Elvis: That's The Way It Is (1970)

*** ½ out of ****

Elvis Presley had several careers. When he first came along he was the very definition of the rock'n roll rebel. Sexual, suggestive and unapologetic, he scared the hell out of the establishment and he was called everything short of the Anti-Christ.

Then he went in the army. Suddenly those that had such vitriol for him a few years earlier started to change their minds – PFC Presley now seemed, despite his animalistic music, to be a good kid at heart. This change followed him through the 60s and his ridiculous and milketoast movie career, and by 1968 he was desperate to break out of the mold the movies had put him in.

The last phase of his career is the sad one – the drug-addled caricature of the rock'n roll icon, singing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. A friend once told me that when Elvis came along he was anti-establishment, then he became part of the establishment, then he WAS the establishment.

“Elvis – That's The Way it Is” caught Presley at just the right time. Still breaking out of the movies era, but before he became a musical punchline, he still wanted to do something meaningful musically. Clear eyed and without a hint of the slurred speech we would see in him only a couple of years later until his death, at this moment in time he was still.... Elvis. And it is a joy to see such a gifted performer doing what he seemed to be born to do.

The first part of the movie follows him through rehearsals for a series of shows at the Las Vegas International Hotel in 1970. Clearly playing it up a bit for the camera, Elvis's likeability and sense of humour comes through as he prepares with the band and backing singers for the show. There is a brief part dealing with the turnout (large, and full of celebrities – Elvis had barely performed for over a decade) then the actual show starts. Despite some “Las Vegas-stylizing” of some of his hits, he showed he still had the voice, the moves and the punch to knock the audience out.

And while it is a great concert film, I think it is even more interesting as a historical study. Elvis is still the ultimate rock'n roll icon. At this time he was still trying to reinvent himself – no longer the rebellious youth or the movie star, but not yet the cape-flashing sad case he would eventually become. This is a performer that has ultimate confidence, at 35 was right in the prime of ability and who appeared to know it. Knowing where he came from, and where he would soon go is what makes this so interesting. It was the perfect time to shoot a concert film – he would never again be as great as he was at that moment in time.

Whether you like Elvis's music or not, this is a really terrific film. The music is good, but the history of the subject makes for even more compelling viewing.