260. Elvis - That's The Way It Is; movie review

ELVIS - THAT'S THE WAY IT IS
Cert PG
95 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild bad language, sex references

I was in Bournemouth on holiday with my mum and dad when the Daily Mirror's headline proclaimed 'Elvis Presley Is Dead'.
It is one of those moments alongside man landing on the moon, the assassination of John Lennon, Maggie Thatcher quitting and the death of Princess Diana.
Yep, Elvis was that big - the undeniable king of rock'n'roll but a singer who had never played in the UK.
So, what made people go ga-ga over a man who didn't write a single song which made him famous?
Well, for a start, this movie presents evidence he can sing with gusto and in tune at the drop of a hat. He does this several times at rehearsal without any obvious effort.
And then there is his charisma - just being in the presence of Elvis appears to make women of all ages go weak at the knees.
This is shown to be true when he walks through the audience at his Las Vegas gig, offering a kiss as he goes.
Some of the lasses receive a peck and some get a full tender smacker on the lips. Can you imagine Take That doing such a thing today?
Elvis's allure was a magnet for the rich and famous with Cary Grant and Sammy Davis jr. among the stars who bathe in his reflected glory by just being part of his audience and meeting him after the show.
But anyone hoping that Denis Sanders' movie will reveal anything about Elvis's life and loves will be disappointed.
Instead, it is a record of what made Elvis tick on stage in much the same way that Amazing Grace did of Aretha Franklin.
However, fans of music history and especially Elvis devotees will lap it up.
Reasons to watch: Fascinating behind the scenes of the king of rock'n'roll's rehearsal
Reasons to avoid: Is a fly-on-the-wall record with no commentary

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7/10

Did you know? Elvis played only five concerts outside the United States - all on a three-day tour of Canada in 1957.  Many believe that the reason why he never toured abroad again was that his longtime manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was an illegal immigrant from Holland and feared he would have been deported had he applied for an American passport.

The final word. Denis Sanders: " I have no interest, really, in his personal life, I really don't. My interest is solely in Elvis as a performer . . as a multi-talented performer and as a musician. And as an organiser of his show."

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