Elvis - That's the Way It Is Review

When Colonel Tom Parker saw the original theatrical version of Elvis - That's the Way It Is, he was not pleased. Whereas he had expected a straight concert film of Elvis's trimphant return to Las Vegas, he got more than he had bargained for. Director Denis Saunders sought to capture both the real Elvis Presley and the Elvis Phenomenon up close and personal. In addition capturing the live show, Sanders turned his cinema verite techniques loose on fan club members, hotel staff, and various cogs in the Elvis machine, as well as offering up candid footage of Elvis rehearsing with his core band, led by gutiar-pickin' genius James Burton that is priceless.

The new two-disc special edition would have made the Colonel proud. Rather than deliver a cleaned up version of the theatrical release (still available in its original form on VHS), the wise individuals at Turner Classic Movies and Warner Home Video have reimagined the film closer to Parker's original vision by concentrating on Elvis, and eliminating much of the filler that so infuriated Colonel Parker. It's both truncated and expanded, as the producers of the DVD realized that what mattered was not the sideshow, but the music.

Among the highlights are "Tiger Man," "Polk Salad Annie," "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," and a great, uncut version of "Suspicious Minds" with the full rave-up at the end. Fans of the original soundtrack album will be sad to learn that "I Just Can't Help Believing" did not make the cut.

The sound is superb, and Elvis is still beautiful after all these years. There is a hint of the excesses that would later kill him, and, musically, of the bloated bombast to come, but this is the KIng before the fall, at the height of his powers, knocking 'em dead in Vegas.

Available on DVD from Warner Home Entertainment.