On 13th August, Warner Home Video will commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Kings passing with a collectors Limited Edition boxset and four Special and Deluxe Edition DVD releases. As a tribute to the man who made blue suede shoes, hound dogs and hip swivels an indelible part of Americas pop culture, the Elvis DVD boxset will be a must-have for every Elvis fan and film collector alike. Containing nine classic Elvis titles and 11 discs (details below), this is the ultimate in collectors boxsets; each individually numbered and beautifully packaged to resemble a blue suede shoe box. Once these have been sold they will be discontinued forever! Also being released is a 2 disc Special Edition DVDs of the fascinating documentaries This Is Elvis and Elvis: Thats The Way It Is. Both films are digitally re-mastered with exceptional sound, and include bonus features. Deluxe Editions of the much-loved Elvis movies Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas co-starring Ann-Margret will also be released. Voted the Third Greatest Rock n Roll Artist of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine (after the Beatles and Bob Dylan), Elvis Presley (1935-1977) was also one of Hollywoods top box-office draws; he starred in 31 feature films and two theatrically released concert documentaries over the course of his career. The Kings music was as much a part of his box-office success as his good looks and charisma. In fact, some of his top-selling songs were from his movie soundtracks. Eleven of his soundtrack albums made it into the top ten on the Billboard Album charts and of those, four became number one hits.
It is estimated that Elvis has sold over a billion records worldwide, more records than any other artist in record industry history. Even 30 years after his death, Elvis still conquers new legions of fans as recent compilations of his RCA recordings, Elvis 30 #1 Hits and Elvis 2nd to None, both topped the Billboard charts of best selling albums.
Elvis Presley died on 16th August 1977 at Graceland his home in Memphis, Tennessee.
DVD Releases
THIS IS ELVIS 2 DISC SPECIAL EDITON (1981) £15.99 RRP, Cert 12 From executive producer and award-winning documentarian David L. Wolper (Roots, L.A. Confidential), This Is Elvis is an intimate, behind-the-scenes portrait crafted by Andrew Solt (Imagine: John Lennon) and Malcolm Leo (Rolling Stone: 20 Years of Rock n Roll).
Elvis authorized biography draws on interviews with the people who knew Presley best family, friends, employees and mentor/manager Colonel Tom Parker and includes some rare footage, including home movies, newsreels and several key TV appearances.
Disc 1: First-ever home video release of the original, uncensored 1981 Theatrical version in a new digital transfer with soundtrack remastered in Dolby Surround 2.0 o Vintage featurette Behind the Gates of Graceland o Elvis Presley movie trailer gallery
Disc 2: 1983 Unrated expanded Home video version with 40 minutes of footage not shown in theatres
ELVIS: THATS THE WAY IT IS 2 DISC SPECIAL EDITION (1970) £15.99 RRP, Cert U Its summer 1970 and this concert documentary allows unrestricted access to the hottest show in town: Elvis Presleys milestone four weeks of appearances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Dozens of tunes (including favorites All Shook Up and Suspicious Minds) are included as the camera follows the shows development from rehearsal to stage.
This 2-Disc Special Edition contains two versions the original 1970 theatrical version and the critically-acclaimed Special Edition from 2000, which captures even more of Elvis legendary performances. Thats double the entertainment for Elvis concert fans.
Disc 1: (2000 Special Edition) o Restoration featurette Patch It Up: The Restoration of Elvis: Thats the Way It Is o 16x9 digital transfer with 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio o Presley career highlights o Director/restorer filmographies o Theatrical trailer
Disc 2: (1970 Original Theatrical Version) o Twelve never-before seen outtake song/nonmusical sequences
JAILHOUSE ROCK DELUXE EDITION (1957) £12.99 RRP, Cert U In this 1957 box-office hit thats Elvis Presleys best film according to Leonard Maltins Movie Guide, the King plays Vince Everett, jailed for manslaughter after a bar fight.
There, Vince learns to belt out tunes while in the house and after being paroled, follows a bumpy road to music and movie success. Six Presley songs by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller spike the story, including Treat Me Nice,I Wanna Be Free and the classic shimmy-shakin title tune that was Presleys favourite of all his films production numbers.
Special Features: Commentary by Steve Pond, music journalist Restored and Digitally Remastered in a 16x9 master, enhanced for widescreen televisions New Featurette The Scene That Stole Jailhouse Rock Soundtrack Remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 from original production elements Theatrical Trailer
VIVA LAS VEGAS DELUXE EDITION (1964) £12.99 RRP, Cert U In one of his most popular movies, Elvis Presley shared the screen with Ann-Margret in Las Vegas, easily creating the most electrifying teaming Elvis had on-screen.
Hes Lucky Jackson, a Grand Prix race driver working at a casino to raise cash for a new engine; shes a hotel swimming instructor - and the romantic action revs up from their first meeting.
Veteran director George Sidney, combines the hormonal heat wave with fascinating sights of 60s Las Vegas. Songs include the high-roller title track, the stars duet on The Lady Loves Me, her sultry Appreciation and The Kings version of Ray Charles Whatd I Say.
Special Features: Commentary by Steve Pond, rock journalist and author of Elvis in Hollywood Restored and Digitally Remastered in a 16x9 master, enhanced for widescreen televisions. New featurette Kingdom: Elvis in Vegas Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 from original production elements Theatrical trailer
ELVIS 11 DVD BOXSET £89.99 RRP, Cert 12 All of the above discs: THIS IS ELVIS- 2 DISCS ELVIS: THATS THE WAY IT IS- 2 DISCS JAILHOUSE ROCK VIVA LAS VEGAS
Also includes five new-to-DVD titles: CHARRO! STAY AWAY JOE KISSIN COUSINS GIRL HAPPY LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE
CHARRO! (1969) The Elvis on screen here isnt the clean-cut all-American kid ready to hit the beach or dance floor. Instead, stubble covers his face; his hat hangs low over his eyes and a bandanna hides the ugly scar that marks him as a killer.
Written and directed by Charles Marquis Warren (creator of TVs Gunsmoke, Rawhide and The Virginian), this stark sagebrush non-musical saga follows an ex-outlaw trying to go straight but hes got a score to settle when his own gang frames him for a heist. First-time widescreen video release [16x9 2.4:1] Theatrical trailer
GIRL HAPPY (1965) Rock n rolls first icon was ranked 6th among the top box-office stars when he headlined this film. Elvis portrays Chicago club singer Rusty Wells, who, when not wowing the crowds, has the added task of watching over the overly exuberant daughter of his mob boss (Harold J. Stone) while shes on vacation in Fort Lauderdale.
Shelley Fabares, Presleys favorite leading lady and a singing star in her own right (her 1962 tune Johnny Angel was a #1 hit), plays the daughter. And the lively songs include Do the Clam,Good News,Puppet on a String, the title tune and eight others. New digital transfer of complete original theatrical version with Startin Tonight song sequence now back in the film Theatrical trailer
KISSIN COUSINS (1964) In his 15th film, the King takes on two roles, playing dark-haired Air Force Lt. Josh Morgan and Morgans adversary, blonde good ol boy Jodie Tatum. Lt. Joshs assignment: try to convince his look-alike cousin Jodie to allow a missile site to be built on his land.
A fistful of tunes Barefoot Ballad, Its a Long Lonely Highway,Tender Feeling, the title song and 6 others), some whoop-it-up-dancing and 13 mountain cuties called Kittyhawks add to the down-home delights. New digital transfer of complete original theatrical version with Smokey Mountain Boy song sequence now back in the film Theatrical trailer
LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE (1968) In his 28th film, Elvis Presley plays frazzled photographer Greg Nolan, juggling two jobs and scrambling to keep his work life afloat while also contending with the kooky attentions of a beach beauty (Michele Carey). Four breezy songs, including the recent Elvis chart-buster, A Little Less Conversation and the Edge of Reality dream sequence add to the zippy fun.
And, for the first time, Elvis takes on-screen chances with his public image doing more adult comedy. Theatrical trailer
STAY AWAY, JOE (1968) Elvis Presley portrays amiable Navajo rodeo star Joe Lightcloud, returning to his home to help his tribe become cattle ranchers. A talented ensemble of screen veterans joins Presley for this good-time, two-fisted tale filmed in and around Arizonas scenic Sedona. Burgess Meredith is Joes rascally father, Katy Jurado is his tough-love step mom and Joan Blondell is the shotgun-toting local gal setting her romantic sights on Joe.
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