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Category Archives: Entertainment
Entertainment News
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
EricReports doesn’t often recommend any new films because there aren’t any worth seeing; however, “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” is an exception. It is a documentary of how the actor most famously known as Superman became another type of hero when combating his paralysis.
Sadly, Brooke Ellison (1978-2024) makes her final appearance in this film. Reeve would direct “The Brooke Ellison Story” (2004) shortly before his death.
Films are made of moments. For me, it’s Chris Reeve’s dog who accompanies him in his wheelchair along a narrow path.
Text © 2024 – ERN
For Your Eyes Only
Video of the Year
Kid Rock, Hulk Hogan – RNC 2024
Shelley Duvall Dead
Actress Shelley Duvall has died from complications of diabetes at the age of 75.
Shelley Duvall in “The Shining” (1980)
Young Shelley Duvall
Shelley Duvall would win “Best Actress” award from the Cannes Film Festival for “3 Women” (1977.)
“3 Women” with Sissy Spacek
As Olive Oyl in “Popeye” (1980) with Robin Williams
Brewster McCloud (1970)
“Annie Hall” (1977)
“Thieves like Us” (1974)
“Nashville” (1975)
“Rapunzel” (1983)
“Frankenweenie” (1984)
Final Role: “The Forest Hills” (2023)
Rod Steiger
Back in the 1960’s, Rod Steiger was considered one of the top actors in Hollywood. He would receive an Academy Award for Best Actor for “In the Heat of the Night” (1967.) But for me, that wasn’t his best performance. Steiger would also be nominated for “On the Waterfront” (1954) and “The Pawnbroker” (1965).
When you watch the taxicab scene from “On the Waterfront”, watch Rod Steiger. He is told by his brother Terry Malloy (Brando) how his own brother sold him out. The look, the reaction. He knows every word of it is true and it destroys him.
In “The Pawnbroker”, Steiger is Sol Nazerman, a survivor of the Holocaust. He is an empty shell of a man. Others try to reach him, but he’s untouchable. There are many outstanding scenes. For me, the best is when he’s asked “Why are your people so good at business?”
Lee Marvin would somehow win the Oscar for “Cat Ballou”, a comedy-western. Proof positive the Academy is insane.
After winning an Oscar in 1968, Rod Steiger could pretty much pick and choose any role he wanted. His next three films: “No Way to Treat a Lady”, “The Sergeant” and “The Illustrated Man” were chancy, gutsy performances.
In “No Way to Treat a Lady”, Rod plays a psychopathic strangler who kills old ladies that remind him of his mother. It’s a superb thriller except for the cop-out ending. Based on a novel by William Goldman.
Rod Steiger as Christopher Gill in “No Way to Treat a Lady”
“The Sergeant” chronicles how Steiger (as Master Sergeant Albert Callan) tries to take over a young man’s life. (John Phillip Law as Pvt. Swanson.) A closeted homosexual, his character weeps, tries to kiss the object of his affection and then says, “I didn’t do that.” Critics trashed the movie, but few actors would have the guts to play it back in the 1960’s.
Tagline: “Just one weakness . . . just one.”
“The Illustrated Man” is an anthology held together by the lead character (Steiger as Carl) who tells his story to a young drifter (Robert Drivas as Willie.) Claire Bloom (then Steiger’s wife) is the mysterious women named Felicia who goes “Back into the future”. As Carl says, “She went back into her house and took the whole blessed thing with her.”
Carl’s stories are told through his tattoos (“Skin illustrations”, he insists.) The plot eludes to reincarnation. The same characters reappear through our life, over and over again.
“The Illustrated Man” is a flawed, but fascinating film, noteworthy for its score (Jerry Goldsmith) and a dog Carl carries around in a bag. (Pogo as “Peke”.)
Rod Steiger’s career would take a nosedive with the box-office failure aptly titled “Waterloo” (1970.) In ’71, he replaced Eli Wallach as Tuco in “Duck, You Sucker”. (A semi-sequel to “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” – directed by Sergio Leone. It flopped. Like many actors, Rod Steiger suffered from clinical depression. Being regarded as one of the world’s great actors, then seeing it crumble from a series of bad movies and a divorce from Claire Bloom was a shame. He would make several comebacks in “The Amityville Horror” (1979) and “The Specialist” (1994.)
Rod Steiger (1925-2002.) Died from complications from the removal of a gallbladder tumor.
Text © 2024 – EricReports
They All Laughed
Director Peter Bogdanovich’s “comedy” has become primarily known as the third and last film Dorothy Stratten appeared in. 1980’s Playmate of the Year was killed by a shotgun blast to the face by her husband/manager Paul Snider, who then killed himself. Bogdanovich, the survivor of the lover’s triangle was left alone to edit his film.
Backstory. “They All Laughed” was written for Audrey Hepburn by the director himself and meant to be a throwback to the screwball comedies of yesteryear.
Earlier in 1979, after meeting and falling in love with Miss Stratten, Peter would rewrite the script, making her character central to the two stories happening simultaneously. (Audrey Hepburn and Ben Gazzara’s roles were shortened to make room for the Dorothy Stratten-John Ritter story.)
PLOT. Three detectives, (Ben Gazarra as John Russo, John Ritter as Charles Rutledge and Blane Novak as Arthur Brodsky) investigate two seperate cases. Russo is hired to find out if Audrey Hepburn’s character (Angela Niotes) is having an affair. Rutledge is investigating Stratten’s character Dolores Martin.
What Works, What Doesn’t
It’s always good to see Audrey Hepburn again.
Ben Gazzara with Audrey Hepburn
This would be one her last film roles. It’s too bad she doesn’t have much to do, except play off a morose Ben Gazarra, who was going through a divorce at the time. [A year earlier, they had their own affair while filming “Bloodline” (1979).]
Dorothy Stratten has an undeniable screen presence.
Dorothy Stratten
Whether she can act or not is beside the point: she is playing herself. Besides stunning good looks, she knew how to move and that is not a little thing. Graceful, tall, lean and voluptuous, Bogdannovich artfully uses her to her best effect. It’s unfortunate others used her for their own ends.
John Ritter’s comedic timing is perfect for the film.
with John Ritter
His scenes with Stratten and Coleen Camp (as C & W singer Christy Miller) are the highpoints. The standout, laugh-out-loud moments are the rolling rink sequence with Dorothy –
and the “touch assist” massage he gets from Coleen Camp.
John Ritter with Coleen Camp
As comedies go, “They All Laugh” is unusually long and complicated. It may take several viewing for the average viewer to figure it out.
For Dorothy’s fans, it’s a must. She would never be more gorgeous and like a flower be cut down in her prime.
Text © 2024 – EricReports
Elvis Suicide (Part IV)
Elvis ex-wife Priscilla and his half-brother Rick Stanley have either said or implied that Elvis Presley killed himself with a deliberate drug overdose. Their theory goes that Elvis saved up his medications (known as “attacks”) and then took them all at once. Is there a hole in this theory? Possibly.
Elvis and Ginger Alden (1977)
Elvis’s girlfriend Ginger Alden was sleeping in the next room. Wouldn’t she save him if awakened? (Except, she didn’t.)
Additionally, I don’t believe Elvis would want to die by a toilet or commit suicide with his daughter Lisa Marie in the house.
The Turning Point – 1976
Col. Tom Parker and Elvis argued over the amount of money he way paying his new backup group named *****. Parker said they weren’t worth $100,000, only $50,000. “El” said he would pay them whatever he wanted. In truth, ***** was being paid extra for supplying the “King of Rock ‘n Roll” cocaine. Elvis’s bodyguard Red West attacked a member of the group, saying he would break one of his bones for each drug transaction he made in the future. Soon after, Red was reprimanded by his boss Elvis in front of Sonny West. After a long discussion, Elvis finally told Red, “I need it, man. I need it.”
Written by his bodyguards shortly after they were fired.
August 1, 1977. The scandal book “Elvis – What Happened?” had been released, detailing the years of drug abuse. The “King” had plans to deny all by writing his own book and by marrying Ginger. Unfortunately, his appearance in “Elvis in Concert” only proved what the book was saying: that his life had become a train wreck.
Elvis 1977
In my opinion, the drugs taken on Aug. 15-16 1977, had a culminative effect. The steady buildup of nearly a dozen drugs (Codeine, Quaaludes) built up in Elvis’s system, causing a fatal reaction. Did he plan it that way? I don’t see proof. Like most addicts, “El” was in denial and thought he had it under control. It was only a matter of time before it killed him.
Text © 2024 – ERN
Bikini Starlets 2024
The Crow Aftermath
Following Brandon Lee’s sudden death, the filmmakers originally did not want to complete “The Crow”.
Shortly before his death, Brandon Lee would do his last interview contained on home video.
$18 million had already been p0ured into the troubled production. To the press, it was told the movie would be finished because “Brandon would have wanted it that way.” In reality, it was done because too much money had been invested.
Completion
Eight days remained on the shooting schedule. Most of what was missing was Brandon Lee’s portrayal of Eric Draven BEFORE his character was killed. Fortunately, enough of the backstory was filmed for it to make sense. Director Alex Proyas would cut this down t0 a series of montages. The role of Shelly Webster (played by Sofia Shinas) would be reduced.
Consequently, “The Crow” would be mostly about the returned-to-life avenger and not the indie rock star and front-man for the band called “Hangman’s Joke”.
Digital and CGI effects were in their infancy back in 1993. Nevertheless, through clever editing, rotoscopes, doubling and CGI, what wasn’t filmed with Lee was done with the art of special effects.
The cast and crew had mixed feelings about finishing “The Crow” without Brandon. A few of the crew quit. The Lee family decided it was the right thing to do, so the public would get to see him in his star-making role.
The studio that was signed on to distribute it – Paramount – backed out. The up-and-coming Miramax (headed by Bob and Harvey Weinstein) saw its potential. “There’s no such thing as bad publicity,” said Harvey Weinstein. “The Crow” would be released on May 13, 1994, reaching #1 at the box office.
The soundtrack album would achieve similar success.
Actress Rochelle Davis (Sarah) asked if an hour and a half movie was worth someone’s life.
Rochelle Davis as Sarah in “The Crow”
On the VHS version of “The Crow”, Brandon Lee’s said without equivocation that he would do the same thing as Eric Draven . . . This kind of violence was justified. It would be cut from the Blu Ray edition.
“The Crow” and its sequels.
Text © 2024 – EricReports
The Crow – The Ultimate Snuff Film
On March 30, 1993, actor Brandon Lee was fatally shot on the set of “The Crow”. After a great deal of controversy, the film was completed with a body double and digital effects. Upon its 1994 release, it received praise, especially for Lee’s final performance.
Brandon Lee starred in “The Crow” (1994) – his last film.
What Went Wrong?
Over the years, numerous conspiracy theories have developed. EricReports.com leaves nothing off the table. Let us deal with the facts of evidence.
MISTAKE #1
A box of live ammo was brought on set to be used as a prop.
While this ammo was removed and placed in a car, crew members were aware of its existence.
MISTAKE #2
Live ammo was used to make homemade blank cartridges.
For a 2nd unit scene, blanks were needed for a closeup of a gun firing. The same aforementioned crew members retrieved this live ammunition and made their own blank cartridges by screwing off the tip of the bullet and tapping out the primer (gunpowder.) Residue of the gunpowder was left over, enough for the tip of the bullet to be ejected into the barrel of the gun when it was fired. No one was injured yet, but the bullet’s tip was left behind in the barrel.
MISTAKE #3
No gun expert (armorer) was used for the fatal scene.
While “The Crow” used armorers for earlier sequences that contained semi and fully automatic weaponry, none was used for the .44 caliber revolver. This was done to save money.
MISTAKE #4
A prop-master was used instead of a gun expert.
The prop-master in question was young and inexperienced. Two weeks would go by before the fatal scene with Brandon Lee. In that time, the gun had not been checked or cleaned.
MISTAKE #5
Michael Massee, the actor who fired the gun at Brandon Lee, wasn’t told to point it away from Lee.
Michael Massee
Cost-cutting measures, inexperienced crew members, 18-hour work shifts and constant pressure to finish the movie in eight weeks, led to an unsafe set where somebody was bound to get hurt or killed . . . and that’s exactly what happened.
Actress Sofia Shinas, who played Lee’s fiancée Shelley, stated that she had a premonition someone would be hurt during filming. She just didn’t know who.
Sofia Shinas
THE LAST SCENE
Brandon Lee (as Eric Draven) enters through an apartment doorway holding a bag of groceries. Inside, his fiancée Shelley (Sofia Shinas) is being attacked by a gang of thugs. Funboy (Michael Massee) wildly swings his arm in the direction of Lee, firing the .44 Magnum.
The scene continued on until its conclusion. Those who witnessed it believed Lee was acting when he fell down. But, a witness said they heard him say “Cut” and make a hand gesture to stop the scene. Afterwards, he never regained consciousness. Lee would die on set, then be revived by a medic performing CPR and an emergency tracheotomy.
Rushed to the hospital, Brandon Lee would die on the operating table early the next morning. The .44 Magnum tip would be found at the base of his spine. By the time Lee’s mother and sister arrived he was already dead.
Eliza Hutton and Brandon Lee were engaged to be married the following month.
Officially, the last scene was examined by police and then destroyed. (If that is true.)
The film company Carolco was fined for carelessness. Lee’s family received an out-of-court settlement.
It was decided to complete the film: “In honor of the memory of Brandon Lee.”
ALTERNATE THEORIES
Before filming, threats were made by anonymous sources not to make this movie.
Brandon Lee had planned to investigate what really caused the death of his father, Bruce Lee, who died in 1973, from an allergic reaction to Equagesic. Bruce Lee’s last incomplete film “Game of Death” contains a scene where his character is shot on set.
From “Game of Death”
The Illuminati is an upper echelon that secretly controls government and business with ties to Satanism. (Blood sacrifice.) Often times, their crime is hidden in plain sight. How much more obvious can it be made to kill your victim on camera, on film, with everybody watching?
Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee – Like father, like son
Family Curse. Because Bruce Lee taught the martial arts to non-Asians, the Chinese triad placed a curse on the Lee family. Bruce Lee would die under mysterious circumstances at the age of 32. Son Brandon would die of a gunshot wound – age 28.
CONCLUSION
Since then, “The Crow” has continued to make money with sequels, a TV series and on home video. A 4K release is coming this year.
Brandon Lee comments in the “Extras” section of “The Crow”. “We do not know when we will die. How many times will we experience a certain event – an event that helped shape our lives?”
Those who were on set said Brandon was having the time of his life before he died and believed “The Crow” would be a new beginning for him. In a way, it was.
Text © 2024 – EricReports
Oscar Predictions
Best Picture – Oppenheimer
Best Actor – Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer
Best Actress – Emma Stone – Poor Things
Best Supporting Actor – Robert Downey, Jr. – Oppenheimer
Best Supporting Actress – Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
Best Director -Chris Nolan – Oppenheimer
Best Song from “Barbie” – “What was I made for?” (Sung by Billie Elish)
Oscars – Past & Present
In recent years, the Academy Awards (nicknamed “Oscars”) have become increasingly irrelevant. New rules of “woke-ism” have been created to ensure that the “right” films win. Who is the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts & Sciences to tell me a movie is better because it agrees with their ideology?
In the past, the show was more watchable, had more “movie stars” and seemed more important. There have also been some good choices. Examples, below…
Sandy Dennis for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966)
Peter Finch for “Network” (1976)
Timothy Hutton for “Ordinary People” (1980)
George C. Scott for “Patton” (1970)
Charlton Heston for “Ben-Hur” (1959)
Cliff Robertson for “Charly” (1968)
Liza Minnelli for Cabaret (1972)
Eileen Heckart for “Butterflies are Free” (1973)
Poor Choices and those who should have won…
1965’s Oscar winner for Best Actor: Lee Marvin for “Cat Ballou”
Probably the best example of Oscar’s hugest blunders would be in 1965. Lee Marvin won that year for “Cat Ballou”, a “comedy” western. For me, it should have been either Rod Steiger for “The Pawnbroker” or Richard Burton for “The Spy Who Came In from the Cold”.
Rod Steiger for “The Pawnbroker”
Richard Burton for “The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
Goldie Hawn won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Cactus Flower” (1969)
The better choice that year was Catherine Burns for “Last Summer” (1969)
Glenda Jackson won “Best Actress” twice for “Women in Love” (1970) and “A Touch of Class” (1973)
Carrie Snodgress should’ve won for “Diary of a Mad Housewife” (1970)
Ellen Burstyn should have won for “The Exorcist” (1973)
Paul Scofield won Best Actor for “A Man for All Seasons” (1966)
Richard Burton should have won for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966)
Dustin Hoffman won Best Actor for “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)
Peter Sellers should’ve won for “Being There: (1979)
Diane Keaton won for a Best Actress Oscar for “Annie Hall” when she should have won for….
“Looking for Mr. Goodbar” (1977)
Cloris Leachman won Best Supporting Actress for “The Last Picture Show” (1971)
The better choice: Ann-Margret for “Carnal Knowledge” (1971) or…
Barbara Harris for “Who is Harry Kellerman and why is he saying those terrible things about me?” (1971)
Jack Lemmon won Best Actor for “Save the Tiger” in 1973.
Marlon Brando should have won for “Last Tango in Paris” (1973)
Dustin Hoffman won Best Actor (again) for “Rain Man” (1988)
The Oscar should’ve gone to Jeremy Irons for “Dead Ringers” (1988)
What about those performances that weren’t even nominated?
Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall for “The Shining” (1980)
Dustin Hoffman and Susan George for “Straw Dogs” (1971)
Malcolm McDowell for “A Clockwork Orange” (1971)
Mia Farrow for “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)
Genevieve Bujold for “Obsession” (1976)
John Wayne for “The Shootist” (1976)
2024 prediction: the big winner for this year’s Oscars will be “Oppenheimer” (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor.)
Text © 2024 – EricReports
1970’s Trailers
2023 – A Sucky Year
Lead story of the year: October 7. “Palestinian” savages invade Israel, killing 1400+. The progressive left go insane and side with Hamas.
Hawaii burns – Government sleeps.
Economy goes six feet under.
Matthew Perry found drowned in his hot tub.
Lisa Marie Presley dies from a colon obstruction.
Biden’s continual mental decline.
“Sound of Freedom” surprise summer hit offends the left who, I guess, support sex trafficking.
Trump leads polls to win in 2024, despite being indicted.
Hunter Biden text implicated fake Pres. Biden in bribery.
Raquel Welch, Hollywood’s last sex symbol, dies.
Text © 2024 – EricReports
Dead Celebrities
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
Many are aware of and most of you have heard of this movie. Elvis teams up with Ann-Margret, reigniting his stagnating film career. The two of them would have an affair that nearly ended his engagement with teen-queen Priscilla Beaulieu.
“Viva Las Vegas” is part of the big four including Jailhouse Rock, King Creole and Blue Hawaii, the biggest of the thirty-one motion pictures (not including the two documentaries) Elvis made.
The AFTERMATH of VIVA LAS VEGAS – What Went Wrong?
Col. Tom Parker wasn’t happy about sex-pot Ann-Margret stealing the spotlight from “his boy”. From here on, Elvis would be teamed with unknowns, has-beens, B-movie and TV actors.
Additionally, Parker thought the movie cost too much money. Following this, budgets would be cut. The movie that followed, “Kissin’ Cousins” was shot in a few weeks and looks like an episode of “Hee-Haw”.
https://youtu.be/3cj8vKae4Wk
Ann-Margret hinted in an interview that marriage with the King was a possibility. This set Elvis off. He believed a man decides when and if a marriage takes place. Also, Elvis thought marriage to another celebrity would end in divorce, not realizing that his future blushing bride would soon want to be a celebrity on her own.
“Viva Las Vegas” was a big hit. It also marked the end of what could have been.
Text © 2023 – EricReports
Priscilla (2023)
“Priscilla” is based on “Elvis and Me”, Priscilla Presley’s version of her life with Elvis.
Q. WOULD LISA MARIE PRESLEY HAVE APPROVED OF “PRISCILLA”? SHE WOULD READ THE SCREENPLAY FIVE MONTHS BEFORE HER DEATH. HER COMMENT TO DIRECTOR AND SCREENWRITER SOFIA COPPOLA IN THE CAPTION BELOW.
A. “MY FATHER COMES OFF AS A PREDATOR AND MANIPULATIVE. I READ THIS AND SEE YOUR SHOCKING VENGEFUL AND CONTEMPTUOUS PERSPECTIVE AND I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY.”
Executive Producer of Priscilla is Elvis’s ex-wife Priscilla Presley
Writer/director Sofia Coppola
REVIEW. (CONTAINS SPOILERS) The first third of Priscilla is the part that works. Director/screenwriter Sofia Coppola captures the time, the place and the characters. She has the eye and is keen on detail.
1959. Elvis, soon after the death of his mother, meets Priscilla Beaulieu in Germany while in the Army. The wound left open by his mother’s passing leaves him open and vulnerable. He sees in Priscilla (believe it or not), a new mother figure – someone he can cast all his pain and sorrow.
Actress Cailey Spaeny as Priscilla is the film. Jacob Elordi has the look of Elvis and is able to carry it off in the beginning. But, this is Priscilla’s story and is Elvis is forced to take a back seat. There is very little of him singing. What we have here is a more personal story.
Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla
In 1961, Elvis talks Priscilla’s parents into her letting her come live with him in Graceland. This will be her new home until their separation in 1972.
Priscilla begins to falter by making Elvis too downbeat and gloomy. Yes, that was a side to him. Why is he always like that? Those who knew him called him fun-loving, always laughing, someone who played practical jokes. Elordi’s Elvis should have been a mortician.
Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley
Priscilla’s “Elvis” studies philosophy and refuses to have sex with her. All of this is true. Elvis was old fashioned at heart and wants his bride to remain a virgin and so she did until their marriage in 1967. Nine months to the day after, Lisa Marie is born.
Here we come to the final third, where the relationship begins to fray. It should be made clear – both cheated on each other. But Priscilla focuses on Elvis’s infidelity.
Following Lisa Marie’s birth, Elvis expected Priscilla to be a stay-at-home mom while he went on tour. That was not the life she wanted. Peculiarly, Elvis imparts another rule – that he doesn’t like having sex with a woman who has had children. Where does that leave Priscilla?
The film barely touches on her affair with Mike Stone, her karate instructor. This affair began in 1970. Elvis remained ignorant of it until one of his bodyguards told him after their separation.
December 1971. Priscilla tells Elvis she doesn’t love him anymore. And it is over.
Dolly’s Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” ends the film: a song submitted to Elvis back in 1975. It would fall through because Dolly wouldn’t give up the copyright to Col. Tom Parker.
The film’s strongest points are the direction (Sofia Coppola is a favorite of mine) and the cinematography by Phillippe Le Sourd. It has that glossy sheen. There are many beautiful camera shots.
Weaker points: Elvis isn’t always portrayed in a good light. His fans may not like this film. Feminists will argue that – in the end – his wife was right to leave him. Others will argue that Elvis gave her everything and that she betrayed him.
It would have been interesting to show that final year – 1977. Elvis and Priscilla still maintained a relationship. The last thing he said (not in the movie) was that they’d reunite in another place and in another time.
Text © 2023 – EricReports
Who was Mr. Delicious?
Mr. Delicious was the spokesman for “Rak” Restaurants, a food chain that resembled Arby’s and Wendy’s. Contrary to popular belief, the Mr. Delicious ads had nothing to do with the demise of “Rak”. “Rak” was acquired by “Hardee’s”, which planned to convert them, but through various attempted acquisitions (even Wendy’s), “Rax” filed for bankruptcy. There are still a half-a-dozen “Rax” restaurants left, mostly in Ohio.
Illuminati Sacrifice – Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry’s sudden and unexplained drowning in a hot tub has raised questions among his fans, although the MSM-Illuminati has chalked it up to just another celebrity who died.
What doesn’t add up?
Police immediately declare “no foul play”. When a millionaire dies (alone?) in his hot tub for no good reason, there is reason to investigate. Perry conveniently sent his assistant away for a few hours leaving a window of opportunity open for murder. At first, Perry is declared “unresponsive”. “No drugs involved.” Now, prescription drugs were found.
On “Friends”, there has been dialog found: the first is the character of Monica calling Chandler (Perry), “a drowning moron.”
Another, where Chandler (Perry) said, “Am I the first to die?”
Text © 2023 – ERN
Lara Parker (1938-2023)
Suzanne Somers (1946-2023)
Rare Elvis Spring Tours 77
Rare and out of print
Where was Elvis artistically in his last year? What did he want to sing? The answer is found in “Elvis Spring Tours 77”.
By this time, singer Elvis Presley had refused to record for RCA because he was still angry about selling off his back catalog. (Another one of Col. Tom Parker’s make-a-fast-buck schemes.) Thus, RCA was forced to record him any way they could to finish off his forthcoming album “Moody Blue”. Three live versions of songs from “Spring Tours” made it on to his last “studio” LP: “If You Love Me Let Me Know”, “Little Darlin'” and “Unchained Melody”. Unknowingly, RCA would be recording some of the last of Elvis and this compilation is a rare and unique remembrance of the most popular singer of the 2oth Century.
“Elvis Spring Tours 77” is a welcome relief from his last recording “Elvis in Concert”. While his final TV special contains a few outstanding songs, (“My Way”, “How Great Thou Art”), it also reveals a sad, last look at a broken man. His swan song so to speak.
“Elvis in Concert” June 1977
“Spring Tours” is more upbeat, reportedly because Elvis believed he had a future with his new girlfriend Ginger Alden. Unfortunately, Ms. Alden couldn’t or wouldn’t live up to his expectations. As their relationship progressed (or regressed), Elvis complained to his inner circle: “Why doesn’t she want to spend more time with me?” Elvis wanted a 24/7 full-time companion and that she didn’t want. Elvis tried to mold her, to dress in more feminine clothes, but times were changing and she basically didn’t give a shit. That didn’t keep her from asking for things.
Elvis last girlfriend Ginger Alden
While Elvis had hopes for a Christmas wedding, deep down I think he knew it wasn’t meant to be. Consequently, this is the difference between his last two live albums. The first is where he believes he has a future. The second is where he doesn’t.
Highlights from “Spring Tours” are a rousing rendition of “Polk Salad Annie”, a soulful gospel tune “Help Me”, an amusing version of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (sung to Charlie Hodge), a heartfelt “Blue Christmas” and “Fairy Tale” with the prophetic verse: “You used me, you deceived me, and you never seemed to need me, but I’ll bet you won’t forget me when I go.”
Track listing for CD
Text © 2023 – EricReports