Change of Habit

Amazon.com

Elvis tried something different in his final narrative movie… but the results are oddly similar to his usual '60s formula. Here the King plays a doctor working in an inner-city free clinic, playing host to three Catholic nurses (who are really nuns incognito). Elvis gets hung up on one of the nuns, played by Mary Tyler Moore; she seems a lot closer to The Dick Van Dyke Show than the Vatican. The songs are sparse--"Rubberneckin'" gets a workout in one of those awful stilted hootenannies so prevalent in Elvis pictures. The flower-power ambience is more interesting than the story; the film features Mod Squad-style attempts at racial politics, a sit-down protest, and a weird sequence involving "rage reduction" to cure an autistic child. Elvis has good scenes and indifferent ones, but he looks fantastic (this is just after the great "comeback"), and he dresses like no other doctor before or since. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Cinema's True Odd Couple - Elvis and Mary - in a Most Contrived Social Drama.......2007-08-28

Rarely has there been as odd a coupling in the history of cinema as the one on exhibit here - Elvis Presley and Mary Tyler Moore - two more polar opposite personas could not have shared the screen in 1969 when this movie was released. In what turned out to be his last dramatic role, Presley looks fit as he was then riding the momentum from his legendary '68 Comeback Special, while Moore - looking very Mary Richards-like, at least in Season One - was floundering in cheap Universal movies (like this one) after her salad days as Laura Petrie on Dick Van Dyke's classic sitcom and still a year away from her own epochal TV series. Yet, Presley obviously felt the seasoned Moore (versus his standard gallery of vacuous starlets) would give him credibility as a more serious actor in a film that dealt with social issues albeit in a most unbelievable manner.

Directed in journeyman TV-movie fashion by William A. Graham, the contrived story concerns three nuns, undercover as nurses in civilian clothing, who are sent on a mission to an inner city neighborhood to help the groovy Dr. John Carpenter, who runs a free clinic there when he's not singing and playing his guitar. Complications ensue as each sister finds it difficult to assimilate themselves into the community no thanks to a belligerent local pastor against their mission from the outset. The giggly Sister Barbara attempts to confront the local grocer to change his price-gouging ways, while the sullen Sister Irene feels conflicted about being a black woman amid the racial inequity of the real world. Sister Michelle, however, has the most palpable dilemma - should she remain faithful to the church or succumb to the charms of the doctor? If any of this could be taken seriously, there might have been a chance toward a grittier examination of social services to the marginalized. In an effort to stay topical, there is a discomfiting rape scene and an oversimplified treatment for autism called Rage Reduction.

But all this effort is secondary since this is Elvis after all, and he has no facility as an actor to play anyone but himself. With his aggressive sideburns and skintight white jeans with matching shoes, he does not slip into any character that would be credibly living in the ghetto. However, he does sing four songs, of which only "Rubberneckin'" is worthy of a second listen. As Sister Michelle, Moore is overly earnest without her trademark irony - the Mary we love only shows up briefly during a touch football scene in the park. Singer Barbara McNair, deglamorized and barely cracking her famous smile, plays Sister Irene, while future soap opera villainess Jane Elliot plays Sister Barbara. Look for Ed Asner playing a progressive cop but sadly no scenes with Moore are offered. The only noteworthy extra on the 2002 DVD is the original theatrical trailer. This is a true curio.

The King and Laura Petrie? Don't waste your time.!.......2007-08-19

Whoever came up with this lame contrivance and thought it would be good?

Enter Elvis as inner-city free-clinic MD takin' care of business, gettin' All Shook Up over coy nurse-by-day, bride of Christ by night Mary Tyler Moore. The sexual tension is palpable, but goes nowhere. It's Kind of a Drag.

There aren't even any good songs in this Hound Dog of a movie.

Now I know where "Oh Robbbb!" got it's start.

Best of all Elvis Films.......2007-04-09

This movie is my favorite and I'm a huge Elvis fan! I can't understand why it is so underrated.

Not an Elvis Movie.......2007-01-05

This movie does star Elvis Presley. However, he is really a minor player. Even my 12 yr old son noticed that much. The movie is about the 60's movement to better the humanity in a neighborhood of racial mixes, young people on drugs, & the Banker - the guy who "owns" the neighborhood, preys on those just trying to get by. So we have Sr. Michelle who tries to naively help the troubled youth, Sr. Irene who comes to terms with her ownself as she learns how to beat the Banker & help her people & young Sr. Barbara - the young rebel, who learns how to fight the tough battle while staying in tune with the neighborhood people. Elvis has the role of Dr John Carpenter, a calm voice in a sea of turmoil. He knows there's trouble in the streets, he's there to help those he can, get involved when necessary & help where he can. He doesn't have any illusions of being the superhero. Actually Elvis seems to have walked in off the street onto the movie set he is so lowkeyed. He appears to be having fun, relaxed & even gets to play football. He does sing - 4 songs if you include the title track. One song at the beginning where he & the neighborhood kids are just hanging out & jamming, & one at the end - a gospel song in church. The one in the middle is the kind of movie song he hated to do - he just bursts into song on a carousel, singing to a small girl trying to get her to smile. This is one of my favorite Elvis movies, give it a shot.

Just a good old movie.......2006-09-11

I just would like to say, just watch this movie for fun. If you try and rate this movie by asking if it is Elvis's best you are probably not going to like it, same thing with Mary Tyler Moore. Too many people try and be movie critics. Most of the time if the movie critics hate it, I like it, and if they love it, I hate it. I just watch movies for the fun and try not to rate people on if it is their best. This is a good family movie. It is a clean movie and not out of line for the 60's. So just sit back and enjoy, don't try and read anything into the movie and you will probably like the movie.

Average customer rating:

Cinema's True Odd Couple - Elvis and Mary - in a Most Contrived Social Drama
The King and Laura Petrie? Don't waste your time.!
Best of all Elvis Films
Not an Elvis Movie
Just a good old movie

Change of Habit [Region 2]
Starring: Elvis Presley , Mary Tyler Moore , Barbara McNair , Jane Elliot , and Leora Dana
Director: William A. Graham
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000A33QW