This year marks the 50th anniversary of Elvis: That’s The Way It Is. The Las Vegas concert film, which returns to cinemas for one night only on August 13, saw Elvis Presley walk through the audience kissing girls. But just a few weeks after filming the movie this was stopped after The King received a death threat.
Speaking exclusively with Express.co.uk, author of a new book on the film David English said of the audience walk through: “It’s slightly staged.
“But that was quickly stopped because a few weeks after that there was a death threat made against him.
“It got quite complicated. There was a paternity suit as well.
“So there was a heavier security presence. Not when that filming was taking place, but just a few weeks after.”
The Elvis expert continued: “He got really eccentric with guns after this death threat.
“So all through the autumn of 1970, he started to collect – almost obsessively – guns and contacted lots of police forces around the country.
“He would fly to their headquarters, donate money and then they would give him a badge.
“He did some fairly eccentric things, going further into the seventies.”
Nevertheless, Elvis: That’s The Way It Is is a good couple of years before The King’s physical decline began.
English said: “[In 1970, Elvis was] at his peak. The world was his oyster here.
“He couldn’t do a thing wrong at that particular point.
“He really looked good and his voice was in good shape.”
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The August 1970 run at The International Hotel was Elvis’ third Las Vegas residency and second of that year.
Elvis: That’s The Way It Is includes moments from the opening night with celebrity guests.
Fans can spot the likes of Sammy Davis Jr, Cary Grant and George Hamilton among others.
Next year a musical biopic of Elvis’ life starring Austin Butler as The King is released.
Just before lockdown, director Baz Luhrmann was rehearsing Las Vegas scenes with the star and Tom Hanks.
Hanks plays Elvis’ manager Colonel Tom Parker in the new movie.
Production was shut down indefinitely after he was diagnosed with coronavirus, but the shoot is set to resume later this year.
Elvis is released in cinemas on November 5, 2021.
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