Major Elvis Event Rescheduled
Nov. 11 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the Elvis Presley documentary “Elvis: That’s The Way It Is” and to mark the occasion, it was set to be released at selected cinemas.
A remastered version of the program, which got a makeover in both 2001 and 2014, was due to be shown in cinemas on April 22. That date has now been shifted to Aug. 13, a night on which it will feature for one night only.
The film is both a concert and a documentary from Elvis’ triumphant July 1969 return in Las Vegas. After almost a decade out of the spotlight, he began a series of concerts which smashed box office records and restored him to his position as King of Rock and Roll.
“That’s The Way It Is” has performances of hits such as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Love Me Tender” and “Suspicious Minds”, as well as a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”. The film also shows the human side of Elvis as he prepared for his emotional comeback on the stage of Las Vegas. For hardcore Elvis fans, a remastered version of the much-loved classic will be an event they won’t want to miss, so seeing the new dates land will delight and excite in equal measure.
The appeal of Elvis is as strong today as ever, long after he passed away. His legend is such that every so often his songs make a reappearance in the charts. His track “It’s Now or Never” is amongst the best-selling singles of all time and his legacy is seen across a wide variety of media.
As well as his obvious musical releases, which keep coming long after his passing, he’s also a star of film. He made several himself during his career, starting with “Love Me Tender” in 1957 and spanning 33 titles, “That’s the Way It Is” was the penultimate release before “Elvis On Tour” from 1972.
While the documentary release is proof that his image is as enduring as ever, it also demonstrates how his reach extends beyond music. Further examples come from the world of gaming, where his image has appeared in games such as Fallout New Vegas and Zelda, with some games being solely dedicated either to him or simply just using the iconic imagery connected with his performances. In fact, such is his connection to Vegas that many online titles have combined the two to appeal to fans who most closely associate the star with his time in Sin City. Foxy Bingo has many slot titles inspired by the music industry and Las Vegas including a dedicated Elvis game titled Elvis the King Lives and the Vegas-inspired Mini Bars. Both titles evoke a time when Elvis was the King of Vegas, which is why the documentary honors this period by using a lot of footage that was shot at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. There is even an Elvis version of the classic Hasbro game Monopoly.
The real attraction with Elvis is his music though; he remains a much-covered artist with tracks such as “Always on My Mind” and “Suspicious Minds” having been covered, with some success, by other artists. He broke new ground with his music and that is why it is as popular today as ever before.
While fans will undoubtedly already have taken in the documentary in one of its previous forms, Aug. 13 will give them another chance to relive the songs of the King and the excitement which he produced the world over.
About the Author
Gerry Galipault Gerry Galipault debuted Pause & Play online in October 1997. Since then, it has become the definitive place for CD-release dates — with a worldwide audience.
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