Elvis Presley: Gladiators

2010

49min

Director Wayne Carman unearths footage from Elvis Presley's uncompleted 1974 martial arts film "The New Gladiators" in this documentary exploring The King's love of karate. A martial arts practitioner for nearly 20 years, Elvis used his karate expertise to enhance his already-powerful stage presence, and add a fresh air of physicality to his film roles. When "The New Gladiators" languished, fans missed out on an exciting opportunity to witness The King in a whole new light. In this film, Carman offers a tantalizing taste of what could have been one of Elvis' most unique and exciting cinematic endeavors.