Change of Habit

Believe it or not, this flick starts off with a three nun strip-tease (of sorts). Very provocative.

Some decent Elvis songs, a pretty young MTM, a good performance from the supporting cast, and an amusing and well-acted brief appearance by Ed Asner as a liberal police officer, combine to address (albeit superficially) a number of important socio-economic, racial, sexist, and religious issues, to name but a few.

Even though this movie tackles some serious subjects, it does so in a light and entertaining fashion, infused with some enjoyable songs. I didn't expect to enjoy this movie as much as I did.

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 ****

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

This movie is dated in a lot of ways, and not so dated in others. The fact that it was made at the end of the 60's comes out not only in the topics, but the way the movie was made, using modern (for the time--but maybe outdated for movies now) sets, filming techniques, and even story lines. Still, we see here that Elvis was an outstanding actor. It was not hard to think he was anything other than the character he played in this movie. I also have to add that he looks extremely cool in this movie!

The part that really shines in this movie is the last 20 minutes. The complicated love between Elvis' and Mary Tyler Moore's characters is NOT outdated at all. This part of the movie is played out really well. On top of this, finding out the destinies of the other sisters will leave us as viewers with a lasting impression.

A sad lament among fans of Elvis Presley is that his handlers (read: Col. Tom Parker) thought so little of him and his talents that they put him in piles of cinematic dung such as "Paradise Hawaiian Style" and turned down movies like "A Star is Born". If you've spent your life watching "Girls Girls Girls" and "Kid Galahad" then seeing a "normal" Elvis sans jumpsuit or guitar or a bevy of bikini-clad babes may jar you.

However, "Change of Habit" is not one of his mindless musicals. It is instead an attempt at a "real" movie, and Elvis fares well. It is odd to see Mary Tyler Moore as his love interest, but it's odd to see her as anything but Laura Petrie to me anyway. A little better script, maybe a different actress as his foil, and "Change of Habit" would have been a better movie. But when you compare it to "Clambake" ....well.....that's not really fair is it?