classic rockelvis presley
19:46 Wednesday, 13 November 2024
The new documentary, Return Of The King: The Fall & Rise Of Elvis Presley, premiers today, Wednesday, November 13, on Netflix.
Synopsis: June of 1968 was perhaps the most significant crossroads of Elvis Presley's storied career. His meteoric rise to superstardom in the mid-50's preceded his two-year tenure in the US Army starting in March 1958. When he returned in 1960, the country was on the precipice of a seismic shift. The decade brought with it a sea change to politics, pop culture and music. But instead of being at the epicentre of public discourse, Elvis was sidelined. Under the dogged guidance of manager Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis was busy making a slew of increasingly-monotonous Hollywood films. By 1968, he hadn't performed in front of an audience in seven years. Elvis's perch atop the mountain of popular music had been usurped. The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Motown, Hendrix and scores of other chart-topping acts had rendered Elvis a largely forgotten figure on the music landscape.
So it was in that summer of 1968, that instead of recording a family-friendly Christmas program at Parker's behest, Elvis insisted on a return to his rock & roll roots; a live show celebrating the greatest hits of his past, and paving the way to an ambitious future. The result, later nicknamed "The Elvis Presley Comeback Special" is considered one of the greatest moments of Elvis's career.
Through in-depth interviews, unprecedented access to Elvis and the Colonel's personal files, and rarely seen footage of the '68 Special and its rehearsals, we'll relive this pivotal time in the career of The King, and we'll examine the furor and chaos of the 1960's through the lens of one of America's most indelible cultural icons.
Watch on Netflix, and check out a trailer below:
