Watch Elvis: That's the Way It Is For Free

Nice effects though.

Must See Movie...

Just perfect...

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970) **** (out of 4) Exciting, energetic and sometimes hilarious documentary covering Elvis in backstage rehearsals leading up to concerts in Las Vegas. This documentary might be one-sided but that one side is a lot of fun and highly entertaining as we get to see all kinds of great footage including The King of Rock 'n Roll getting nervous before the show and joking around with various members of his crew. The rehearsal stuff is a lot of fun including a great version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water", which comes pretty damn close to passing the original version by S&G. The concert footage is incredibly exciting with Elvis giving a great performance. There are countless great songs including classics like "Can't Help Falling in Love", "Heartbreak Hotel", "All Shook Up" and "That's All Right Mama". Some of the lesser known songs are even better and they include "Suspicious Minds", "I've Lost You", "Mary in the Morning" and "Crying Time". There's also great covers of "Sweet Caroline" and a smoking "You Lost That Loving Feeling". The highlight of the entire film has to be "Love Me Tender" where Elvis walks around the crowd kissing all the women, which I'm sure was a life long memory for all of them. I watched the re-edited 2001 version of this.

The original theatrical version was drastically re-edited in 2001 to make Elvis' stage performance the core of the show, thus removing all interview footage of the crowd before the concert, etc. Also given its due importance is the various rehearsal sessions which show Elvis goofing off on occasion but clearly knowing what he wants and in complete control of the proceedings. Indeed, Elvis is in great shape – both vocally and physically – and in great spirits, too and the fact that he had been missing live performances during a self-imposed hiatus (a direct result of his lengthy Hollywood sojourn) is palpable. Rather ironically perhaps, among the crowd of admirers one can glimpse such Hollywood celebrities as the already retired Cary Gramt, Sammy Davis. Jr., George Hamilton and ex-Elvis co-star Juliet Prowse! Presley clearly wanted this film to be done right because he engaged the services of a respectable director (Denis Sanders) and a great director of photography (Lucien Ballard). Personally, I found "Suspicious Minds" to be the standout performance in the concert but all the songs he performed were good ones – including some pretty obscure current titles like "Patch It Up" – and it was refreshing to see the old "rock'n'roll" era standards being "thrown away" in a tongue-in-cheek manner by The King one right after another. His handling of the occasional cover – "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and "Words" – was also quite impeccable.After a three-week long Elvis marathon, this is undoubtedly the best way to remember him because, watching him here, one really appreciates why the man was so loved when he was alive and why he is still so revered, missed and imitated 30 years after his death...

The original 1970 release of "Elvis:thats the way it is" and the 2001 version are both good quality films,but i prefer the 2001 version because it focuses on Elvis exclusively.The 1970 version got sidetracked with Elvis fans and Elvis fan clubs.Despite 2 complete films,and additional footage in the 2001 version,we still have yet to see all of the film footage that was filmed by director "Dennis Sanders" and cinematography"Lucian Ballard". Many of these film outtakes were released in 3rd generation versions and were being sold on internet. I did not purchase any of these because i want class and first rate quality produced products,not bootlegged material.Having said this,i sure wish that M.G.M. or Warner Bros or whoever owns the rights to all of this great Elvis performance and concert film footage,would release this material in a special deluxe DVD edition with all of the film footage included.Its a shame that almost 37 years have passed and the mainstream public has not been able to see this footage.Elvis looks great during this period of his life and he is clearly enjoying life.The rehearsal footage is fun,but the real treat is the concert footage,filmed on stage at the International Hotel in august of 1970,Elvis,wearing neat looking jumpsuits,looks fantastic. At his best, Elvis was as great a live entertainer that has ever lived,and as great a vocalist that has ever sung.I can think of no other singer who sang as wide a variety songs as Elvis did. From rock and roll to rhythm and blues to country to gospel.He was amazing.Evis is the greatest legend in the history of the entertainment business and the greatest pop culture icon of all time.He changed the world we live in.He is the greatest cultural force of the 20th century.Excuse me for getting sidetracked on Elvis, but then again,all you have to say is Elvis - no last name is needed,there is only one Elvis, and Elvis:thats the way it is " represents Elvis at his best.

This is Elvis at his very best! Too bad they didn't include songs such as Little Sister/Get Back and Love me in the movie, since Elvis is playing electric guitar on both these songs and they are excellent performed. If you only want to have two DVD:s of Elvis at his very best then you should choose this one and the 68 comeback special. Of course there are plenty of other great shows and movies but these two are IMO hard to beat. I'm still hoping they will make a special edition of Elvis on tour, that should be another winner.RegardsLennart