Legends

Nope, you haven't accidentally grabbed your copy of the National Enquirer. Elvis the Pelvis does indeed party on in Las Vegas in the long-running stage show, Legends in Concert. And he's joined by such late luminaries as Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland. The brainchild of showbiz entrepreneur John Stuart, whose philosophy in life is simple and direct ("anyone tries to pull my string, I cut theirs"), Legends in Concert has enjoyed an eight-year hit run, replacing too-big-for-their-britches impersonators as the need arose. Director Ilana Bar-Din's fascinating documentary goes behind the scenes to interview an Elvis, a Marilyn, and a Judy, whose stories are by turns, hilarious, poignant, and always thought-provoking. When Jonathon von Brana (the Elvis) and Susan Griffiths (the Marilyn) fall in love and leave the show to start their own business, Stuart rebounds instantaneously, rehearsing a new Elvis in no time. Ironically, as the film progresses, you realize that the real "star" isn't Elvis or Marilyn or Judy, it's John Stuart, a complex man who started with nothing, grabbed hold of the American Dream and, one senses, trampled over any obstacle that stood in his way. In addition to the truly impressive stage sequences, Legends has a number of moments: the middle-aged members of the Jonathon-is-the-best-Elvis personal fan club waiting excitedly for their tardy King to appear for a party in his honor; Jonathon's admission that he always wanted to be like "Lincoln and Elvis; "and John Stuart joining a Sammy Davis Jr. -impersonator in song, the urge to perform being too great to resist. Highs and lows, this is showbiz, folks. An excellent program. Highly recommended. (Available from most distributors.)