ELVIS: BEHIND THE IMAGE - VOLUMES 1 & 2 (2005) |
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Starring
Elvis Presley, Bud Glass, Sandi Miller, John Wilkinson, Kathy
Westmoreland, Cynthia Pepper and Ed Enoch.
Directed by
Bud Glass.
Distributed by Bud
Glass Productions/Praytome Publishing.
150 minutes. Not Rated. |
 
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Elvis:
Behind
the
Image
(Volumes
1 and 2)
Over 25 years since his untimely passing on August 16, 1977, interest in
"The King," Elvis Presley, continues to grow, attracting new generations of
fans around the globe. His late
sixties platter, "A Little Less
Conversation," has also further helped
revitalize Presley's iconic status; in
the past few years, a dramatic remix of the song became a worldwide hit and
it's currently being used as the theme for the popular TV show, Las Vegas.
Two new DVDs, Elvis: Behind The Image Volume
1
and Elvis: Behind
The Image Volume 2 (Bud Glass Productions/Praytome Publishing) provide
an up-close and personal look at Elvis, the man, not the myth.
Many books and DVDs released on Elvis seemingly perpetuate the artist's
almost mythic status, with many mired in a sea of sensationalism. The
essence of who Elvis truly was is lost.
Lovingly created and overseen by renowned Elvis collector Bud Glass, these
two DVDs
succeed in presenting a fresh look behind the curtain and offer
unvarnished insight into the King. A keen archivist of unreleased Elvis home
movies, Glass has assembled a wealth of fascinating footage of the artist at
work and at play.
Each DVD sports a ton of previously unseen Super 8 home movie footage of
Elvis interacting with fans at his homes in Los Angeles and Palm Springs,
and ripping it up onstage from 1970 through 1974 in Las Vegas, Los Angeles,
Dallas, Houston, San Bernardino, and other locales. There's also a fine
collection of candid photographs featured. Intimate friends and colleagues
share their perspective on life with the King including fan-turned-friend
Sandi Miller, who also provides a treasure trove of unseen photographs, John
Wilkinson (Elvis' rhythm guitarist in his touring band for nine and a half
years), backing vocalist and girlfriend, Kathy Westmoreland, Kissin'
Cousins co-star Cynthia Pepper, Ed Enoch, a member of J.D. Sumner & The
Stamps Quartet (a gospel outfit that appeared on tour with Elvis until the
time of his death) and more.
One of Wilkinson's yarns still resonates. He met Elvis at age
nine. Already an
accomplished guitarist, the precocious pre-teen boasted to an amused Presley
that he was a better guitar player than him and proceeded to demonstrate his
six-string agility. Through the years he would continue to run into Presley.
Once after his band opened a gig for the fledgling Jefferson Airplane at
L.A.'s Whisky A-Go-Go in the late Sixties, Elvis whisked him back to his
home and spent three days jamming with him and sharing his company.
Ultimately, this led to Presley asking Wilkinson to join his new touring
band as rhythm guitarist.
Not a candy-coated assemblage of rosy remembrances, the frank commentary,
while admittedly espousing a decidedly positive spin, is not a whitewash
and instead in a few stories (particularly one told by Kathy Westmoreland)
sheds light on the deep seated vulnerability, and insecurity that haunted
"The King Of Rock & Roll."
(1/06)
Ken
Sharp
Copyright ©2006
PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved.
Posted: January 5, 2006.
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Copyright ©2006
PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved.
Posted: January 5, 2006.
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