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I can't even imagine how controversial Elvis playing on Ed Sullivan must have been at the time. His swaying hips and sexual demeanor had him labeled as a degenerate in the eyes of the "Leave it to Beaver" goody two shoes era of the 50s. Now, people wouldn't even give Elvis a second though if he were just starting out today. I sometimes wish America could go back to being that innocent.
Though Elvis' performances are the main reason for this DVD release, the three Ed Sullivan episodes are played in their entirity, which was pretty cool to watch, even if some of the acts weren't my thing. It was a good look at an era that my parents grew up in, and I learned a few things about the show. The show was a variety show, which was sort of surprising to me, although I never put much thought into it until watching this DVD. They also had advertisements as part of the show, instead of cutting to commercials.
Elvis' performances were pretty great. He played "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," "Ready Teddy," "Hound Dog," "Love Me," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Too Much," "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again," and "Peace in the Valley." He played "Don't Be Cruel" at all three tapings.
Extras include home movies that include some of the first shots of Lisa Marie Presley, people remembering Ed Sullivan as well as Elvis (including Sam Phillips, Wink Martindale and George Klein), promos for Elvis' appearance, and liner notes by infamous rock and roll writer Greil Marcus. All this content make for a great addition to any Elvis collection, but it could also serve as atrip down memory lane for people who remember sitting with the family watching this on television.
Written by: RF