Elvis: That's the Way It Is

Made right after Elvis Presley's comeback in the late 1960s, this concert film presents the definitive portrait of the King as Vegas headliner, following Elvis through a 1970 summer engagement, from backstage bustle and box-office hustle to capturing the legendary singer in performance. Denis Sanders' original 1970 film chronicling Elvis's rebirth as a Vegas showman was a concert rockumentary, interspersed with interviews, backstage material, and a wealth of footage featuring Presley in rehearsal. Revised and re-edited in 2001 by restoration producer Rick Schmidlin—who went back to the MGM vaults to incorporate unused footage, removing most of the fan interviews to make room for more music—the rehearsals are still a highlight, as Elvis jokes and laughs with an ease that stands in sharp contrast to his mumbling onstage banter. Elvis appears nervous about being back in front of audiences until he launches into song, pouring out the sweat in one passionate performance after another while making it look and sound effortless. There are 27 songs in all, ranging from his biggest hits ("Love Me Tender," "Blue Suede Shoes," "All Shook Up") to high-energy R&B numbers ("What I'd Say," "Polk Salad Annie") to adult contemporary songs ("Suspicious Minds," "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"). This is the best of the Elvis concert films (and better than most of his big screen features), one that should appeal to all fans. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, Elvis: That's the Way It Is makes its Blu-ray debut with extras including a restoration featurette, outtakes, and the complete original 1970 version on a bonus DVD. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)