Elvis by the Presleys

This is a great two hour special event presented by CBS. An intimate look at the family and private life of the legendary Elvis Presley. Candid comments from his former wife, Priscilla and their daughter, Lisa Marie. Exclusive, never-before-seen TV performances and photos from the Presley Estate blended with private home movies of Elvis with his family and friends. Also interviews with Priscilla's parents, Paul and Ann Beaulieu and Elvis' cousin Patsy Geranen. And personal insight and comments from good friend Jerry Schilling.

You see different aspects of Elvis' life...his time at home in Memphis and Califronia; his time in Hollywood making movies; his concerts on the road and in Vegas. There brought to light unabashed is Elvis' career highs and lows, his generosity and human frailties and the glimmer and echos of just part of what makes his legacy enduring for decades and decades to come.

Of course its hard to mention Elvis without his music. Featured is music from TV specials, movies, concerts and his vast RCA catalog. Highlights featuring: 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Suspicious Minds', 'In the Ghetto', 'Always On My Mind', 'Buring Love', 'My Way', 'If I Can Dream' and 'Can't Help Falling in Love'.

This special will be available on DVD with an extra two hours of footage. There is a double CD featuring 32 of the Presley family favorites. And there is also the "Elvis by the Presleys"in hardback. Long live the King!

This wonderful tribute to Elvis hosted by Priscilla Presley contains home movies, interviews, clips from the '68 comeback special, Aloha from Hawaii, outtakes, Elvis: That's the Way it is, his films - in short, everything you could possibly want to see in an Elvis tribute.

Priscilla, Lisa Marie, Priscilla's parents, Elvis' cousin, and Jerry Schilling give the audience great insight into Elvis' personality, Priscilla's life with him, his differences with Colonel Tom Parker, his artistic frustrations, his drug problems, and his spiritual quest.

Even for die-hard Elvis fans who have seen and read everything (if that's possible), there will probably be something new here. Outstanding for me were the stories of Elvis' generosity and the continuation of his charitable interests by the family.

Most touching, I think, was how much he loved his daughter, and how much, 28 years later, people who were in his life still miss him to the point of tears. The musical highlight: "If I Can Dream."

The footage of Elvis on tour shortly before he died is harrowing. I've seen it before, but it never fails to shock. People always talk about the "fat Elvis" - in truth, though Elvis was heavier in the '70s than he was in the '60s, it wasn't until the very end that he became badly bloated and obviously ill.

But like the documentary, I prefer to dwell on that groundbreaking talent, fabulous songs, magical smile, and unbelievable charisma that was, and always will be, Elvis Presley.

Whoever thinks this is going to be another one of those glorifying star docs is just partially right.

Yes, many episodes in this mammoth four hour family album are devoted to what a wonderful guy the King had been - and thus leave an aftertaste of triviality behind, but fortunately there are enough interesting aspects about Elvis's moody and egocentric personality, about his shifts in temper, about the dark side of showbiz, about his decline in mental and conditional health to merit an above average standard.

It's all presented in the usual soft-focus manner of television biographies. But the content is okay, though too long-winded.

6 out of 10 glitzy overalls

I always known how Elvis was such a generous person, nothing new there, but it was nice to see it again and to show the public how kind he really was. Had his trails and tribulations just like every one of us. But was always striving to make people happy.

A couple of things really tug at my heart string. When Lisa and Priscilla still got choked up just to talk about the day he passed away, reached down in me how it is so hard to talk about my mother who passed away 7 years ago. Its like you are sharing that exact same feeling with them.

And the song "If I can dream" was so heart felt. Just can't understand why more people don't sing it. Very very touching film. Really enjoyed seeing how the mother and daughter put that era in their own words.

Elvis by the Presleys (2005)

*** (out of 4)

Documentary produced by the Presley family to tell their side of the story in regards to The King. I'd suspect many will find the film too clean and one-sided but I didn't mind this since there's really nothing wrong with hearing good stories about the man. The best moment takes place when their discussing Elvis the father, which contains some great home movies. Another interesting thing is hearing Priscilla talk about the films Elvis was making for MGM and why she feels he finally gave up on life. The lack of drug taking on The King's part also made for an interesting segment. With all the concert footage, home movies and personal stories it's easy to recommend this to fans.