This lost vintage feature film, New Gladiators, was filmed in 1973 and 1974 and was the pet project of Elvis Presley and Ed Parker.
Many American martial arts history books have mentioned the film, but no one could be found who said they actually saw it. References indicated that it was an unfinished project that died with Elvis in 1977. Now, 25 years after the passing of Elvis Presley, the original 16mm film stock has been discovered and restored.
The The New Gladiators is a 93-minute documentary that chronicles the exploits of the U.S. Karate Team of Ron Marchini, Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez, Darnell Garcia, Tom Kelly, and John Natividad. Additional fighters showcased in the film include Steve Saunders, Roy Kurban, Ed Parker, Ticky Donavan, Geert Lemmens and other American and European stars of the day.
This remarkable film is fully narrated by Chuck Sullivan and even has an original soundtrack by David Crosby and Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, and Nash fame! 93 min.
