Elvis: That's the Way it Is
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| Elvis: That's the Way It Is | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Denis Sanders |
| Produced by | Rick Schmidlin |
| Starring | Elvis Presley |
| Cinematography | Lucien Ballard |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | 1970 |
| Running time | 97 min. |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Elvis: That's The Way It Is is a documentary movie directed by Denis Sanders about Elvis Presley that was released on November 11, 1970. The film documents Elvis' Summer Festival in Las Vegas during August of 1970. It was his first non-dramatic film since the beginning his movie career in 1956. Although the lion's share of the footage takes place onstage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, there are several other parts to the film:
- The opening credits sequence contains footage of Elvis' show at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on September 9, 1970. This was the first show of Elvis' first tour in 13 years.
- Elvis and his band are seen rehearsing for the Las Vegas engagement at MGM Studios in Culver City, California. There are scenes of Elvis running through such tunes as "I Just Can't Help Believing", "What'd I Say", "Little Sister", "Words", "That's All Right Mama", and "The Next Step Is Love." The rehearsal sequences were filmed during late July of 1970.
- Later rehearsals show Elvis in Las Vegas with his back-up vocalists The Sweet Inspirations, Millie Kirkham and The Imperials Quartet, preparing songs such as "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water".
- There is also a session of rehearsals that takes place in the Showroom Internationale of the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Together, Elvis and the entire group run through songs from "Mary In the Morning" to "Polk Salad Annie". These rehearsals took place on August 6, 1970.
- Footage of an Elvis Appreciation Society convention in Luxembourg was shot on September 5, 1970. Radio Luxembourg DJs Tony Prince and Peter Aldersley are on hand to lead the festivities. A tandem bicycle owned by Elvis is raffled off to a lucky fan in the audience. Additionally, various musicians are seen perfoming their own versions of Elvis' songs.
Contents |
[edit] Cast
All credited cast as themselves:
Elvis Presley, Terry Blackwood, Estell Brown, James Burton, Richard Davis, Joe Esposito, Joe Guercio, Glen D. Hardin, Charlie Hodge, Felton Jarvis, Millie Kirkham, Armando Morales, Joe Moscheo, Jim Murray, Jerry Scheff, Sylvia Shemmell, Myrna Smith, Ronnie Tutt, Del 'Sonny' West, Red West, Red West, Roger Wiles, John Wilkinson, Ann Williams.
[edit] Onstage in Las Vegas
The Elvis Summer Festival at the International Hotel began on August 10, 1970, and the MGM movie crew was on hand to film this show as well as the evening and midnight performances of August 11, 12 and 13. He sings many well-known songs, including several of those that he had been seen rehearsing earlier in the film. The songs are:
- Mystery Train/Tiger Man
- That's All Right Mama
- I've Lost You
- Love Me Tender
- Patch It Up
- You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
- I Just Can't Help Believing
- Tiger Man
- Sweet Caroline
- Heartbreak Hotel
- One Night
- Blue Suede Shoes
- All Shook Up
- Polk Salad Annie
- Suspicious Minds
- Can't Help Falling In Love
Elvis is also seen relaxing in his hotel suite with various members of his entourage. The movie is also intercut with footage of fans offering commentary about what Elvis means to them; officials at the International Hotel; and celebrities (including Sammy Davis Jr., Cary Grant, Charo, George Hamilton, Juliet Prowse and Xavier Cugat) arriving for opening night of the show.
This film was subsequently re-released in a special edition on January 19th, 2001, when this new version made its worldwide debut on the cable network, Turner Classic Movies.
[edit] Musicians with Elvis
- James Burton (lead guitar)
- John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar)
- Glenn D. Hardin (piano)
- Jerry Scheff (bass)
- Ronnie Tutt (drums)
- Charlie Hodge (guitar and harmony vocals)
- Millie Kirkham (vocals)
- The Sweet Inspirations (vocals)
- The Imperials (vocals)
- Joe Guercio (conductor)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Elvis: That's The Way It Is at the Internet Movie Database
- Elvis: That's The Way It Is at All Movie Guide
