Elvis by the Presleys (2005 TV Movie) User Reviews

Elvis has definitely NOT left the building

[sbeban60 · 8/10 · 13 May 2005]

28 years, well almost, he has been gone. This special delivered a great in site to a man many under 35 only know in song and those B-Movie re-runs on mid day and late night TV. A good documentary on this famous man with many glimpses into his personal life that a lot of people probably never knew. It was a worth while effort on the part of his family to make this movie and is well worth a look see by those who missed it when it shows again on TV.

It was put together with a lot of style, integrating some of the themes of his songs with pictures and home/new video clips of his life. Also a good sprinkling of never before seen (or heard) moments of both Elvis and Percilla's personal family life and the professional life of the "King of Rock and Roll".

Elvis as told by the 2 woman who loved him the most

[puddtoot · 10/10 · 14 May 2005]

A touching story of Elvis'early life, and decline, as told by Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley. Also includes Elvis'cousin Patsy, and Former "Memphis Mafia" member, Jerry Schilling. Priscilla's parents are also shown talking about Elvis. Talks about Elvis the superstar, Elvis the husband and father, through home movie clips, and concert clips. Elvis is heard preforming such songs as "Seperate Ways, Hawaian wedding song, and others. Some of the home movie clips have never been seen before, and this includes clips of Elvis and Priscilla as a couple, and clips of Lisa, as a child. The show shows more of Elvis' good side, more of what has not been written about him. Such as: He was a doting father, who loved his family very much. It also shows Elvis' fragility, that which may have led to his down fall. All in all, it promotes more time to Elvis the human being, more than Elvis the superstar. After all, Elvis was human too...

Brought me back in time

[rahwal · 10/10 · 14 May 2005]

I always known how Elvis was such a generous person, nothing new there, but it was nice to see it again and to show the public how kind he really was. Had his trails and tribulations just like every one of us. But was always striving to make people happy.

A couple of things really tug at my heart string. When Lisa and Priscilla still got choked up just to talk about the day he passed away, reached down in me how it is so hard to talk about my mother who passed away 7 years ago. Its like you are sharing that exact same feeling with them.

And the song "If I can dream" was so heart felt. Just can't understand why more people don't sing it. Very very touching film. Really enjoyed seeing how the mother and daughter put that era in their own words.

A legend up close, private and personal.

[michaelRokeefe · 10/10 · 13 May 2005]

This is a great two hour special event presented by CBS. An intimate look at the family and private life of the legendary Elvis Presley. Candid comments from his former wife, Priscilla and their daughter, Lisa Marie. Exclusive, never-before-seen TV performances and photos from the Presley Estate blended with private home movies of Elvis with his family and friends. Also interviews with Priscilla's parents, Paul and Ann Beaulieu and Elvis' cousin Patsy Geranen. And personal insight and comments from good friend Jerry Schilling.

You see different aspects of Elvis' life...his time at home in Memphis and Califronia; his time in Hollywood making movies; his concerts on the road and in Vegas. There brought to light unabashed is Elvis' career highs and lows, his generosity and human frailties and the glimmer and echos of just part of what makes his legacy enduring for decades and decades to come.

Of course its hard to mention Elvis without his music. Featured is music from TV specials, movies, concerts and his vast RCA catalog. Highlights featuring: 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Suspicious Minds', 'In the Ghetto', 'Always On My Mind', 'Buring Love', 'My Way', 'If I Can Dream' and 'Can't Help Falling in Love'.

This special will be available on DVD with an extra two hours of footage. There is a double CD featuring 32 of the Presley family favorites. And there is also the "Elvis by the Presleys"in hardback. Long live the King!

A complete turn around from Priscilla or what would you call it?

[number72ocfan · 31 December 2005]

I am a dedicated Elvis fan. I think a lot of the guy. After watching this I was kinda of left bewildered by Priscilla's intentions of participating in it. If anybody remembers her autobiography titled Elvis and Me. It was also a T.V. movie. She painted a very dark picture of her involvement with Elvis. Making him out to be a drug addict, womanizer, and a terrible husband. She says in the opening of Elvis by the Presley's "We had to be very careful in telling Elvis's personal life." Priscilla What exactly did you have to be careful about? You completely trashed Elvis out in your book and T.V. Movie. What further damage could you do to him? You have a daughter by this guy. What does she think when you say bad things about him? Elvis made mistakes like every other person on this earth and you make out like you never did a single thing wrong. Elvis isn't here to defend himself. Who knows what he could have told on you. Priscilla is a little easier on Elvis in this one. Elvis's cousin Patsy appears and you can really tell she truly cared about Elvis. Jerry Schilling appears also and he talks really good of Elvis. Priscilla is a Presley by name only. She divorced Elvis. It is obvious that she is capitalizing on his name. I mean she wants to keep his name so bad that she has a kid and won't even marry the kid's father. She even produces projects about Elvis for what reasons do you think? I have always believed it is wrong to talk about the dead. She says in this feature that 42 was such a young age to die at. She needs to sit back and think that Elvis lost almost half of his life span. That is really sad in itself. Why talk bad about someone who died so young. Haven't they already paid enough. Priscilla really needs to make up her mind whether Elvis was good or bad. In this one she makes him out to be quite a whole lot better guy. I enjoyed watching it. It was very good. I wish Priscilla would stay out of further Elvis projects because she doesn't make any sense. He's good one minute then he's bad the next. Lisa Marie should be the one who handles her fathers affairs. She stays with a consistent story about her father. I recommend this to all fans. It has home movies that I haven't seen before and pictures to. Just try to ignore Priscilla and her parents. My personal opinion they aren't telling the whole truth. Especially in the part where she brings up if her father pushed Elvis to marry her. I think he did. Too many people have said Elvis told them that. I think Elvis realized if he didn't that a scandal could arise and affect not only his career but his life in general.

Fantastic Doco.

[mr_pivac1985 · 10/10 · 4 June 2005]

This Is most likely the best Elvis documentary I have ever seen, I did not watch it on TV I saw it in the stores on DVD for sale so I of course brought it, I loved the rare footage of Elvis in his later days, You don't see that very often. However I did feel really sad In certain parts of the doco, more in the last half hour on so. For those of you who haven't seen this documentary and you are an Elvis fan I recommend you go out and rent or better yet buy this film, its full of non stop Evlis footage The 68 comeback special, The Aloha from Hawaii concert, The famous 1977 last concert, and much more. This film shows just how kind and generous this Great man was. No one will ever be able to match Elvis Aaron Presley "The King" .

The King Lives

[Rindiana · 6/10 · 28 August 2010]

Whoever thinks this is going to be another one of those glorifying star docs is just partially right.

Yes, many episodes in this mammoth four hour family album are devoted to what a wonderful guy the King had been - and thus leave an aftertaste of triviality behind, but fortunately there are enough interesting aspects about Elvis's moody and egocentric personality, about his shifts in temper, about the dark side of showbiz, about his decline in mental and conditional health to merit an above average standard.

It's all presented in the usual soft-focus manner of television biographies. But the content is okay, though too long-winded.

6 out of 10 glitzy overalls

bring a box of Kleenex

[blanche-2 · 10/10 · 16 June 2005]

This wonderful tribute to Elvis hosted by Priscilla Presley contains home movies, interviews, clips from the '68 comeback special, Aloha from Hawaii, outtakes, Elvis: That's the Way it is, his films - in short, everything you could possibly want to see in an Elvis tribute. Priscilla, Lisa Marie, Priscilla's parents, Elvis' cousin, and Jerry Schilling give the audience great insight into Elvis' personality, Priscilla's life with him, his differences with Colonel Tom Parker, his artistic frustrations, his drug problems, and his spiritual quest.

Even for die-hard Elvis fans who have seen and read everything (if that's possible), there will probably be something new here. Outstanding for me were the stories of Elvis' generosity and the continuation of his charitable interests by the family. Most touching, I think, was how much he loved his daughter, and how much, 28 years later, people who were in his life still miss him to the point of tears. The musical highlight: "If I Can Dream." The footage of Elvis on tour shortly before he died is harrowing. I've seen it before, but it never fails to shock. People always talk about the "fat Elvis" - in truth, though Elvis was heavier in the '70s than he was in the '60s, it wasn't until the very end that he became badly bloated and obviously ill. But like the documentary, I prefer to dwell on that groundbreaking talent, fabulous songs, magical smile, and unbelievable charisma that was, and always will be, Elvis Presley.

Good Doc

[Michael_Elliott · 27 February 2008]

Elvis by the Presleys (2005)

*** (out of 4)

Documentary produced by the Presley family to tell their side of the story in regards to The King. I'd suspect many will find the film too clean and one-sided but I didn't mind this since there's really nothing wrong with hearing good stories about the man. The best moment takes place when their discussing Elvis the father, which contains some great home movies. Another interesting thing is hearing Priscilla talk about the films Elvis was making for MGM and why she feels he finally gave up on life. The lack of drug taking on The King's part also made for an interesting segment. With all the concert footage, home movies and personal stories it's easy to recommend this to fans.