The Definitive Elvis: 25th Anniversary (2002)

August 16, 2002 marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, the most celebrated entertainer of the 20th century. The Definitive Elvis is an all-encompassing, in-depth look at the life and career of a man whose popularity is unrivalled in the history of show business and who continues to attract millions of new fans each year. This groundbreaking, 16-hour documentary is brimming with classic film clips, rare home movies, never-before-seen photos, and newly produced location footage that cover every aspect of Elvis' life as never before.

At the heart of this landmark project are more than 200 exclusive interviews with many of Presley's most intimate associates, as well as some of the biggest names in the film and recording industries. Legendary entertainers like Kenny Rogers, Tony Orlando, Patti Page, Mac Davis, Barry Gibb, Tab Hunter, Dick Clark, Phyllis McGuire, Bill Medley, and Glenn Campbell. Memorable costars such as Ann-Margret, Stella Stevens, Deborah Walley, Mary Ann Mobley, Sheree North, Barbara McNair, Teri Garr, Celeste Yarnall, plus many many more. Gorgeous girlfriends like Connie Stevens, Barbara Leigh, Sheila Ryan, Linda Thompson, plus lifelong friends and members of Elvis' inner circle share their intimate stories, fresh insight, and reminiscences for the very first time.

Every film and television appearance is represented in this historic documentary as well as rare footage of many of Elvis' tours and concerts. Executive consultant Joe Esposito, who spent nearly 20 years as Elvis' road manager, confidant, and close friend, has helped to set the record straight about Presley's private life and career, dispelling the innumerable lies, half-truths, and rumors that have evolved over the years. No Elvis fan can be without this exhaustive study of the greatest entertainer of all time.

Additional Information

Review: This series gives a very good overview of Elvis Presley’s life, there’s no doubt about it. As a matter of fact to many it will be too much. 16 hours of documentary is a lot. Elvis' story is told in film clips, home movies, performance footage and interviews with 200-plus friends, relatives, lovers and colleagues. Among them are Connie Stevens, Ann-Margret, Jackie DeShannon, Patti Page, Carl Perkins, Donovan, Ed McMahon, Glen Campbell, Juliet Prowse, Neil Sedaka, Pat Boone, Roy Orbison, Steve Allen, Mac Davis, Dick Clark and "Memphis Mafia" confidante Joe Esposito, who serves as the project's executive consultant. There is a lot of repetition in both the interviews and the decoration material available. On the other hand, not many people will watch the whole thing immediately, like we did for review purposes.

Each DVD contains 2 documentaries, each dedicated to a special subject regarding Elvis’ personal life (e.g. Elvis & Priscilla, the spiritual soul of Elvis), his career (The Comeback, Hollywood Years) and his fans. Looking at the long list of people who were interviewed for this release we were wondering how the result would be. Looking at that result, spread over sixteen documentaries, it worked out very well.

Locations range from Sun Records, Presley's Circle G Horse Ranch and the movie theater that employed him as a youngster to his favorite Palm Springs restaurants, Elvis wedding chapels in Las Vegas, Los Angeles movie studios and Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.

Gladly the career dominates the series by far. The DVD’s contain very rare footage, but unfortunately there’s a lot of duplication of some of it. You’ll see it returning in several episodes. Also there is some strange overdubbing done with the sound. Sometimes that is very understandable and fitting (Houston ’74 footage with sound of Event #8), but other times it seems unnecessary. Like with the footage, there is some duplication in interviews too. Again, not everybody will watch the series completely immediately, like we did and probably that is the reason we sound more negative than the series deserves.

The episodes themselves are set up pretty good, with interviews with people who were actually there (D.J. Fontana, Steve Binder, Ann-Margret and Joe Esposito to name a few) and other celebrities (Kenny Rogers, Bill Medley). The fact that 1 hour is spend for the first 6 years of movies, and all other movies are compressed in another hour, shows that the producers have a good feeling for proportion. One of the highlights is without any doubt the episode about the Comeback, with very interesting interviews and background information. Too many of us it isn’t really new, but it is marvelous to see it told by those who were involved. Also we are sure that the episodes about The Memphis Years, Television Years and Las Vegas will be enjoyed by many. Rare pictures and footage are always candy for the eye and when the interviews have more than average information the picture (DVD) is complete.

Conclusion

This set is a very complete overview of Elvis’ life. After buying this set you don’t need any other Elvis documentaries since most aspects of Elvis’ life and career are present and told by those who were there. Between the interviews a lot of original footage, not (often) seen in other releases.

DVD Chapter - Two Episodes of 50 minutes per disc.

Episode One: The Memphis Years
Episode Two: The Television Years
Episode Three: The Hollywood Years, Part I (1956-1961)
Episode Four: The Hollywood Years, Part II (1962-1969)
Episode Five: The Army Years
Episode Six: The Memphis Mafia
Episode Seven: Elvis and Priscilla
Episode Eight: Elvis and the Colonel
Episode Nine: The Many Loves of Elvis
Episode Ten: The Intimate Loves of Elvis
Episode Eleven: The Comeback
Episode Twelve: The Vegas Years
Episode Thirteen: A Man and His Music
Episode Fourteen: The Spiritual Soul of Elvis
Episode Fifteen: The Day the Music Died - Elvis Is Gone
Episode Sixteen: All the King's Disciples - The Fans