Doctor Elvis

Elvis played a doctor in his last fiction film CHANGE OF HABIT.

Synopsis:

From the video cover:

Elvis shows his winning ways with music and women in this rollicking film! As the young and handsome Dr. Carpenter, Elvis runs a ghetto clinic. He is assigned three female medical social workers to assist him – but he doesn’t know that they really are nuns! Mary Tyler Moore stars as Sister Michelle, one of the nuns who takes off her habit—and takes off with Elvis’ heart! When love blossoms between the sweet, swinging and singing doctor and the demure, devoted nun, Michelle must decide whether to follow her heart or remain true to her vows. Elvis woos his love as only he can with three numbers: RUBBERNECKIN, LET US PRAY, and CHANGE OF HABIT in this hilarious and touching story.

Overview:

This was Elvis’s last fictional film.

Although the film has always been marketed as an Elvis film, the movie really centers around the nun’s story, which was a fictionalized take on the experiences of a real life sister who was a renowned speech therapist. In fact, Mary Tyler Moore was signed to appear in the movie way before Elvis was.

Elvis filmed CHANGE OF HABIT in March 1969 – after the ’68 special, after the American sessions in Memphis, but before his upcoming International engagements. The news footage of Elvis signing his contract in the International casino construction site was taken days before CHANGE began shooting.

Shortly after shooting, Elvis, wife and daughter and various Memphis Mafia guys and wives vacation in Hawaii. The name underwhich the reservations were booked: the Carpenters (after his character name in CHANGE OF HABIT),

Afterwards, he returned to Memphis, where he watched the following movies: GOODBYE, COLUMBUS, WINNING and DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER.

The Lowdown:

The ads at the time proclaimed – "This is the New Elvis – coming your way from the ghetto with New Songs, New Fun, and New Romance."

A review of the movie during the time it was released stated: "One would hardly expect Elvis Prsley to figure in such a story, but he portrays a doctor in a ghetto clinic and somehow fits the role quite well. He sings only four songs this time, with smooth effect as usual."

It’s true – he’s believable as the ghetto doctor. His scenes with his patients are the most best in the movie.

Female Co-star:

Mary Tyler Moore! She and Elvis look great together, although Mary has gone on record as saying she thinks she's the only one of his female co-stars who did not sleep with him.

Tibits:

One of Elvis’s favorite female singers, Mahalia Jackson, visited him on the set. There’s a photo of this meeting in the book Elvis Day by Day (p. 257).

Ed Asner, who played Mary’s boss Lou Grant on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, appears in the film as a cop.

Best bits:

The nun’s reaction upon seeing Elvis: "You don’t look like a doctor!"

Elvis using late 60’s slang ("Weirdos, man!" "That’s her bag." ) and street lingo ("H" for heroin).

Elvis fooling around on the piano, playing a little bit of LAWDY MISS CLAWDY on the piano in the nun’s apartment.

Elvis playing touch football in the park. Elvis was a lifelong touch football player in real life.

Elvis smoking one of his favorite cigars as he confronts the loan shark outside his office.

Elvis singing in the church at the film’s end.

Clothes & Hair Watch:

Elvis plays a doctor, so he wears the 60’s-era Doctor Coat. With his big sideburns and longish hair, he’s a very hip doctor.

Casually, he dresses in 60’s-era Elvis slacks and dress shirts – most of which are blue. He does wear his shirts dangerously unbuttoned (lots of chest showing).

For a casual football game, he wears sneakers, jeans and a blue University of Tennessee Memphis sweatshirt.

For the fiesta celebration, he wears the black turtleneck (which he always looks good in) under the blazer – very hip again.

His hair is a disaster in this movie – mostly because of the bangs. Too often they fall straight across his forehead and look dorky (see the video cover).

And the worst bit is near the end when he confronts Mary Tyler Moore at her church – there’s a whole hank of bangs that stands straight up!

Rate the Date with Elvis Sequence: From 1 - 10, 10 being best: 7

Midway through the movie, Elvis's character plays football with Mary Tyler Moore in the park, then they ride a carousel with a young girl while Elvis sings. The date end with ice cream purchased from a park vendor.

Since Elvis did play football in real life and because he looks very good in a sweatshirt and basketball shoes, this "Date with Elvis" rates a 7.

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