Elvis Presley '68 Comeback Special In The Cinema
Some of you may have noticed that I'm a big Elvis fan. It was in my blood, so to speak, because my mother is the biggest fan I know. That's why the tickets for the Elvis Presley '68 Comeback Special at the Cinemaxx Munich were bought in no time! The special was shown in the cinema on August 16, 2018 , exactly 41 years after his death.
The background to the TV special
It is very welcome that cinemas now not only show classic films and documentaries, but also occasionally show concerts. In this particular case, it was a TV special that was broadcast by NBC in 1968 and the actual topic was originally Christmas. But in the whole special, there is only one Christmas song: Blue Christmas. The rest is a mix of rock'n'roll, dance and gospel.
If it had been up to Elvis' manager, he would have been dressed up as Santa Claus and happily sang his best Christmas songs on stage. But director Steve Binder found this so ridiculous that he gave the whole show a new look. He saw great potential to really establish Elvis on the stage again after almost 7 years of absence from the stage . This show was the forerunner for all unplugged concerts. Let's thank Steve Binder for this idea, because he really succeeded!
A 50-year-old show in the cinema
When we were at the cinema, one thing didn't surprise me, but another did. We often go to Elvis Presley concerts or musicals (if you're wondering, these are concerts with a live orchestra and him on the screen) and they're usually very well attended. So it didn't surprise me that the cinema was well filled. The average age was very low, which means there were a lot of young people there, which was a bit unusual. But of course it makes me even happier that an artist who has been gone for so many years is appealing to such a young audience! Or maybe they were dragged along by their parents without any ifs or buts. You don't know.
The actual show was preceded by a mini-documentary with director Steve Binder and Priscillia Presley (Elvis' ex-wife), who recalled the production period. And then it started!
Anyone who thinks that you're just watching a musician make a bit of music is wrong! Because a lot of thought went into it and there's a bit of a story to it too. The show starts with a short medley of Trouble and Guitar Man and the transition from the close-up to the Elvis lettering is a real cinematic feast for the eyes! It doesn't stop there. To the spoiled 2018 eye, none of this is so special anymore, but back then it was something completely new.
Unique atmosphere in the cinema
What I really liked best was the atmosphere in the cinema, because after almost every song there was applause and cheers that didn't come from the recording. It's nice to see that an artist can still inspire people so much so many years after his death. Applause in cinemas is nothing new to me, because a week earlier at the Harry Potter Marathon everyone clapped after each part was finished. But I've never experienced so much energy and extreme support.
Hopefully more special events like the Elvis Presley '68 Comeback Special will be shown in movie theaters in the future!
Francy
