At the time of its release, the film included lots of very rare and never-before-seen footage of Elvis Presley.
The expanded home video version contains rare footage such as the "Sagebrush Presley" comedy skit from The Steve Allen Show (1952) and Elvis Presley's compelling 1956 performance of a The Four Aces-style ballad, "I Was The One", which hinted an appeal to a wider audience or another musical direction even then.
In 1961 Ral Donner, who is the voice of a "retrospective" Elvis Presley in this film, covered an Elvis song, "The Girl of My Best Friend", with some chart success.
Larry Raspberry who plays deejay Dewey Phillips was the lead singer of The Gentrys, they had a big hit "Keep On Dancing" in the 1960s. Pro Wrestling manager Jimmy Hart, the "Mouth Of The South", was also a member.
Sam Phillips was portrayed by his son Knox Phillips. Vester Presley and three Graceland workers, Pauline Nicholson, Mary Jenkins, and Nancy Rooks portrayed themselves.