Lost Elvis Tapes Resurface for Dazzling New Film

Fifty years after being stored in a Kansas salt mine, a legendary trove of Elvis Presley concert footage is now accessible. Director Baz Luhrmann prompted Warner Bros. to retrieve the 59 hours of film, which includes professionally shot concerts from the early Seventies and candid interviews. Luhrmann describes the result, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, as a "tone poem" that allows Elvis to tell his own story.

The restoration process presented significant technical challenges due to the film's delicate condition. Filmmakers discovered the footage, originally shot for documentaries like "Elvis: That's the Way It Is," had begun to degenerate. They meticulously synchronized multi-track audio recordings with the visuals to overcome silent concert segments.

A key discovery was a previously unknown 45-minute interview with Presley conducted in 1972. This audio, along with other recorded conversations, enables Elvis to narrate his life, offering his perspective for the first time. The film eschews a chronological approach, instead creating a collage of performances from the 1950s through the 1970s, including moments from his B-movie era.

Specialists at Peter Jackson's New Zealand-based team, renowned for film restoration, enhanced the visual quality of the footage, ensuring it retained its authentic filmic character. While footage from Presley's later years was available, filmmakers opted not to include his final performances due to his deteriorating health, focusing instead on his peak artistic output.

The film concludes by reflecting on Elvis's immense career and his deep connection with his audience, framing his dedication to performing as a source of sustenance amidst his struggles. Luhrmann hopes EPiC will reintroduce a young generation to the human complexity of Elvis Presley beyond his iconic status.