Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970)

Directed by

Denis Sanders

Genre

documentary film, musical film

Country

United States

Runtime

1h 37m

Rated

G

Rating

8.1 of 10 from 98 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This documentary follows Elvis Presley during his 1970 Summer Festival in Las Vegas. It shows his return to live performing after years of making movies, with behind the scenes moments and concert footage.

liveenergeticintimatenostalgicspontaneousreverentupbeat

What happens

Elvis: That's the Way It Is is a 1970 American documentary film directed by Denis Sanders. The film documents American singer Elvis Presley's Summer Festival in Las Vegas during August 1970. It was his first non-dramatic film since the beginning of his film career in 1956, and the film gives a clear view of Presley's return to live performances after years of making films. The film was released simultaneously with Presley's similarly titled twelfth studio album, That's the Way It Is. It was followed up in 1972 with Elvis on Tour. In 2001, Elvis: That's the Way It Is was reissued as a "special edition" with a different edit, unseen footage and alternate performances. The 2001 edit is shorter than the original but has greater emphasis on Presley's performances, and is the version most widely seen today. In 2025, more unseen footage from Elvis: That's the Way It Is was featured in a new documentary, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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• Elvis on Tour (1972)
• Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley (2024)
• Elvis in Las Vegas (2010)
• This Is Elvis (1981)
• EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2025)
• Let It Be (1970)
• Elvis '56 (1987)