Elvis: That's the Way it Is
| Elvis: That's the Way It Is | |
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| Directed by | Denis Sanders |
| Starring | Elvis Presley |
| Cinematography | Lucien Ballard |
| Edited by | Henry Berman |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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108 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Elvis: That's the Way It Is is a 1970 American documentary film directed by Denis Sanders. The film documents American singer Elvis Presley's Summer Festival in Las Vegas during August 1970. It was his first non-dramatic film since the beginning of his film career in 1956, and the film gives a clear view of Presley's return to live performances after years of making films.
The original concept as devised by technical advisor Colonel Tom Parker was in view of Elvis's triumphant return to live performances was a closed circuit television presentation of one show.
Although most of the footage takes place onstage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, there are several other parts to the film:
The Elvis Summer Festival at the International Hotel began on August 10, 1970, and the MGM film 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:
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.
The concert film reached #22 on the Variety National Box Office Survey on its original theatrical release in 1970.
A soundtrack album was released in conjunction with the film. It was Presley's first full-length film soundtrack album since 1968's Speedway, and the last as his final film, 1972's Elvis on Tour, did not have a soundtrack release. It was only a partial soundtrack release, as it did not include all of the live performances, and substituted studio recordings for some of the songs performed in the film (some of these recordings can actually be heard playing during the film itself).
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