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No,
it is not 'The Definitive Elvis' but at less than $80 it really
is fantastic value for money.
Described as a "Collectors edition - for every Elvis
fan" it must presume that we already own the films and the documentaries
because it does have its flaws and is a major disappointment in
one area - 'Not enough Elvis'!
This is not an EPE production and it seems that the
producers have been licensed to use a maximum of 30 seconds of Elvis
footage at any one time. Songs and films are heavily discussed but
at no point do we get more than a short clip of Elvis singing, which
is positively frustrating.
A case in point would be where the 'Comeback Special'
or 'Aloha' is talked about in detail yet we never get a complete
clip from either show! The importance of "If I Can Dream" is paramount
to chapter 11 'The Comeback' yet, where it seems obvious that the
programme has to end with Elvis' dynamic performance of the song,
we only get a 15 second clip.
The bonus however is that we do get some nice amateur
footage of Elvis on stage, some rare photos, as well as some fun
home movies. This was made to be a sixteen part TV series - and
indeed it is already showing in the US & Europe - and would work
better as a weekly show rather than as back to back DVD viewing.
This is definitely made for us Elvis fans where each
episode can be followed by the film or performance that is being
discussed. I felt that the general public would be better served
by documentaries like 'The Great Performances', 'The Man and His
Music' etc.
For better appreciation you really need to follow chapter
2 'Television Years' by watching the 'Elvis '56' documentary. Similarly
'The Vegas Years' desperately needs to be followed by a viewing
of 'That's The Way It Is'. 'The Hollywood Years' uses great clips
from most of his movies but where a definitive performance like
the 'Jailhouse Rock' number is discussed in depth, we are never
allowed to appreciate it in its entirety which left me feeling frustrated
and reaching for my own copy of the film.
However, approached in the right way, this DVD series
is a thoroughly captivating investigation and is full of fascinating
interviews. Tackling almost every aspect of Elvis' life in its 16
episodes it is hard to give an overall view.
Episode 1 'The Memphis Years' starts fabulously with
lovely old footage of the Southern States perfectly setting the
era. There are great photos of Elvis that I have never seen before
and the programme correctly acknowledges the importance of Sun Studios
pre-Elvis, with the first Rock n' Roll record 'Rocket 88' being
recorded there in 1951. Dewey Phillips is acknowledged along with
the significance of Beale Street & Memphis itself, as well as mentioning
the 'first all black' radio station, WDIA. This was an important
melting pot of musical styles that Elvis absorbed to create the
sound that would change the world.
Over 200 exclusive interviews were carried out for this
project and it is a highlight hearing the great reminisces of friends
like George Klein, along with girlfriends (Dixie Locke, Anita Wood,
Connie Stevens etc), co-stars and even Eddy Arnold (who The Col
managed before Elvis)! There is too much to go into in full detail
but I found some episodes were excellent while others were a little
inadequate.
An episode like 'The Television Years' disappoints in
the lack of actual Elvis footage used. - Just as Elvis starts singing
the fabulous 'Love Me' on the Ed Sullivan Show it is faded out and
incredibly both the '68 Comeback Special' and 'Aloha' are wrapped
up in the last 2 minutes of the show, while the 1977 'In Concert'
isn't even mentioned! This episode really should have been called
'The Early TV Years'.
Similarly the 'Elvis and Priscilla' chapter is frustrating
since it doesn't feature Priscilla herself at all! The Executive
Consultant is Joe Esposito which gives the series its 'flavour'
- 'Diamond' Joe always seems to be too keen to say what you want
to hear whereas I've always appreciated someone like Red West's
down to earth honesty. Not suprisingly, knowing the relationship
between them, Red West is not featured here at all.
Having an episode on 'The Memphis Mafia' without any
interview with Red is as strange as having Priscilla missing from
the programme about Elvis and her. But I don't want to be too negative
as there are enough brilliant and illuminating new interviews that
fully compensate for the lack of the few important figures. Charlie
Hodge has some good anecdotes, as do Sonny West and the charming
George Klein who was there from the very start.
Other interviews that may surprise you are Vicky Tiu
(the young child in 'World's Fair'), Elvis' double & friend Lance
LeGault (Did Elvis really get pushed off that diving board in Viva
Las Vegas?!), and a fascinating array of co-stars. Teri Garr, Celeste
Yarnall (A Little Less Conversation - see our EIN recent interview
too), Juliet Prowse etc tell us about what fun it was to work with
Elvis.
A nice change was also hearing how Stella Stevens (Girls,G,
G) found it so unpleasant working with him! I particularly enjoyed
the new interviews with people like Mac Davis writer of 'In The
Ghetto' & 'A Little Less Conversation' (written for Aretha Franklin!).
Bill Medley (of the Righteous Brothers) also tells some great stories
along with Steve Binder (producer of the Comeback Special), Hal
Kanter (director of 'Loving You'), Linda Thompson and too many others
to mention. Bill Medley, of course, sang the Righteous Brothers
definitive 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling' and was a friend of
Elvis'. How dynamic would it have been to have heard him and Elvis
duet on the song?
An episode like 'A Man and His Music' will disappoint
in the fact that it doesn't ever play the songs in their entirety.
The importance of 'An American Trilogy' is discussed as well as
'My Way' but we only get to see a few seconds of each song. This
is where the astounding (and EPE licensed) documentary "He Touched
Me - The gospel music of Elvis Presley" really shines in comparison.
But chapters like 'The Spiritual Soul of Elvis' and 'Elvis and The
Colonel' (where music clips of Elvis aren't so important) definitely
compensate.
The 'Spiritual Soul' is a good look at all sides of
Elvis' mystical fascination and will probably enlighten a lot of
fans who might know nothing of his flirtation with The Teachings
of Yogananda or his interest in other esoteric religions.
'Elvis and The Colonel' is a fascinating look at the
Carny Hustler who made Elvis "The World's Greatest Star" while at
the same time walking away with far more earnings than the Star
himself! Lots of people comment on what a dislikeable & manipulative
man he was at times, while it is fascinating to hear his (last)
wife Loanne talk about the gentler side of him. A great programme
but again I really missed hearing Red West's comments to compensate
for Diamond Joe's opinion that just seems to be far too nice. Joe
was no doubt in the pay of both The Col and Elvis at the same time!
(Priscilla describes him as The Col's 'spy' in her book).
'The Day The Music Died' tackles the sad ending, talking
about Elvis' health problems as well as featuring fascinating 1977
interview footage with Joe Esposito along with the awful side of
Sonny West & Dave Hebler promoting their dreadful book. This episode
is very sad in its honesty. It features Elvis' dreadful, drugged,
ramblings from 'The Desert Storm' concert and girlfriend Sheila
Ryan is frighteningly honest in saying that they were all playing
the game "Let's pretend that Elvis isn't dying". Really sad and
shameful stuff. This was a man with symptoms of manic depression,
that had become obvious from 1972 onwards, yet no one could do anything
to help - "A lot of people cared but were afraid to help him" It's
true that you can't help a man that won't help himself and Joe is
honest in saying that Red West did try telling Elvis that "He had
to clean up his act" and earnt a torrent of abuse in doing it. We
will always wonder whether they could have done more.
It is also a little odd when Joe talks of the shame
of Elvis' cousin taking the last photo of him lying in the coffin
and then, bizarrely, proceeds to show us. Another major gripe of
mine is that the introductory image to each chapter, which is of
Elvis stepping through a door, is obviously an impersonator! Surely
there are a thousand Elvis images that would have been better suited?
Similarly, and this is hard to fathom, the very final
image of the series (admittedly it is in the final chapter about
his fans) is also not of Elvis himself!
Verdict: But overall, the quality of the clips
are excellent DVD viewing which is really refreshing and I couldn't
help myself but had to sit down and watch the first 5 hours in one
sitting! It can't be "The Definitive Elvis" but it is a great companion
to all those concerts, films and documentaries that you already
own and is a thoroughly entertaining 16 hours! And, best of all,
great value for money.
Reviewed by Piers
Beagley
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