Toronto – Buzz Ruhrmann made a legendary version of Elvis Presley with “Elvis.” And in his latest film, the director has the King of Rock tell his own story.
Rather than a documentary, not a concert, “Poetry of Tone” and “Epic: Elvis Presley’s Concert” present unprecedented electric rehearsals and concert footage from Presley’s Las Vegas residency at the International Hotel from 1969 to 1969. Minds from the Presley catalogue, etc.
When he was ready to make the 2022 film “Elvis,” starring Austin Butler, Luman said he had heard of the “mythical footage” he wanted to study. The filmmaker had the resources to go to the “Kansas Salt Mine” where Warner Bros. saved the negatives and found 59 hours of footage.
According to Jonathan Redmond, a longtime editor at Luhrmann, all the music performances and rehearsal tracks were on hand. They had to sync it with the footage they found. It ended up being a two-year job.
One thing that really impressed Ruhrman about Presley along the way was “it doesn’t matter what’s going on, it doesn’t matter what he’s in, he’s never going to be in tone,” the film director said. “And he’s always mental whenever he sings.”
“The Epic” gave Presley a small history leading up to the Vegas year, leading to a residency as he didn’t love the films he was making, from being drafted by the Army to becoming a Hollywood star. “He said, ‘I need to show the audience what I can do. I need to go back to being Elvis.’ And that’s what drove him,” Ruhrman said.
What’s impressive about both the rehearsal and concert footage shows how Elvis was still a performer, hip thrust, kung fu movements and more. He does a bit of tap dancing when Sammy Davis Jr. is in the crowd. Presley jokes with the audience when they’re not trying to hold him (he also kisses many fans). However, his sense of humor is the most common sense of humor in “magnificent”. Rehears “something, “Presley Roon,” “something in the way she moves,” and he tells the band “these are thought-provoking lyrics, guys.”
Something else Luhrmann found in their drilling: Presley spoke to his band for 45 minutes, and he said, “About his life, he was very defenseless.” The film includes the film, including Presley, who states, “There’s a lot to be said, but I want an opportunity to tell my side of the story.”
That led Ruhrman to “have him sing Elvis and tell the story myself. That was a real choice. It was kind of a dream.”
