Change of Habit

A hip, young Dr. John Carpenter (Elvis Presley) comes to a bad neighborhood slum to manage a clinic. He hires three nurses, unknowing that they are nuns in plain clothes. One of the nurses (Mary Tyler Moore), falls in love with the guitar playing doctor and has to make up her mind to stay with him or go back to the church. This is Presley's last scripted movie and probably never looked better. Four songs make up the soundtrack featuring the million seller "Rubberneckin'". Also in the cast are Jane Elliot, Barbara McNair, Robert Emhart and Ed Asner. Great for repeat viewing.

Elvis Presley made his last acting appearance in this film, playing a doctor opposite nun, Mary Tyler Moore. The story revolves around 3 nuns abandoning their habits, and adopting 'street clothes' to work as nurses in a ghetto practise run by Dr.John Carpenter (Elvis). There are some good scenes where Elvis is allowed to show some acting skills for which he was never really appreciated, mostly due to the woeful scripts he endured during his acting career. On the few occasions that he was given good material, his acting talents shone through. (Most notably in King Creole).

At this point in Elvis' career it is obvious that he was relishing completing his 10 year film contract as he had become completely disillusioned with the film industry and the bad material he had been given for the best part of 6 years.

The good moments in this film only emphasise the disappointment that Elvis' film career did not reach it's full potential, and we can only ponder what might have happened had he accepted roles in films such as Midnight Cowboy or A Star is Born with Barbra Streisand, both of which were offered to him.

Elvis last movie, and one that reflects his maturity, since it was released in 1969, when he was thirty four years of age.His first movie was in 1956, when he was 19. The vast difference is evident. The part he plays is an odd but welcome role for him. He gets to do some serious acting for a change. He is not a bad actor in this movie. The social and racial times are reflected through out the movie. The use of the 'N" word is rather shocking, especially when uttered by a small child. The ignorance about the causes and treatment of children with autism, at that time is apparent in the way it is dealt with. Racial stereotypes are pepper through out this production. Still it is worth a look.

Although I am not a fan of the legendary Elvis Presley (in music or on screen), I must say that after seeing his 1969 film, "A Change of Habit," I realized his talent as an actor was very underrated. Of course, he was placed in his share of cheezy B-movie musicals, some so terrible that, to quote the King himself, they made him "physically ill." But this film lets Presley perform in a more relaxed atmosphere, without the restrictions of having to have a guitar at his side every second (though he does sing a bit in this film, but not so much that it ruins the drama). The same year, Presley was offered Jon Voight's role in the Academy Award winning "Midnight Cowboy." This film has led me to believe that Elvis may not have been bad at all in that role. --Bud Sturguess, Texas

Elvis Presley's 31st and last film at least tries to go into different territory as he plays a doctor working in a free clinic (!) working to help underprivileged people in the ghetto. Mary Tyler Moore is one of three nuns (her friends are singer Barbara McNair and newcomer Jane Elliot) who decide to forsake their traditional catholic garb and dress conventionally in order to go "undercover" as normal women to assist Presley in his cause. Understandably, this sets up the opportunity for them to get into all kinds of trouble in the hood, not the least of which is that Mary begins to fall for Dr. Elvis and must decide between Jesus or The King.

Presley only sings a few songs in this one, the best of which is the very bouncy "Rubberneckin' ", which I believe was revamped decades later to become a popular song all over again. Many people laugh at the idea of Moore as a Sister, but it works for me. Elvis' performance varies from time to time between rusty and competent, and at times I could accept him as a kind-hearted young doctor. It's refreshing to get something outside the usual Presley formula at this stage of his career, and the movie deals with social issues that were relevant at the time, though come off as rather stereotypical and politically incorrect when viewed today (and so what, the movie occurs in 1969). Some things are far-fetched -- did you know you could cure an autistic child by just holding her while she kicks and screams in rage, all the while assuring her "I love you"...? Even so, it's a strong scene in the film. Ed Asner, who would later star along with Mary in the classic "Mary Tyler Moore Show", has some scenes near the end as a policeman. **1/2 out of ****