Independent Films, Film Profiles

Elvis: That's the Way It Is

Elvis: That's the Way It Is is a documentary movie directed by Denis Sanders about Elvis Presley that was released on November 11, 1970. The film documents Elvis' Summer Festival in Las Vegas during August 1970. It was his first non-dramatic film since the beginning his movie career in 1956, and the film gives us a clear view of Presley's return to live performances after years of making movies. The original concept as devised by Colonel Tom Parker was in view of Elvis's triumphant return to live performances was a closed circuit television presentation of one show but the concept developed into this movie. Although the lion's share of the footage takes place onstage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, there are several other parts to the film: