For fans of Elvis Presley, the new documentary on Netflix is a treasure trove of untold tales, candid admissions, and the real story behind the King’s most famous moment.
In Return of the King: The Fall & Rise of Elvis Presley, viewers get a behind-the-scenes look at his historic 1968 NBC Comeback Special, which not only saved his career but also changed the course of his legacy.
By his mid-sixties, Elvis was exhausted. Hollywood forced him into formulaic musicals rather than providing him with gritty roles like Marlon Brando or James Dean. The King, once electrifying, was reduced to Double Trouble’s rendition of “Old MacDonald.” “That is a crime in my opinion,” Priscilla Presley states in the movie. It turned him into a laughing stock. He was aware of it.
Jason Hehir, the director, explains that the idea of more bad films made Elvis “physically ill.” His desire was straightforward: to get back to music. The fear almost kept him backstage, though, as he hadn’t performed live in seven years. According to Hehir, “he nearly didn’t leave his dressing room.”
When Elvis eventually came out, everything was different. Wearing black leather, he took back his throne. That ensemble, created by Bill Belew and based on an old Harley Davidson photograph, became one of the most recognizable looks in rock.
Despite being soaked in perspiration and performing in front of blazing lights, Elvis exuded confidence, charm, and rebellion. Due to the comeback special’s high viewership and soundtrack ranking in the Top 10 on Billboard, Elvis was once again in the spotlight.
According to Hehir, “he hadn’t performed in seven years.” The yelling teenage girls had grown into mothers. Nevertheless, he continued to hold them in his palm.
The 1968 comeback was more than a show; it was a resurrection. True legends never die, as Elvis continues to demonstrate nearly fifty years after his death.
