Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34426 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-08-13
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, English, Finnish, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 92 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A concert documentary from 1970, Elvis: That's the Way it Is captures Elvis Presley midway through a fateful transition, seeking to reclaim his musical primacy after a decade of self-imposed exile from concert stages. Sidelined by his big-screen career, eclipsed by rock's mid-60s transformations, the King had begun his return two years earlier with the relatively lean attack of his fabled network television appearance, 68 Comeback Specia. Now the Memphis legend was poised to reposition his performing profile by pursuing the top rungs of headliner status in Las Vegas, a career choice that seems even more ephemeral in hindsight than it already did at the time. That's the Way it Is follows the show's genesis from rehearsal to stage, with the performance footage that provides its inevitable climax shot over six nights. The rehearsal footage, expanded for this special edition, offers further proof that Presley's band was simply superb: stripped of the orchestrations and lush choral arrangements that would be grafted onto the stage show, the sextet sounds both tough and nimble. In performance, we're treated to a mostly riveting glimpse of Presley in top vocal form, poised at the brink of bombast. This is Elvis before the onset of portentous Richard Strauss overtures, karate kicks and tossed scarves, kicking off the show with the classic "That's All Right". If he risks undercutting the punch of his early songs with self-deprecating clowning, he attacks two Ray Charles classics with gusto. --Sam Sutherland, Amazon.com

Special Features
Behind the Scenes Documentary
The Restoration Of That's The Way It Is
Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, English, Finnish, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish

Synopsis
Focusing on the overweight, older Elvis that many people would rather forget, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS is nonetheless a compelling, fascinating, and highly amusing musical documentary. Simultaneously celebrating and poking good-natured fun at the Las Vegas era of Elvis's career, director Denis Sanders often just sits back and lets the performances speak for themselves. The film includes the King preparing offstage for his 1970 tour and culminates in his opening night performance in Vegas. The film includes more than 30 of the King's fabulous songs.

Customer Reviews

The ultimate Elvis Presley concert
This great new version of the 1970 concert film, 'Elvis: That's The Way It Is'
will hopefully help to redress the balance of critical opinion concerning the
final phase of Elvis Presley's career. Those who only remember the
caricature will be surprised at how good Elvis looks and by the sheer power
and magnetism of his performances. Vocally, he was at his absolute peak.
Fans will be delighted to see new footage and some great new camera
angles (it feels like you're actually on the front row sometimes). Gone are the
irritating interviews and sideshows - this version focuses firmly on the man
himself. On the negative side, some of the songs from the original film have
been sacrificed - I Just Can't Help Believin being the most glaring omission.
The rehearsal section lacks the momentum of the original and the sound mix
is quite poor in places. That said, the special edition includes a great
rendition of Santa Claus Is Back In Town, demonstrating Elvis' ability as a

blues singer. The concert performances themselves are simply superb.
Everyone will have their favourites, but for me the lesser known Elvis songs
are the highlights. I Can't Stop Loving You is fantastic. Just Pretend really
shows off Elvis' vocal range. Patch It Up is a real rocker. This is Elvis at his
best. Sit back - and enjoy!

Elvis: That's not quite the way it was
I've just purchased the Region 1 version of this fantastic look at a fun lovin', behind the scenes, Elvis on his way to the first of his Vegas spectacles. This new version of the movie is almost a completely NEW movie though. Having been a fan of the original film I could wait to see all my favourite songs, plus the promised extras - yes we do get more songs but we also get some glaring omissions. Most notablely NO 'I JUST CAN'T HELP BELIEVIN''- can you believe that !! This track was so popular at the time of the movie's original release the live track from the film became the definative version - and it's not there any more !! I'm sure that should be illegal!? (apparently a US copyright problem - so it may appear in the UK version...hmmm) Other ommisions include all the interviews with the Elvis fans which made the original movie so humourous. But you do get a new blinding version of Suspicious Minds!! The making of documentary is short but informative and the sound and picture quality are amazing compared to the original version. But I have mixed feelings -I'm disappointed that the original version of the movie is deleted but if you've never seen it, this movie is a fan's must have item! MGM re-release the original !!!!!!!

The King holding court
It may be over 30 years since this documentary was filmed but you can still feel how magical, thrilling, exhilarating and exhausting it must have been to watch Elvis Presley performing in his prime. And that's exactly what you get here. A 35-year-old Elvis, simply exuding magnetism, charisma, talent and joy at doing again what he loved the most.

His voice is amazing. He wallows in it and gives every single song his all. He shows off his range and appears simply to pick a song at random, announcing it to the band and launching himself whole-heartedly into it. The whole show is fabulous but the highlights for me are One Night, Patch It Up, Polk Salad Annie and his phenomenal rendition of Suspicious Minds. He interacts easily with his superb band and the backing singers.

He's also in fantastic shape, handsome and sexy, still at the point where the much-imitated white jumpsuits enhanced his image perfectly rather than highlighting the decline of the larger and sadder Elvis of his final years.

It's amazing to watch the biggest star the world has ever seen simply jumping down into the audience and walking amongst them, shaking hands with the men and kissing the women. The crowd are practically hysterical, almost begging for more and more they get. This would never happen today and today's performers are not even in Presley's league.

This film doesn't only highlight the talent of the man. It also shows his humour, his professionalism and the total delight he took in singing and making music. It shows what a great loss he is to us all but also what a legacy he has left.

I was only five when Elvis Presley breathed his last but this DVD makes me feel like I've seen him play live. Absolutely fantastic.