That's The Way It Is

The original version of ELVIS: THAT’S THE WAY IT IS was released in 1970. Elvis was then 35 years old.

Two years earlier his NBC television special (now known as THE ’68 COMEBACK SPECIAL) brought him back to performing in front of a live audience after many years of only being exposed to the public via his movie vehicles.

After the special, Elvis starred in two more films: THE TROUBLE WITH GIRLS and CHANGE OF HABIT, before releasing the first of two "concert" films for MGM: ELVIS: THAT’S THE WAY IT IS (followed by ELVIS ON TOUR in 1972).

Now, in 2001, a new Special Edition version of the film has been created. This new version aired in America on Turner Classic Movies last month and is out on VHS/DVD.

Visit the Turner site and read the Warner Home Video press release below for more details on the special edition.

OVERVIEW

Synopsis:

From the original version video box cover:

Two time Oscar-winner Denis Sanders directs this thrilling rockumentary that takes you along and behind the scenes for Elvis Presley’s record-breaking 1970 concert tour.

See rock ‘n’ roll’s undisputed King at his charismatic best, as he relaxes and jokes with his band during rehearsals. Be front-row, center, when Elvis unleashes his incomparable talent and showmanship on the stage of a Las Vegas’ International Hotel and elsewhere. Visit with Presley fans from all of the world as they meet at the Annual Elvis Presley Appreciation Society Convention. And discover your own favorites from among the film’s twenty-seven songs, including ALL SHOOK UP, HEARTBREAK HOTEL, SUSPICIOUS MINDS, LOVE ME TENDER, I CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU, and more.

ELVIS: THAT’S THE WAY IT IS is the way you like it: tunefully, warmly, unforgettably and heart-and-soulfully Elvis, a must-see experience of the man and the artist.

From the Turner Website:

We will now compare the material contained in the two versions. First the vital stat's: At 97 minutes, Elvis-That's the Way It Is: Special Edition is 13 minutes shorter than the original, yet contains more songs because there was so much extraneous material to be cut. Both versions contain a concert recording during the opening credits ("Mystery Train/Tiger Man"), followed by 17 songs each (counting songs heard in two versions twice) in rehearsal, with most rehearsal songs heard only in excerpt. In the concert portion, however, the original's 16 tunes (including a mere truncated reprise of "Tiger Man") are done 4 better by SE if you include the coda version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight" during the closing credits. In addition, some songs reappear, but in different performances captured from another show.

The Lowdown:

The Special Edition cuts out the fan testimonial and is exclusively Elvis.

There’s no denying the Special Edition version is amazing – a true "all access pass" look at Elvis at work. (Read the interview below with the man behind the special edition to see how this came about.)

And while this new version is superior to the old one in terms of a traditional concert film, the old version is perhaps more fascinating as a documentary about the Elvis phenomenon.

While most viewers fast forward through all the fan testimonial and International prep scenes, the filmmaker obviously felt that they contributed to the whole "Elvis Presley in 1970" portrait.

How Elvis evolved as a performer was shaped by his fans – and their inclusion in a documentary about "the way it is" is a testament to the fact that the fans are equally important as the star. Removing the fans is a strike against reality.

Not to mention that most of the fans interviewed were women of all ages. Eliminating them is another attempt to discount the female population’s relationship to Elvis.

However, the new Special Edition version is so good that no one will want to view the original unaltered film – and in all good consciousness, the Girls Guide to Elvis recommends buying the new version if you have to make a choice.

But for historic and sociological reasons, the original one should never be dismissed.

Best bits:

The MGM sound stage rehearsal bits are even better now. This is Elvis at his most informal and charming.

The best bit still is Elvis ripping his pants. Ripping his pants was a problem for Elvis since he first started performing – so it’s not surprising how informal he is about it. The famous jumpsuits evolved as a solution to this problem.

Rehearsing in Las Vegas is also much improved. In rehearsal, you really get to see how Elvis was really in command of his music and the way it sounded.

Elvis kissing the girls during the show is great – and the new footage almost makes up for cutting out the female fans elsewhere. There’s one young girl who is literally quivering in his presence. Elvis the sex god is in prime form.

Tibits:

Elvis’s GI BLUES costar Juliet Prowse is one of the guests attending the concert – along with Cary Grant, Sammy Davis Jr., and Juliet Miles (of Nanny & The Professor fame).

CLOTHES AND HAIR

It’s 1970 and Elvis displays his biggest sideburns ever.

His hair is the blackest black and often mussed and wilting during performances.

The 1970’s-era Elvis trademark sunglasses have made their debut and are worn throughout.

Elvis has on Beatle boots and a flattering groovy multicolor shirt during the MGM soundstage rehearsals. As noted above, he rips his pants during rehearsal and therefore wears two different pair.

Elvis’s rings are huge and received well-merited close-ups.

Rehearsing in Vegas, he wears the strange elastic armband style long sleeve blouses he favored to awhile. He also wears one of his heavy 70’s era belts.

On stage, he wears several white jumpsuits (designed by Bill Belew), but they’re understated and have not yet evolved into bejeweled masterpieces.

In both old and new versions of the film, Elvis’s jumpsuit change throughout the "concert" as several performances were edited together. He looks best in the one with fringe punctuated with colored beads.

In the new version, there’s a great "butt shot" – when he was thin, the jumpsuit was very flattering!

DVD/VHS Press Release

A December 18th press release from Warner Home Video:

ELVIS: THAT1S THE WAY IT IS – SPECIAL EDITION

Warner Home Video Announces King-Size Tribute To The "First Bad Boy of Rock"

Newly Re-Edited "Rockumentary" Captures Elvis In All His Glory On VHS January 16th And DVD March 6th

Includes 27 Songs With More Than 30 Minutes Of Never-Before-Seen Rehearsal And Concert Footage

BURBANK, CA (December 18, 2000) – Warner Home Video (WHV) proudly announces the release of the powerful "rockumentary" Elvis: That's the Way It Is – Special Edition, featuring a newly remastered and remixed version, available for the first time ever in stereo. Produced by award-winning filmmaker Rick Schmidlin (Touch of Evil, Greed, Doors: Live at the Hollywood Bowl) and his team, the special edition includes close-ups of Presley's famous footwork and guitar work, cut-aways of the band, never-before-seen footage including ten musical numbers, and Elvis' off-stage antics. Elvis: That's the Way It Is – Special Edition shakes up the stores on January 16 on VHS for $14.95 SRP and on March 6 on DVD for $24.98 SRP.

Known the world over by his first name, Elvis is regarded as one of the most important figures of the 20th century. With a revolutionary sound and style, he challenged the social and racial barriers of the time. Elvis ushered in a whole new era of American music and popular culture bringing the world such classic songs as "Hound Dog," "Heartbreak Hotel," and "All Shook Up." Elvis Presley has sold more records than any other artist (over one billion records), starred in 31 features and two concert films and shook the world with his record-breaking television and live appearances.

In announcing this special edition, Mark Horak, WHV senior vice president, marketing stated, "Elvis: That's the Way It Is – Special Edition will be an exceptional keepsake for those who recognize and remember Elvis' remarkable talent and will serve as a great introduction to those who have yet to experience the power and range of Presley's genius."

Elvis: That's the Way It Is – Special Edition documents Presley at his peak during the celebrity-attended August 1970 Las Vegas concert series and reveals a seldom-seen personal side of the King of Rock & Roll. Rare, behind-the-scenes footage shows Elvis interacting with the TCB Band and his back-up singers, the Sweet Inspirations and The Imperials, as well as his off-stage antics. The film captures the inimitable style of Elvis as he sings 27 dynamic songs including Love Me Tender, Blue Suede Shoes, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, and Suspicious Minds. Both the VHS and DVD versions contain the original theatrical trailer and a new documentary "Patch It Up: The Reconstruction of Elvis: That's the Way It Is." The featurette chronicles the work of distinguished film restoration specialist Rick Schmidlin as he re-edits the film using never-before-seen footage.

Schmidlin conducted an exhaustive five-month search for all existing film negatives, work prints and corresponding audio masters, producing up to four additional hours of usable footage, some of which was culled from individual scraps as short as a few seconds. Once he had the materials, he and his team went to work. There are many sequences of entirely new material, comprising roughly 40% of Elvis: That's the Way It Is – Special Edition, which capture with greater intimacy Elvis' creative process and stage persona. The entire film, including performances retained from the original version, has been re-edited, with virtually every shot reflecting some change in length and rhythm to give it a more contemporary feel.

The recent discovery of 50,000 feet of original film negative shot by six cameramen who were granted unlimited access during the span of rehearsals and performances, and the original corresponding 16-track audio masters, provided the opportunity to re-cut the film. Elvis: That's the Way It Is – Special Edition represents the first time a film has been completely re-edited from start to finish using only original elements. This special edition will also be presented with a newDolby Digital 5.1 stereo soundtrack.

Elvis Presley influenced the world's entire popular culture and changed the face of Rock & Roll. Bruce Springsteen said:"There have been a lot of tough guys. There have been pretenders. And there have been contenders. But there is only one king." Mick Jagger praised him by saying, "He was a unique artist – an original in an area of imitators." Bob Dylan stated, "Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail." and John Lennon said simply, "Before Elvis, there was nothing." Twenty-three years after his death, "the King" continues to move audiences with his legendary music.

Elvis: That's the Way It Is – Special Edition will premiere on Turner Classic Movies on January 15, 2001, one day before its VHS debut. Each video will contain more than $1,400 worth of Warner Spotlight Coupon values and will qualify for the Warner "Buy 3/Get 1 Free" Offer.

Memphis Paper Article

That's The Way It Is Movie Update From The Commercial Appeal (dating from the Memphis debut in August 2000)

When people claim that Elvis Presley is still alive, there may be an element of truth to it, says a filmmaker whose new version of a 1970 Elvis documentary will premiere in Memphis for the 23rd anniversary of Presley's death.

"Marilyn Monroe and James Dean are like icons of personality, kind of like a nostalgic memory, but Elvis is part of our everyday life," says Rick Schmidlin, producer of the newly edited 1970 film Elvis, That's The Way It Is.

Following Elvis as he prepared for a Las Vegas nightclub opening, the movie received favorable ratings in its day. But 30 years later, it had become "dramatically dated," says Schmidlin.

About 40 percent of the documentary is now new, re-edited and remastered from 50,000 feet of original footage, including songs that did not make it into the 1970 movie.

The new version will debut at the Orpheum August 12 as a focal point of Elvis Week before it is released nationally as a television premiere on Turner Classic Movies for Elvis's 66th birthday on Jan. 8, 2001.

"Of all the things that have come out in all the years since Elvis's death, this is it as far as the fans are concerned," says Todd Morgan, creative services director for Elvis Presley Enterprises. If an Elvis fan were marooned "on a desert island with a DVD player," the one thing he would ask for would be "all the footage shot for that film."

In fact, Morgan says Elvis, That's The Way It Is will serve as theme for Graceland's 23rd anniversary memorial to Elvis's death and a centerpiece event of what fans call Elvis Week, Aug. 10-16. The other highlight of the week is the annual candlelight vigil, beginning at 9 p.m. Aug. 15. Tickets for the Orpheum premiere went on sale on Graceland's Web site (http:// www.elvis-presley.com) in June, and Morgan says more than a third of the Orpheum's 2,333 seats have sold, at $18 a ticket.

The 23rd anniversary also will usher in a revamped official Presley Web site with streaming video and other updated features, says Morgan. He says the site will be refined up to the last minute and likely will appear on the Internet (with the same Web address) the week before the August 16 anniversary. The Web site is part of Graceland's way of keeping the memory of Elvis alive - a job that filmmaker-producer Schmidlin says has worked.

The public has a sense of Elvis as if he were still among us, he says, describing Elvis as the rare performer whose songs may air on the radio just because a disk jockey feels like playing them. You don't need an anniversary or a reason, he says.

In addition to the music and the Elvis movies, there is a touring Elvis - The Concert video production with Elvis appearing on video accompanied by a live band. And a new television commercial for iced tea uses a Claymation version of Elvis in a takeoff of the Jailhouse Rock song and movie. The constant reminders help make Elvis seem like a part of contemporary America, says Schmidlin.

Schmidlin's project to revise the 1970 movie was commissioned by Turner Entertainment Co. The original was released the same year and in the same vein as Woodstock. Both used event footage as a tool to promote performers and their music. The Elvis movie quickly became a favorite of Elvis fans around the world and even now gets good ratings, including a three-star rating by film critic Leonard Maltin.

But Schmidlin says Elvis's manager, Col. Tom Parker, used the film as "propaganda to sell Elvis to new audiences." As such, the movie focused on various ages, ethnic groups and others with "the message that if you're like these people you'll like Elvis."

Schmidlin says the world now knows that Elvis fans span all age, gender, ethnic and geographic barriers, so the filmmaker says he was able to edit out purely promotional and staged footage, including such "downright silly things as two girls talking about how nice Elvis is and how even their cat likes Elvis." He also lopped out a Luxembourg Elvis convention, which he says was included only to demonstrate that Elvis had many fans in Europe.

Schmidlin is a producer and filmmaker best known as producer of a re-edited version of the 1958 Orson Welles film Touch of Evil and for the documentary The Doors: Live at the Hollywood Bowl. With the Welles film, Schmidlin says he followed Welles's own 58-page instructions in a memo to Universal Studios.

With the Elvis film, he was given no blueprint and had no demands or conditions about how Elvis would appear in the film. The result: "I think what you find in the film is a man who understood music and understood his audience. And I think you find someone who kept a form of humanity even at his peak. Most musicians lose that one-on-one contact through the years. He didn't."

Schmidlin suggests that a close parallel to Elvis and his interaction with audiences is Mozart, who composed for the court and, like Elvis, received immediate and decisive feedback from live audiences.

That interplay with the audience is among the highlights of the film, says Schmidlin. "You get to see him talking to the audience and relating to the audience. You get to see how much he's in love with his audience and how appreciative he is. When you see how he becomes at one with who he is performing for, it's very revealing. It shows you a much more humble Elvis (than in the original version). It makes him more flesh and bones. It brings him down to Earth."

As a singer, Elvis shared a trait with Jim Morrison of The Doors and with Frank Sinatra, Schmidlin says. "Jim Morrison and Elvis were both crooners who know how to use their voices like Frank Sinatra did." Each mined words for meaning and used phrasing as a major element of interpretation and style.

Special Edition Article in LA Times

From the LA Times:

Elvis Concert Film Gains Unused Footage

One of the biggest thrills undoubtedly will be the chance to see "That's the Way It Is," a historic reconstruction of a 1970 film shot during a Vegas tour by Presley.

It was supervised by Rick Schmidlin (who previously reconstructed "Touch of Evil" and "Greed" to much acclaim) for Turner Entertainment. (The "special edition" premieres Jan. 8, 2001, on TCM in honor of Presley's birthday.)

After an extensive search by Turner executives and Schmidlin, 50,000 feet of unused original camera negative were discovered, along with the original 16-track stereo masters. (The film was released in mono.) Now the film will be heard in the Carpenter Center in 5.1 Dolby Digital stereo.

"This is the first time a film has ever been completely re-cut like this," Schmidlin remarks. "It was not the intent going in. The intent was to throw in some extra moments. In looking at the raw material, the original camera negative, the state of mind of the state of the art at the time, we realized we could re-cut from head to toe, fine-tune it, and make it more successful and enjoyable."

Schmidlin says the importance of the rock film is made all the more clear in this more dramatically compelling version (remixed by Bruce Botnick and edited by Michael Solomon).

"This occurred at a crucial point in his life. It followed the '68 comeback TV special and the end of his 10-year movie career. He was 35 and fit and anxious to return to performing. And he put together a great band and an orchestra. You see him at the incredible peak of his performing abilities. Life is good. At the same time, you get a hint of the incredible collapse to come."

Five Panavision cameras were used to capture the king of rock 'n' roll during rehearsal, performance and backstage. However, the film was bogged down by a lot of footage featuring gushing fans. "They were at their geekiest, and now they all look like a parody of themselves," Schmidlin suggests.