‘EPiC Presents Elvis in Concert: Experience His Words and Music’
For half a century, a treasure trove of Elvis Presley footage remained hidden in a Kansas salt mine. This collection consists of ten professionally filmed concerts from the early 1970s. To many dedicated Elvis fans, its existence was merely a legend. However, when director Baz Luhrmann began working on the 2022 biopic “Elvis,” he persuaded Warner Bros. to recover the 59 hours of film in hopes of uncovering inspiration for his project.
What Luhrmann discovered was astonishing. The footage not only showcased Elvis at the height of his live performances but also included candid backstage moments and interviews. “We couldn’t let this footage go back into the salt mines,” Luhrmann stated during a Zoom call from Tokyo. He aimed to create a unique experience, steering clear of a conventional documentary format.
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
The result of Luhrmann’s vision is “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” set to premiere in IMAX on February 20 and nationwide theaters on February 27. Despite the decades of storage, transforming the raw footage into a theatrical experience presented significant challenges. Luhrmann, along with editor Jonathan Redmond, sifted through boxes of film reels initially shot for the 1970 documentary “Elvis: That’s the Way It Is” and the concert film “Elvis on Tour” from 1972.
Upon arrival at Warner Bros. for editing, they encountered concerns regarding the film’s condition. “There was this vinegar smell,” Luhrmann recalled, indicating film decay. Nonetheless, after a careful digital transfer, the footage looked stunning, although most of it was originally silent.
Restoration and Discovery
Fortunately, RCA had multi-track tapes of every performance, which allowed the team to synchronize the sound perfectly. During their pursuit of additional audio, they unearthed a previously unreleased 45-minute interview with Presley from 1972. “You can tell he’s very tired and vulnerable,” Luhrmann commented, emphasizing the raw and honest nature of the conversation.
By integrating these narratives, the film allows Elvis to tell his story. It opens with a captivating segment of “An American Trilogy” from 1972 and features a mix of performances from the 1950s to the early 1970s. The film showcases hits like “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Suspicious Minds,” and “Burning Love.”
Innovative Approach
Redmond expressed initial concerns over the nonlinear storytelling approach due to varying formats and aspect ratios. However, the creative team decided to embrace this diversity to avoid a straightforward narrative.
The footage underwent restoration by a team from New Zealand, known for their acclaimed work on “The Beatles: Get Back.” They excelled at cleaning and enhancing the film while preserving authenticity. “What they did was the icing on the cake,” Redmond noted.
A Lasting Legacy
While some performances filmed after 1972 exist, they present challenges due to Presley’s deteriorating condition later in life. Luhrmann chose not to focus on these, wanting to celebrate Elvis at his peak.
The film encapsulates how Elvis performed over 1,100 concerts from 1969 to 1977, sometimes executing three shows a day. “He flew so close to the sun,” Luhrmann reflected on Elvis’s life. The narrative closes with his battle against personal demons, juxtaposed with the fervor of his performances.
As Luhrmann works on a Joan of Arc film, he remains connected to Elvis. He discovered a complete concert from 1972 that had never been seen, pondering the possibility of creating another film. He hopes to inspire a younger audience to connect with the raw humanity of Elvis Presley—an icon whose journey began from humble beginnings to worldwide fame.
