Elvis by the Presleys

Starring:Priscilla Presley, Danielle Riley Keough, Elvis Presley, Joe Esposito, Jerry Schilling, Vernon Presley, Lisa Marie Presley
Director: Rob Klug
Studio: Bmg Marketing
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The King of Rock and Roll would have turned 70 in 2005, the same year Elvis by the Presleys was released. An impressive number, but it's a pea in the ocean compared to the amount of posthumous products bearing his name; and the really amazing part is that some of them actually manage to shed new light on this much-studied icon. Assuming one has the time, stamina, and interest to wade through the enormous amount of material presented on Elvis by the Presleys, this ambitious, well-made documentary-reminiscence certainly falls into that category.

The presence and participation of Presley's ex-wife, Priscilla, and daughter Lisa Marie, as well as Priscilla's parents and sister, Elvis' first cousin, and "Memphis Mafia" member Jerry Schilling, lend an air of authenticity to the project. There isn't a lot here about Elvis' music, although the interpolation of many clips from his TV appearances, movies, concert performances, and recordings more than adequately convey the singer's ineffable (and apparently eternal) appeal. Elvis by the Presleys is more specifically designed to provide an inside look at the day-to-day life of Presley, his family, and those in his immediate orbit, and on that level it succeeds rather well.

There is a lot of talk here--nearly four and half hours' worth (including bonus material), spread out over two discs. Some of the territory covered is yawn-inducingly familiar: Elvis was well-mannered but moody, he was exceedingly generous, he loved Christmas, he appreciated his fans, and on and on. But there are more surprising (at least to the casual fan) revelations as well: Presley was an accomplished horseman; he was not only a good Christian but a voracious reader with an interest in spiritual as well as purely religious matters (he even joined the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles); and he suffered mightily from insomnia. Moreover, while this is a loving tribute, it's not hagiography. Priscilla makes it clear that she and everyone else around Elvis were expected to surrender their own lives to suit his needs and whims, a demand she eventually found unendurable. Nor do they gloss over Elvis' final years, when he was fat, drug-ridden, and disillusioned. Little matter that Elvis Presley is dead. Long live the King! --Sam Graham

Description
ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS, a new entertainment special that will feature a collection of new, intimate interviews with his former wife, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, and their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, includes exclusive, never-before-seen television performances, photographs from the Presley Estate archives and Presley family home movies.

In the special, Priscilla and Lisa Marie speak with unguarded candor about their lives with the legendary Elvis Presley and offer an intimate look at their family and private life. Rare interviews with Elvis's first cousin, Patsy Presley Geranen, and Priscilla's parents, Ann and Paul Beaulieu, are also featured.

Amazon.com

The King of Rock and Roll would have turned 70 in 2005, the same year Elvis by the Presleys was released. An impressive number, but it's a pea in the ocean compared to the amount of posthumous products bearing his name; and the really amazing part is that some of them actually manage to shed new light on this much-studied icon. Assuming one has the time, stamina, and interest to wade through the enormous amount of material presented on Elvis by the Presleys, this ambitious, well-made documentary-reminiscence certainly falls into that category.

The presence and participation of Presley's ex-wife, Priscilla, and daughter Lisa Marie, as well as Priscilla's parents and sister, Elvis' first cousin, and "Memphis Mafia" member Jerry Schilling, lend an air of authenticity to the project. There isn't a lot here about Elvis' music, although the interpolation of many clips from his TV appearances, movies, concert performances, and recordings more than adequately convey the singer's ineffable (and apparently eternal) appeal. Elvis by the Presleys is more specifically designed to provide an inside look at the day-to-day life of Presley, his family, and those in his immediate orbit, and on that level it succeeds rather well.

There is a lot of talk here--nearly four and half hours' worth (including bonus material), spread out over two discs. Some of the territory covered is yawn-inducingly familiar: Elvis was well-mannered but moody, he was exceedingly generous, he loved Christmas, he appreciated his fans, and on and on. But there are more surprising (at least to the casual fan) revelations as well: Presley was an accomplished horseman; he was not only a good Christian but a voracious reader with an interest in spiritual as well as purely religious matters (he even joined the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles); and he suffered mightily from insomnia. Moreover, while this is a loving tribute, it's not hagiography. Priscilla makes it clear that she and everyone else around Elvis were expected to surrender their own lives to suit his needs and whims, a demand she eventually found unendurable. Nor do they gloss over Elvis' final years, when he was fat, drug-ridden, and disillusioned. Little matter that Elvis Presley is dead. Long live the King! --Sam Graham

Description

ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS, a new entertainment special that will feature a collection of new, intimate interviews with his former wife, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, and their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, includes exclusive, never-before-seen television performances, photographs from the Presley Estate archives and Presley family home movies.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining, but...............2007-04-20

This is a very entertaining, honest documentary and very beautifully done. However, it is blatantly obvious that this was made by Priscilla for Priscilla. She must have needed needed another Elvis cash injection. It should have been called the Beaulieau's and Jerry Schilling on Elvis.

Nothing New Here - Just Good Entertainment.......2006-05-05

Nothing new here...remembering that it is in Pricilla & Lisa-Marie's interest to retain Elvis' name in good light, as Lisa is sole-owner of Elvis' estate and Pricilla a salary-earner from the estate...this was always going to be a one-sided account of his life...no drugs, very little on his extra-maritial affairs, a good father etc....Nevertheless, the music retains the magic and the man retains his charisma...Some input from Pricilla's parents, which you never get to hear....Good light entertainment, with Elvis' image remaining intact.

Finally - new material about Elvis........2006-04-20

I have seen and read everything I can find about Elvis. I like this film by the Presley's. We have not seen nor heard from Priscilla's family before nor have we heard Priscilla speak about Elvis in this way. Priscilla's parents and sister and Lisa Marie join her and I was surprised how they felt about Elvis. They loved Elvis and thought he was a great son in law and I would have thought they would be the ones saying "I told you so". Priscilla explains what it was really like to be married to Elvis and why she could not be herself as long as she was with him. She joined Elvis' life and had to conform to his ways. It was all about Elvis and that was to never change. Priscilla is much more mature and tells things in a different light today and will always defend his honor. Priscilla like everyone else will always have respect for Elvis as an artist. He wasn't the best husband but he was always good to Priscilla and they had a better relationship after their divorce than anytime that she was with him. The pressure was being Mrs. Elvis Presley was off. They found they liked each other any way. They were close until the day he died.

Bravo - Priscilla!.......2006-02-18

I think most Elvis fans want a reason to like Priscilla. She gives us one in this DVD. Priscilla, all grown up - older and wiser, now shares her private times with Elvis. Any fool can watch this DVD and see that Elvis was deeply in love with Priscilla. When she is near him in the home movies, his face lights up, and he shows happiness. Priscilla - if you love Elvis, then love his God. Not a cult created by a science fiction writer.

Priscilla's parents - what a delight! I enjoyed them talking about Elvis. They seem to be everyday people, and Priscilla's father was having a great time talking about Elvis.

Patsy Presley - still a beauty! I'm interested in anything and everything this woman has to say. She knew Elvis from the very beginning. I'd like to have seen more of Elvis' family speak. And I would like to have seen more of Graceland inside and out. Maybe next time.

Lisa Presley - I'm not interested in anything she has to say. Most Elvis fans are very disappointed in Lisa's interviews with her vulgar and trashy language. Why would Elvis Presley's daughter lower herself to appear on the Howard Stern show and use the explicit sexual language she used? She is not going to be the one to continue her father's legacy. Elvis fans are already angry that his own daughter sold him for millions of dollars. Something just doesn't add up about Lisa. There is something very wrong here.

What is going to happen to Elvis when Priscilla is gone? Who is going to be there to protect him the way she does? Who is going to take care of business the way she does? Elvis fans say, it won't be Lisa - or her children. One day Priscilla will leave this earth, and many Elvis fans say Graceland will be sold - for millions of course.

Missed Opportunity.......2005-12-27

It's a mystery, but somehow they have rendered Elvis and his story duller than you could imagine! This is largely a yawnfest of unending Priscilla propaganda. Less interviews and more music would've been this concept's saving grace; alas they missed out on that, the one thing that made Elvis--his MUSIC!! I understand this was to be a personal history by those related to him, but they had Schilling in? Why not some fellow musicians? Guys like Burton or Tutt or contemporaries like Tom Jones? Why not different Memphis Mafia members like Esposito or the Wests? Gee, let's guess, especially as to the latter. Despite the fact that Elvis needs no help in maintaining his mythic status, Priscilla guards it jealously and refuses to let other opinions be heard. Too bad. It get three stars BECAUSE IT IS THE KING AFTER ALL...but it could've gotten five if it had one more hour of music replacing an hour of talk, and if other voices were allowed to be heard by Empress Priscilla.

Average customer rating:

Elvis By The Presleys
Elvis Presley
Manufacturer: BMG
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

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