' Love," "You Gave Me a Mountain," "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," " Love Me Tender," " Bridge Over Trouble Water" and "Can't Help Falling in Love." A very entertaining movie from start to finish. Almost as good as being there with front row tickets. END