Elvis - The Ed Sullivan Show: Classic Performances (Image Entertainment DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Compilation: B-
While the
rollout of Beatles material is happening again thanks to the reissue of their
music catalog on 9/9/09 and the death of Michael Jackson is leading to issues
and reissues of his work in various formats, Elvis Presley is never far behind
and this time, Image Entertainment is offering Elvis - The Ed Sullivan Show: Classic Performances on DVD. The shows were kinescoped, so quality is only
going to be so good, but are classic and a welcome release.
Sullivan
was never going to have Elvis on his show until The King appeared on a rival
series and was beaten in the ratings. He
paid a then-record amount to get Elvis on his show and the result was a huge
ratings smash. Ironically, Sullivan was
in a car accident and the great Charles Laughton had to fill in for him that
first appearance. This main part of this
disc compiles those appearances, sometimes cutting the actual episodes down of
non-Elvis material.
Purists
may not like that, but seeing early prime Elvis in action is still something a
half-century later and is one of the best releases we have seen on him since
Warner issued Blu-rays and HD-DVDs of two of his best films, Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas. After all
the imitation and pop trivialization, seeing the real man in action is always
refreshing and this DVD offers just that.
The 1.33
X 1 image is soft as noted, but they look about as good as can be expected for
their age and the capturing format.
Kinescopes filmed picture tubes as a TV frame rate; think the Lost Honeymooners shows. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is better and as
clean as an old TV recording of the time could be expected to be. Extras include previews and promos for the
Sullivan shows, John Byner doing Elvis, interviews with Sam Phillips, Wink
Martindale and others about the events and rare 8/7/55 home movie footage of
Elvis in action.
For more
Elvis, start at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6202/Elvis+%E2%80%93+Destination+Vega
- Nicholas Sheffo
