The Documentary : If you look at the cast of the documentary it is like reading the "Who is Who?" of the Elvis scene. All interview guests of this DVD deliver insight in their life with Elvis and report here exclusively of their private moments with the King of Entertainment. The Return To Live Performing This part of the documentary deals with the historic period between the end of the Hollywood-era and Elvis's return to stage in Las Vegas in August 1969. Kathy Westmoreland - An Intimate Relationship   The accredited soprano singer joined Elvis's increasing stage crew in August 1970. She replaced, as "the girl with the beautiful high voice", Millie Kirkham and tells on this DVD for the first time her personal story, how she met Elvis and how she became a background singer in the group. The viewer doesn't only experience much about the artist Elvis Presley, but also about the "Man Behind The Image". Kathy, embossed by her job-related and musical experience, characterizes and judges Elvis's vocal qualification and also manages, by her emotional kind of telling, to take the fan back to the time she spent with Elvis. It's incredible how open and how deep she speaks about the human being Elvis and her love and sexual relationship. The interested viewer gets here not only the usual information, readable in the tabloids and yellow press, but learns facts and backgrounds never before read or heard.
Not only in this interview but in the whole documentary you get a lot of information and background information concerning the fabulous Fringe-Suit footage, which is also included on this DVD. Due to Kathy, who has been in the concert, the fan hears for the first time details of this legendary appearance on November, 14, 1970. When this DVD was released, the experts and fans were amazed how far Kathy had been going in this interview.
John Wilkinson - A Perverse Sense Of Humor s

The famous guitar player and solo artist John Wilkinson (July, You're A Woman) was already a member of Elvis's stage band at the legendary comeback concert on July, 31, 1969. Besides James Burton, John was the only musician to be on stage with Elvis during all the concerts from 1969 to 1977. Their passion for music was not the only aspect that connected Elvis and John, but also a deep friendship John still feels connected to, as you can see in the interview. Here, the depth of the documentary continues in unrelieved intensity.

Wilkinson, already as a child amazed by Elvis, tells here for the first time about his own musical development, how he met Elvis several times and became a member of the probably most famous rhythm section, the TCB Band, which was a part of Elvis's huge orchestra. This tensing interview includes never before heard background information und stories about Elvis and attaches great importance of the humor of Elvis the person..

Sandi Miller - My Friend Elvis s

Fans waiting in front of the gates for hours to have a look at their star were called "gatepeople". During the 60's Elvis spent a lot time of the year in Los Angeles, where he had several houses, due to his movie shootings. At this domiciles were also gates where the fans were waiting in front of to have a look at Elvis or to have a short conversation with their idol.

During the 60's Elvis wasn't yet as protected as compared to later years, so it was possible for some few fans to get a closer contact to Elvis. Sandi Miller had the huge luck to develop a friendship with Elvis during several years. Due to that she got insights like no other in the private life of the star during his Hollywood years. In her situation she had the opportunity to make photos and footage (together with Sue Wiggert, known from the movie: "Elvis - That's The Way It Is") which are unbelievably important time documents for the fan today. This private photos show a completely relaxed Elvis who doesn't have to brace himself because the Hollywood camera is pointed at him; an Elvis, who shows himself as a private citizen who wears cool clothes, and can also fool around like you and me. The unique candid footage shines not only because of its own rarity, but because of the places were it was filmed: For the first time we see the private Elvis in front of his California houses.

At latest now, every hardcore Elvis fan will be stunned - the scene where Elvis walks straight to the camera and is as near that it seems he will soon push his nose against the lens thrilled and titillated every Elvis fan. s

Original Screenshots von der DVD "Elvis: Behind The Image - Volume 1"

With this documentary the fan sees for the first time the California houses in moving pictures, the unpublished photos illustrate the interesting stories of the interview guests. The DVD is filled with sensations, which are because of the mass unseizable by the first time of watching. A little insight though gives you the trailer you can download here on this website. (Or click on the left side in the menu on "Trailer" and then click on the new site with the right mouse button on "Save as…".)

Bonus Features: Unedited Candid and Concert Footage Bud Glass Productions took care for not only the lovers of documentaries getting their money worth but also the collectors of Super8 material. Also here the DVD is a novelty. You are not only getting a tiny piece of a few seconds that's supposed to make you beg for more, but also of this part was taken totally care: The footage used in the documentary is included on the DVD in the "Bonus Material" area unedited and in full length. On every "Elvis - Behind The Image" product the Super8 material is transferred from the original reels with the most modern laser technology. It is unexceptional unreleased material, which has never before circulated.. Candid Material: If you analyze the footage of Elvis circulating in the fan world even experts will attest to the statement that the portion of "candid material" is very low compared to the "concert footage".. Concerning "candid material" this DVD is the uncrowned King on the market. You won't find more and more interesting "candid material" on any other publication than on this DVD. Places like Memphis Graceland or Las Vegas come up in connection with Elvis in nearly every release. But the opulence of material, showing the private Elvis at his domiciles in California, is unequaled until now. You have to cut back often, due to the situation the person filming was in (hectic, a lot of people, their own excitement), and also the technological possible circumstances and the age of the material (these recordings for example are from 1969) play an important role. But here you get this sensational recordings in a crystal clear quality. Not only because the material was high quality in its initial shape (no camera shakes, extremely sharp and good lighting conditions), but the producers didn't spare efforts to transfer the material on Hollywood-standards. Concert Footage: Los Angeles, California - Forum Inglewood November 14, 1970 - 03:00 P.M. Show The period the movie "Elvis - That's The Way It Is" shows, Elvis in August 1970 on stage in Las Vegas, caused a very special fascination on Elvis fans all over the world. Original Screenshots from the DVD "Elvis: Behind The Image - Volume 1" But as is known, a Las Vegas concert is different to a tour concert. So a lot of fans wanted to see Elvis, after his movie career and his successful comeback in Las Vegas, live on tour. This first tour made Elvis again "available" for his fans and brought the time off stage to an end. With this DVD we now get for the first time not only crystal clear recordings of this events, we can also watch Elvis from the first row in one of his most famous outfits, the fan already knows for years from the LP cover of "I Got lucky". You're an Elvis fan for many years? You think you know how "the King" has moved on stage because you saw "That's The Way It Is", "Elvis On Tour", "Aloha From Hawaii" or diverse Super8 movies… Let us tell you the truth… You have seen nothing ! Here, Elvis rocks so hard through his program, that he competes with his famous "NBC-Special". On this recordings Elvis never stops moving and you see him nearly without a break in action. You're not only getting a few minutes of this footage the whole recordings possess for Super8 recordings an unusual length. Los Angeles, California - Forum Inglewood November 14, 1970 - 08:30 P.M. Show This suit surely also became famous because of the photo shot by Ed Bonja, which was used for the cover of the LP ''You'll Never Walk Alone". The "Fringe Suit" shown here, was barely worn by Elvis, and today its not clear why there were so many myths about this concert and this suit. Maybe because in several books the rumor, that Elvis got caught in the fringes and had to be cut out of the suit, was spread !? We don't know. Or was it up to that there was no information, photo or film material of this first tour? The myth grew with the time and became even stronger when Paul Lichter released black/white pictures of this concert in his illustrated book ("Thank You Very Much"). LP- Cover "You'll Never Walk Alone" 32 years later we have the opportunity to make this surely unique footage available for the fans. Maybe it was really up to this film material, that made this DVD so extremely successful in the Elvis world. This material was, too, filmed from the first row. We get an outstanding and great Elvis concert and get the probably best "front row ticket" of all times. This recordings are, without understating, historic and the experts nearly tumbled looking for superlatives. In connection with the documentary, which gives you the required background information by the interview partners at first hand, it is an especially great pleasure to lean back at home with the Elvis - Behind The Image - DVD in your home cinema and letting this collector's dream come true after all this years. Original Screenshots from the DVD Elvis: Behind The Image Volume 1 The reactions on this DVD in the world press and the relevant websites please take from the rubric "In the press". Therefore please click left in the menu the accordant zone "In The Press". The complete historic background of this footage and this DVD please take from the outstanding article of the website "Elvisbay.com". (For reading the article please click here.) Detailed information on the year 1970 and the here discussed first tour please take from "Elvis-History.com". San Diego, California - Sports Arena November 15, 1970 - 08:30 P.M. Show Original Screenshots from the DVD "Elvis: Behind The Image - Volume 1" For decades we've been wondering how Elvis was on stage during his first tour in 1970. For years you could only learn from diverse books (Joe Tunzi, Paul Lichter) in form of photographs. But on this DVD you see everything abundantly. Again we can watch Elvis in crystal clear quality over several days. This footage is also filmed from the first row and shows Elvis with ther very famous stage suit, we also know from the cover of the "That's The Way It Is" - LP But here the aboved-named suit comes into operation with a red macramée-belt. All appearances have the power in common, Elvis lays into his performance. However, it is striking, that Elvis moved differently every day and has a different impact on the viewer every time. That makes the recordings even more valuable for the viewer. Astonishingly, the appearances are totally different to Las Vegas and "That's The Way It Is". After you've seen this recordings you will realize that you'll have to rethink some opinions on the Elvis of the 70's because you haven't seen him that way before. Las Vegas, Nevada - International Hotel January & February 1971 Engagement The bonus material the DVD offers, ends with a special summit. When the Elvis collector's label FTD wanted to release a concert from 1971, the producers in charge had problems to find photo material for the cover ( The Impossible Dream ). So it should be clear, how rare Super8 material from that time is. And in addition the viewer gets footage of Elvis in the famous "Elvis Now" suit, we have know for years from diverse LP covers. Filmed from the balcony, above stage level, you have a total view on Elvis and the stage and you can watch the star working in crystal clear quality. And like with every amateur recordings on this DVD classic, the producers took care to make the complete recordings available for the collector and enthusiastic Elvis fan and not only a short clip. When in the auditorium there's only a spot on Elvis's face or a new reel of the footage starts (remember, Super8 material exists always only from 3 minutes reels), and a cut would be necessary it was taken care that no single picture gets lost so that on this modern medium the complete material is archived and the collector can rejoice in the outstanding and lasting quality for years. LP - "Elvis sings hits from his movies"" LP: "Elvis - Now" Elvis-A-Rama Museums-Tour In general Elvis enthusiasts like looking at memorabilia and personal things that once belonged to Elvis. They travel for example thousands of miles to look in Memphis/Tennessee, the star's head office, at Graceland and it's museums. Other than Graceland, the largest museum worldwide is the "Elvis-A-Rama museum" settled in Las Vegas. Because not everybody has the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, Bud Glass made it possible that this museum opened for the first time its doors for a film team. From Elvis's boat to diverse vehicles, to the beloved "Cisco Kid" suit you see here many extravagant exhibits, Elvis owned. A comment about the soundtrack: All of the amateur recordings of this film material were recorded in 1970 without sound. Cameras with sound were not available to the general public before the end of 1974/ beginning of 1975. It also not possible to add original Elvis music to the film material because of the legal situation. Even if you would be allowed to add it, this possibility would not be the right solution for most of the recordings. This results from the fact that a reel had a capacity of 3 minutes. The person filming wanted to capture as much impressions as possible of the concert, so he or she filmed as much sequences as possible, which, however, only last a few seconds, due to the running time of the reel. If you tried to add music in lip synchronisation the resulting material would sound like a broken LP. Apart from that, y you could only use a small amount of the amateurish recorded live appearances for a so called "overdubbing". Even if the person filmed 3 or 4 reels per concert at that time, you would have to cut the concert of one hour down to 9 or rather 12 minutes what brings us back to the "effect of the broken LP. If you eclipse the lip synchronisation, you could use Elvis songs as background music but then Elvis's moves totally wouldn't fit the music. It would all seem out of tempo and pretty strange to the fans and would make the pleasure smaller. You have to see Super8 recordings as what they actually are: They enable us to experience Elvis in situations of different years, which wouldn't be available for us otherwise, because from the official side it was failed to make movie documents for the posterity. To cite only one example : if amateurs didn't film any footage of Elvis in 1975 we wouldn't even be able to see the star "live" in the according year. We did not want to expect of the fan to watch a silent movie, so Bud Glass Productions decided for a different way. Instead of using barely fitting karaoke tracks or some kind of elevator music, like its common in cheap productions, the team used especially for this DVD composed songs, recorded in a studio by real musicians. For the first time ever you can find such a high quality music on a Elvis-collectors-DVD, which underlines the recordings stylishly and enjoyably. The emotional interpretation of the theme song "Behind The Image" enjoys great popularity under the fans. Also the textual statement of this ballad composed by Bud Glass fits perfectly to Elvis and underlines another time in an impressing kind the intention of the whole production.

Content
Elvis: Behind The Image - Volume 1