Sun Records

A huge disappointment. This is NOT the true story of Sun Records, Sam Phillips, Elvis Presley or any of the characters portrayed. Read anything by Peter Guralnick, most particularly his book "Sam Phillips— The Man Who Invented Rock 'n Roll". While the bones of the story may be correct (and the filming at actual sites in Memphis is a treat), it's the little things that irritate and insult. The portrayal of Marion Keisker as a hot chick having an even hotter love affair with Sam. In reality she was a strong, school-marm-looking woman who may have been in love with Sam, but the feeling was not mutual. Elvis and a fictional middle-class girlfriend named Trixie. He lived in the projects and would not have been dating someone in the better part of town (let alone climbing into her bedroom window). He did have a girlfriend named Dixie though. A shrew-like Becky Phillips who in reality understood and supported Sam. Sam's children are portrayed as infants when in reality they were 6 and 8 when they met Elvis. Elvis having no style until Colonel Parker told him to upgrade his look. In fact Elvis shopped at Lansky's on Beale Street for years before he ever made a record. Oh the annoyances! As a series it's poorly constructed with too many story lines and peripheral characters unknown to most viewers (The Prisonaires, Jackie Brenston, Joe Hill Louis, etc.). Supposedly this series was inspired by the stage musical "Million Dollar Quartet". I'm a tough critic, but that was actually quite good. It covered one day in the life of Sun Records. Maybe this should have done the same.

So what if it's not 100% correct on ages and time lines of events? (Hank Snow was older than those emerging singers in real life... does it bother me that he is portrayed younger? No.)

Billy Gardell (from the CBS sitcom "Mike and Molly") shows an impressive range of acting with his portrayal of Col. Tom Parker. The maniacal "Dewey Phillips" character as an out of control disc jockey is hilarious. There is too much good about this series to let it be outweighed by nit-picking as they call it in the south.

The TV series was cancelled after only one season of 8 episodes. They wasted way too much time telling the back stories of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. Never got close to the "Million Dollar Quartet" gathering of those four early rock stars that was the basis for the series and would have been the big finale of the show. Instead it ends with just the "warm up" for the main event. Disappointing! Also strays from some of the facts. For example, Marion Keisker was older and not as attractive as the actress in the seires and she never had an affair with Sam Phillips. Could have been a great series if they had moved the story along much faster and got to the Million Dollar Quartet by the 8th and final episode, but instead they tried to "milk it" for 2 or 3 seasons. BIG MISTAKE!

Pretty good show. Well acted and very well written. A little too much on the time spent separating black and white. Yes it was a serious issue back then as well as a serious influence on our artist. But they didn't play the race issues natural enough. Another problem with this that did get irritating was the syncing of the voice over recordings. With Elvis and Cash, voice over got too obvious. As for set decorating and cinematography...very pleasing! I'm 50's born and raised do I enjoyed it.

Loyal Elvis fans and devotees of Sam Phillips and Sun Records may find the restraints that a short mini-series (6 episodes) imposes on a big history frustrating. The condensing of the history is perhaps foregivable, although it appears remiss to have overlooked artists such as Howlin' Wolf and B. B. King, and arguably relocating some facts in the time-line creates greater dramatic impact. But in the telling of Elvis' story the writers appear to have relied more on myth and gossip rather than the known facts, and in some instances there are glaringly rewrites of history. Although some reviewers themselves appear to misinterpreted the facts: for example the relationship between Marion K and Sam Phillips was, according to Peter Guralnick, physical. However, all involved have created a series that goes some way to invoking the excitement of the times, with the cast giving credible and believable performances. If you can overcome any frustrations this is an enjoyable fun piece of television that left me wanting more when the credits had rolled on the final episode. I for one would like a season 2, but with a poor showing when aired it seems unlikely that CMT will pick-up the option.