Elvis: That's the Way It Is is a 1970 American documentary filmdirected 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 film was released simultaneously with Presley's similarly titled twelfth studio album, That's the Way It Is. It was followed up in 1972 with Elvis on Tour
The initial concept, devised by technical advisor Colonel Tom Parker, was to depict Elvis's spectacular return to live performances as a one-off show broadcast on closed-circuit television. Ultimately, the film was shot using eight 35mm anamorphic Panavision cameras.
While the majority of the footage was shot on the stage of the International Hotel in Las Vegas, the film also includes some other scenes.
The opening credits feature footage of Elvis's performance at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on September 9, 1970. This marked Presley's first tour in 13 years.
The footage also includes scenes of Elvis and his band rehearsing for the Las Vegas show at MGM Studios in Culver City, California. This footage includes scenes of Elvis practicing songs such 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 footage also includes a humorous performance of "Crying Time" by Presley and his group. This rehearsal scene was filmed in late July 1970.
Subsequent rehearsals show Presley preparing songs such as "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in Las Vegas with his backing vocalists, The Sweet Inspirations, Millie Kirkham, and The Imperials.
Rehearsals also took place at the Showroom International within the Las Vegas International Hotel (now the Westgate Hotel & Casino). Elvis and his group practiced a variety of songs together, from "Mary in the Morning" to "Pork Salad Annie." This rehearsal took place on August 7, 1970.
The Elvis Summer Festival, held at the International Hotel, opened on August 10, 1970. The MGM film crew filmed not only this performance but also the evening and late-night shows on August 11, 12, and 13. He sang many famous songs, including one that was shown him rehearsing at the beginning of the film.
The film opened in the week ending November 11, 1970 at the Uptown I theater in Toronto, Canada grossing a mild $9,500 for the week.It expanded to at least nine cities the following week (including San Francisco, Portland, Denver and San Antonio) grossing $78,950 from the sample cities covered by Varietyand placing 25th on their box office chart.Based on the sample cities covered by Variety, it grossed $332,714 from 110 play weeks in 1970.In Japan it grossed $700,000 in its first 6 weeks.
Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune described it as "a carefully managed concert designed to promote his future engagements in Nevada." He noted that "fans will be enthralled as Presley sings more than a dozen of his hits" but that "persons hoping to learn about the man after hours will be disappointed."
In 2001, Elvis: That's the Way It Iswas reissued as a "special edition" with a different edit, unseen footage and alternate performances. The 2001 edit is shorter than the original but has greater emphasis on Elvis 's performances, and is the version most widely seen today.
This video is a mix of the original release and the spell edition.
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