The tragic story of a man whose voice sounded uncannily like Elvis Presley is examined in this bittersweet documentary. After a career as a horse trainer for 17 years, Jimmy Ellis began a late career in show business, writing and recording music that sounded eerily like Elvis Presley. Unfortunately, his records didn't sell due to his vocal similarity to the King. A writer wrote a book about an Elvis-like performer who faked his own death, and after the untimely passing of Elvis Presley, this spurred Ellis to don a mask and call himself Orion. A rumor that Orion was actually Elvis in disguise simultaneously helped and hurt Ellis' career.
Featuring concert footage, interviews, and bejeweled masks of all varieties, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King is an interesting, often humorous documentary about a tragic figure. An inspiring tale of persevering in the rough-and-tumble, devil-may-care country music industry during the 1970s and a cautionary tale for lower-tier celebrities who wear masks, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King shines a light on a nearly forgotten talent who rose to popularity during the weird, surreal period following the death of the real King Of Rock & Roll.
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