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Kurt Russell's Elvis In March

December 17, 2009 | Video

We already mentioned that this DVD would be released next year, but now the date and more info are available.

From the press release:

Few figures in popular culture have endured in our collective consciousness as has multi-Grammy® Award-winning artist Elvis Presley. Crowned as the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Presley's revolutionary rockabilly music and captivating performances were as much a part of his legend as his uninhibited hip swivels, blue suede shoes, his charm and good looks. There have been motion pictures, television specials and books chronicling the roller-coaster life of Elvis Presley, and one of the most successful of these properties came in the acclaimed 1979 film ELVIS, starring Golden Globe nominee Kurt Russell in the title role, directed by John Carpenter.

This highly regarded production captures the essence of The King at a time when his many fans were still mourning his passing. Hailed by audiences as one of the most powerful and moving biographical films, ELVIS garnered a Golden Globe nomination and multiple Emmy® nominations, including one for Kurt Russell as Outstanding Lead Actor for his incandescent performance as the King of Rock 'n' Roll. The film also marked Carpenter and Russell's first collaboration in what would become a legendary pairing.

Timed closely to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley's birth, Shout! Factory, in association with Dick Clark Productions, present ELVIS on DVD for the first time March 2, 2010. This collectible DVD features the main presentation of the movie restored from the original film elements as it was meant to be seen, as well as an array of bonus features including: "Bringing A Legend To Life," a featurette with archival interviews of Kurt Russell and John Carpenter (1979); commentary by "The Voice Of Elvis," Ronnie McDowell, and author Edie Hand; rare clips and captivating photo gallery. Even 33 years after his passing, Presley continues to burn a powerful image of rock stardom and still conquers new legions of fans through his indelible mark in worldwide pop culture. Available for the first time in the home entertainment marketplace, this long-awaited DVD debut of the film ELVIS is priced to own at $19.97.
Directed by John Carpenter, the biopic of Elvis stars Kurt Russell and features the country music hitmaker Ronnie McDowell re-creating Presley's signature vocals. Tracing Presley's life from his impoverished childhood to his meteoric rise to stardom to his triumphant return to Las Vegas, this film boasts an all-star ensemble including Academy Award® winner Shelley Winters (A Place In The Sun) as Elvis' mother Gladys; Season Hubley (All My Children) as his wife Priscilla; Kurt Russell's real-life father Bing Russell (The Magnificent Seven) as Elvis's father Vernon Presley; Pat Hingle (Batman) as Colonel Tom Parker; Robert Gray (Murder She Wrote) as Red West; Golden Globe nominee Joe Mantegna (Searching for Bobby Fischer) as Memphis mafia member Joe Esposito; and Golden Globe nominee Ed Begley Jr. (St. Elsewhere) as D.J. Fontana.

IN-DEPTH DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • "Bringing A Legend To Life" Featurette With Archival Interviews Of Kurt Russell And John Carpenter (1979)
  • Commentary By "The Voice Of Elvis" Ronnie McDowell And Author Edie Hand
  • Rare Clips From American Bandstand
  • Photo Gallery
Source:Elvis Information Network
Herman wrote on December 17, 2009
Great ! Now it's waiting for Elvis on Tour deluxe edition DVD box
burton wrote on December 18, 2009
About time! Will it be the cinema version or the extended T.V. version? I prefer the longer version as it makes the action flow & makes the movie slightly more historically correct than making the history jump ahead rather to fast for us to catch on to what's happening. I shall be getting this, if it becomes available in the U.K. I assume $19.97 is for the U.S. market. If it comes out in the U.K. you can bet it will be £19.99, twice as much as what it would cost in the States. Any word on a Blu - Ray version?
burton wrote on December 18, 2009
Herman, As far as an official release of Elvis On Tour, my guess is they'll wait until 2012, because that will be 40 years of it's release & they can advertise it in a big campaign, & charge us fans an arm & a leg for for a single disc version. Then they can do a boxed or Deluxe version & charged two arms & two legs, plus the earth for it. Elvis isn't finished making Zillions of Bucks for the Suits it charge just yet. Do I sound cynical or what? But watch this space in 2012 & see if I'm right.
Aarons wrote on December 18, 2009
Has anyone here noticed that Elvis played a character called JOHN CARPENTER in Change Of Habit and yet the director of Elvis: The Movie is called John Carpenter.