Not too long ago FTD/ Flaming Star did another book release, this time handling Elvis' last movie, the one with the weird hair: Change of Habit.
Design
As usual the lay-out is very tasteful. Text and pictures are well spread over the pages, paragraphing makes the text very readable and the font choice is easy on the eye.
Content
The main part of the books exists of pictures, pictures and pictures. Over 400 and most of them were new to me. Most are in black and white, but there are some great full colour ones too. Besides the basic info on the movie and a complete chapters on Rubberneckin' and other songs, the book consists of mainly interviews. New ones, but also some taken from magazines in 1969. The director, Billy Graham, is interviewed but also other people involved in the movie, like actress Jane Elliot. It gives a nice view on working with Elvis from different angles.
At the end of the book there is room preserved for memorabilia regarding the movie and some candids from the time the movie was shot (March/April 1969).
The CD with the book is basicly the Let's Be Friends album (the CD also has the print of the vinyl label, like in the classic album series). Bonus tracks are the two 'other' songs from the movie, Rubberneckin' and Let Us Pray. The Mary Tyler Moore interview is fun to hear once, but her pots and pans are not that interesting to hear about them over and over again. Ah well, it is hard to get the CD out of the book when it's shelved anyway and I think most of us have the songs elsewhere too...
Conclusion
The movie was too late to save Elvis' movie career, but this book on it is certainly a worthy addition to my bookshelf!
It was miraculous how Elvis found a cure for autism in this movie!
What would be a miracle is if this film ever gets released on blu ray. Way way overdue. He looks so cool and songs were good too. Maybe Final Cut Entertainment should tackle the Elvis catalogue.
Yes, MemphisFan :). What is even more sad is that they thought (also in the film) that autism was due to lack of attachment from the mother. The view of women (sorry for bad english but I guess you know what I mean) is also a bit dated.
Never liked the movie. For me the worst movie he made. Saw it once and that was more than enough. Maybe one too much.
It wasn't Elvis' worst movie, but it did have a made-for-television feel to it.
TheMemphisFan, I totally agree. COH did have a "made-for-tv" feel to it and the production values suffered from the low budget of the film. Elvis still hands in a fine performance and the cast is top-notch (Ed Asner, Robert Emhardt, Barbara McNair, Mary Tyler Moore and Jane Elliot - many of them just getting started in movies and/or their careers) and I find the movie much more enjoyable than PHS, HS, KC or ECEG. As far as Elvis finding a "cure" for autism or dated views on the illness or women, we do have to remember that it was 1969 and it was a pretty fair representation of the times. Rage reduction was a real medical practice and did have some success at treating what doctors thought was autism when in fact a child (such as Amanda in the movie) might simply be suffering from separation anxiety....This movie was only made because Colonel Parker could no longer get a million dollars per picture for Elvis and he made a deal with NBC for a movie (COH was released through NBC-Universal) and a TV special. Without COH, the 1968 TV special would have never been. NBC wound up paying Elvis 1.25 million for both projects.
I am buying this book next week because of Excellent review in issue #109 of The Man & His Music.
The book seems more well made than the movie itself. Top shelf quality production!
I could never understand why people criticize this film, it’s a good Elvis movie! Elvis look good, acts extremely well and there’s a thrilling storyline. It’s in my top ten of Elvis’ best movies. It must rate as Elvis’ most underrated film and I always enjoy watching it.
Ask a non-Elvis fan to watch it. Concensus? Not a good movie
Only one of a few Elvis movies that I would lend out and have done so on numerous occasions to family and friends, they all thought the movie was reasonable good, they all enjoyed it. I’ve just receive positive feedback from everyone. It’s a good Elvis movie!
Elvis looked great in thi film...loved the hair style & those smashing sideburns. Great version of Lawdy Miss Clawdy....albeit short."Rubberneckin'" was the standout song.
Is the book still available & where ?
The book is still available for $90 at shop.graceland.com ... On the home page there, click "Entertainment", then click "Follow That Dream / Books and CDs".
Great movie. The book is well worth having. I enjoyed looking at the pictures and reading the behind-the-scenes stories. I noticed something on the CD: On the song "Rubberneckin' ", the horn section is missing.
