I am a huge Elvis Presley fan. I love his music, I love his movies and like every Elvis fan, I love the 1968 comeback special. Though this film was originally made for TV, thanks to Fathom Events, I and many others were able to see one of the all time great concert films on the big screen. While I love this special on TV, seeing it on the big screen with a very enthusiastic audience is a whole new experience.
Seeing this on the big screen it is incredible how cinematic this made for TV film actually is. This is especially true of the huge production number of Guitar Man (with other songs worked in as well). This part feels so big when watching it in a cinema atmosphere. It is mesmerizing to watch.
However even with this the highlight is still Elvis and his friends doing a simple jam session of his early hits. These parts feel so simple and down to earth. Cinematically they almost remind one of scenes from such fly-on-the-wall music documentaries as Don't Look Back or Give Me Shelter. While there is a live audience, due to the lack of such material in many concerts seen on TV or in cinemas, it feels like a nice look behind the scenes. In some ways it actually was. These jam sessions are what Elvis liked to do after performing for an audience and seeing this director Steve Binder wanted to incorporate this into the film. Rarely have you seen Elvis feel so relaxed and at home as you see him in these scenes.
As a fan of his gospel music (and a Christian myself) it is always nice to see that incorporated in anything Elvis. The use of it in this film is no exception. The songs are not only great but you can hear the passion in Elvis' voice and it is hard for this not to move anyone, especially my fellow believers.
Before the concert there was an introduction by Steve Binder and Lisa Marie Presley. This was fascinating and offered great insights into the film. For instance Elvis' leather jacket (designed by Bill Belew) was inspired by what Marlin Brando wore in one of Elvis' favorite movies The Wild One. Also Elvis' manger Coronel Tom Parker wanted this to be a simple special of Elvis singing Christmas songs and got angry that the special would have no Christmas songs. But Binder and Elvis stuck to what they knew would work and it does.
What makes this movie so amazing is that it is pure Elvis Presley. With the exception of maybe the Guitar Man sequences (where he was acting just like he did in his fictional movies), this film is just Elvis being Elvis. He acts like himself, and watching this I feel like I am actually seeing who the real man behind everything is. He feels so natural and real throughout the entire film and this gives the movie a directness that is missing from many concert films, where it feels like we are just watching the artists preform a few songs.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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