He was a legend unlike any other. After years of making movies, Elvis made a triumphant return to the stage, including a stint of celebrity-packed shows at the International Hotel in Las Vegas in 1970. Now, see the backstage footage — from rehearsals to relaxing at the hotel — and the performances in one of the most intimate looks at Elvis captured on film. Included here are both the 1970 theatrical version (DVD – 108 mins.) and the 2001 special edition (Blu-ray – 95 mins.), with the songs, the fans, the love and most of all…the King himself.

For thoughts on Elvis: That’s The Way It Is, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

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Video Quality

Elvis: That’s The Way It Is returns to Blu-Ray with the 2001 special edition of the film restored and presented in 1080p while the Theatrical Version is included on an accompanying DVD. This exact release was first released in 2014 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. With that original Digibook release now out of print, Warner Archive has reintroduced this to the Blu-Ray format with no changes at all to the actual on-disc content. Even at nearly a decade since the initial release, this presentation is quite a looker as the restoration shines on disc.

There are some source-related deficiencies that cause some downturns in quality such as noisy grain or faded colors, but most of these moments are short lived. The film features some nuanced colors within the lighting, outfits and stage design that pop off the screen with a vibrant intensity. The presentation delivers a depth and stability of color that allows it to look very nice. You only need to take a look at any of the stage lighting and how it interplays with the room at large to see what a sight this presentation is overall. Black levels are fairly deep with very little in the way of crush present, and highlights never really veer into blooming.

The level of detail and clarity is robust with a good amount of natural film grain intact and seemingly only lightly managed. The grain resolves well without ever being too clumpy or unsightly. The texture on display in the outfits and within the stage design are palpable. Even facial details like the sweat of Presley present with notable clarity. This presentation captures the original look of the film without too much tinkering that might seem out of place. The film is largely free of dirt and damage, which allows for a more timeless feel. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as egregious compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. Warner has done a pretty solid job for Elvis fans.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an excellent DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track remixed from the original four-track stereo track. Music is the driving force of the film, and it comes through in a warm and vibrant manner without any moment of age-related wear and tear or damage. Many of these songs are performed with an intensity that allows them to sound better than the recorded versions, and this is showcased perfectly here as the music permeates the room. The filmmakers also do a really great job of capturing the candid rehearsal footage, making sure all of the dialogue comes through with supreme clarity.

Even the most bustling footage allows for some subtle musical moments that do not get lost in the mix. The chatter throughout the crowd provides a nice base texture to the proceedings. Ambient sounds from certain backstage discussions are precisely placed in the rear channels. This audio track brings this performance and overall experience to life in a manner that few are going to take issue with. This disc includes optional English SDH, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

Special Features

Disc One (Blu-Ray)

2001 Special Edition Feature Film (1:34:57)

Patch It Up – The Reconstruction of Elvis: That’s The Way It Is: A nine-minute featurette which delves into the re-editing of the film by producer Rick Schmidlin and the reactions to the changes from some of Elvis’s friends and band members.

Outtakes: A collection of unused moments from the production are provided here.

- - You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me (2:35)
  - Eating Sequence (1:32)
  - Cattle Call, Baby Let’s Play House and Don’t (4:18)
  - Farther Along (1:14)
  - Oh, Happy Day (3:48)
  - Just Can’t Help Believin’ (4:37)
  - Walk a Mile in My Shoes (2:39)
  - I’ve Lost You (3:50)
  - Sweet Caroline (2:45)
  - Little Sister (2:59)
  - Stranger in the Crowd (3:56)
  - After Show Party (1:20)

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Disc Two (DVD)

1970 Theatrical Feature Film (1:48:20)

Outtakes: The same outtakes features on the Blu-Ray are provided.

Final Thoughts

Elvis: That’s The Way It Is is an essential piece of art from “The King” as he showed he still had some gas left in the tank during his ‘70s resurgence. There are some candid moments which allow you to get a glimpse of the legend when he is not having to put on his “Elvis Presley” act for others. The true star of the picture is the monumental performance put on by Elvis, as you get to see a star effortlessly blaze through a litany of classics while also showing how appreciative he is of fans. The energy throughout this one is infectious. Warner Archive has delivered a rock solid Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and some cool supplements. If you count yourself as a lover of Elvis, there is no reason not to own this. Recommended

Elvis: That’s The Way It Is can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers..

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.