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The Searcher

January 12, 2018 | Other

The HBO documentary ELVIS PRESLEY: THE SEARCHER debuts SATURDAY, APRIL 14 (8:00–11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO in the USA. 

This three-hour, two-film presentation focuses on Elvis Presley the musical artist, taking the audience on a comprehensive creative journey from his childhood through the final 1976 Jungle Room recording sessions. The films include stunning atmospheric shots taken inside Graceland, Elvis’ iconic home, and feature more than 20 new, primary source interviews with session players, producers, engineers, directors and other artists who knew him or who were profoundly influenced by him. The documentary also features never-before-seen photos and footage from private collections worldwide, and includes an original musical score composed by Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready.

As previously announced by SXSW, Priscilla Presley, David Porter (legendary Memphis music writer and producer), Thom Zimny (director), Jon Landau (producer) and moderator John Jackson (SVP A&R, Sony Music) will discuss the film, the cultural impact of Elvis’ music and how that impact became the embodiment of rock’n’roll at the 2018 SXSW Festival in March. The panel is expected to cover:

  • how Elvis found inspiration in black and white gospel music of Tupelo
  • his early experience with the great African-American blues and r’n’b of Memphis
  • his evolution as an artist with Sam Phillips
  • the creative impact of his time serving in the U.S. Army in Germany
  • the creative highs and lows of his career in the 1960s, culminating in the triumphant ’68 special
  • an assessment of Elvis as a performing artist in the early ’70s, featuring a discussion of Jon Landau‘s seminal 1971 review of Elvis in concert
  • a discussion of the interviews conducted for the film, including insights into the conversations with Scotty Moore, Red West, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, among others
  • insight into the creation of the film’s score by Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready
  • an inquiry into the artistic and personal struggles that preceded his death in 1977

RCA/Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release “Elvis Presley: The Searcher," the musical companion to the HBO/Sony Pictures documentary, on Friday, April 6. It will be available in digital and physical configurations.

ELVIS PRESLEY: THE SEARCHER is an HBO Documentary Films Presentation in association with Sony Pictures Television; executive producers, Glen Zipper, Priscilla Presley, Jerry Schilling, Andrew Solt, Alan Gasmer and Jamie Salter (chairman and CEO, Authentic Brands Group); producers, Jon Landau and Kary Antholis; directed and produced by Thom Zimny.

Source:The OEPFC of Great Britain
Gorse wrote on January 13, 2018
I fully expect this project / release to be at the very least 'very good' hoping that it will outstrip that classification and be a feeling I had when seeing 'That's The Way It Is' for the first time. I would like to see copious amounts of film footage from his major filmed appearances and at least something from Elvis In Concert to perhapso achieve something like an anthology. I believe there may be film from the press interview Elvis gave at the Memphis Charity Concert in 1961. Whatever the result it should hopefully end in more Elvis fans coming on board.
circleG wrote on January 13, 2018
Looking forward to this one. We never did get a Beatles like anthology series but this shows promise. I'm glad more is made of Elvis roots in Black American gospel, he was an authority on the subject. The fact there's an emphasis on the Sun years is great. Hopefully we'll see lots of interviews with people connected with him, old footage as well as new. Hopefully we'll get a directors cut ( the 1987 extended video version ) of the '68 Special which means interview with Steve Binder. Graceland is sitting on alot of stuff right now, remember they have the Colonels extensive collection and this needs to be made available to fans. Priscilla has done some good stuff lately eg. Philharmonic ( love it or hate it - I loved the concert ), O2 exhibition, DVD releases. A good start for ABG too.
Steve V wrote on January 13, 2018
I have a feeling this will be tastefully done just like the current Bowie doc and the former Sinatra doc. HBO does at least set high standards for their documentaries. But also remember HBO makes shows for the general public not the fan who has everything ever released on Elvis, so I'm not expecting much in the way for ultra rare footage. Good quality performance footage is what should be used to go along with a good musical bio.
JerryNodak wrote on January 14, 2018
I'm not an HBO subscriber. But if I read some positive reviews I might look it up on You Tube at a later date.
Pieter wrote on January 21, 2018
If Priscilla is involved it will probably not be that great.