Orion: The Man Who Would Be King

2015 1h 26m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 22

MusicDocumentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

August 16, 1977. All of America was stunned by the news of Elvis Presley's untimely passing. Some went so far as to believe that it couldn't be true. Somehow he had faked his death. For the executives at Sun Records that fantasy became an opportunity in the form of Orion, a mysterious masked performer with the voice of The King. First appearing in 1979, Orion recorded 11 albums and performed live to packed houses and rapturous fans around the nation. But who was the man behind the mask? In this stranger-than-fiction true story, Jeanie Finlay exposes the incredible life of an unknown singer plucked from obscurity and thrust into the spotlight with the complicity of a manipulative music industry and a public fan base unwilling to let The King go. Resonant in its themes of identity, fate, and the double-edged nature of fame, Orion is a stylish mystery story that finally gives a name and a face to a gifted artist who had been unjustly deprived of both.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Jimmy Orion Ellis
Self
Jim Ellis Jr
Self
Gail Brewer-Giorgio
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jeanie Finlay
Writers: Jeanie Finlay
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

86 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 11 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jeanie Finlay, shot by Stewart Copeland. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Lucas Roche shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jimmy Orion Ellis and Jim Ellis Jr and Gail Brewer-Giorgio carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt4468132 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jeanie Finlay directs. Stewart Copeland behind the camera. Lucas Roche cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 11 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Jeanie Finlay, shot by Stewart Copeland. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Lucas Roche shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Jimmy Orion Ellis and Jim Ellis Jr and Gail Brewer-Giorgio carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt4468132 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 22 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.