'Elvis: Return to Tupelo' preview and review.

'Elvis: Return to Tupelo' preview and review.

The new documentary ‘Elvis: Return To Tupelo’ will be released in the first half of August. Director Michael Rose and producer Carol King gave ElvisMatters an exclusive preview of the DVD and the bonus chapters.

In all documentary’s that handles Elvis’ life from ‘beginning to the end’, they don’t get to deep in to detail about Elvis’ childhood and teenager years, although they are very important for the rest of his life. We all know the most important facts for this period: his birth and his still born twin brother Jesse, Vernon who ends up in jail, Elvis discovers Gospel and Blues music, his first guitar, …

The docu starts with a newsreel of the triumphed return to his hometown in 1956. The clock turns back to 1935 and we follow the Presley family during the rural years of the depression, World War II and the tornado catastrophe in Tupelo. We travel to Memphis, when the 3 are searching for better times in the big city, where Elvis would become the greatest entertainer of all times.

Country legend is responsible for the professional narration of the DVD. We visit all the important places that had a key role in the life of little Elvis, told by experts and people who are there at the time. Lots of childhood friends are located and tell their memories.

Stories that are told before and never went in to detail are now explained with all details. It is well known that Vernon ended up in jail after he forged a check. He got a three year jail sentence – a hard time for Gladys to take care of her son. Elvis’ mother started a petition to try to get Vernon earlier out of the jail. All important people from Tupelo – from the police chef to the bank director – signed the petition. The most important letter came from O. S. Bean, the guy who wrote the original check to Vernon. His opinion was that Vernon punishment lasted long enough.

Archive footage shows an interview with Brother Frank Smith, who toughed Elvis the song ‘Old Shep’ and learned to play him his very first guitar chords. Ernest Bowen, WELO Station manager, recalls the times that Elvis was at his radio station to sing live on air.

The city of Memphis leads us to the Lauderdale Courts, Humes High and off course the Sun Studio’s where DJ Fontana, Gordon Stoker and George Klein share their memories.

The circle is round when de documentary ends back in 1956, Elvis’ hometown concert.

The DVD is filled with comments of lots of experts and people who where eye witnesses to the events, added with unique and historic footage from the difficult years in the Deep South. This movie is made by professional filmmaker and Elvis fan Michael Rose. It is obvious that this project is made with a heart for the subject.



An extra bonus DVD with 60min of features is added.

We already knew the chapter titles, but now that we have seen the disc, we can tell you more about the content.

Elvis week / Elvis festival

Dedicated to us, the Elvis fans, with an overview of the yearly festivities that are held in Memphis and Tupelo.

The Alamo Girls

Seven girlfriends from Alamo, TN are out on an adventure when they travel to Tupelo in September 1956 to see Elvis perform during the fair. The seven teenagers can be seen on almost every footage and picture that is made during the concert. They are all standing on the front row and some of the girls are now telling about their special trip. We also see photos from their private album with pictures they made from the front row.

Sun Records Line up

A brief overview of the other artists that became famous due to Sun Records.

Elvis meets Bill Monroe

Bill Monroe, composer of ‘Blue Moon Of Kentucky’, met Elvis at the Grand Ol’ Opry in Nashville. The audience was not overwhelmed by the way Elvis performed their favorite country waltz.

DJ Fontana: Elvis on TV

Elvis’ first drummer recollects some memories about the various TV-appearances at the Milton Bearle, Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan shows. He goes in to detail about why Elvis did not like Steve Allen

Elvis’ eerste drummer halt herinneringen op aan de verschillende TV-opnames bij Milton Berle, Steven Allen en Ed Sullivan. Hij gaat dieper in op de afkeer die Elvis van Steve Allen had.

Sneeking into the Fair

Elvis’ childhood friend tells the story about how they sneaked in to the fair because they could not afford a ticket.

Memories of the Colonel

A short portrait of Elvis’ ‘controversial’ manager.

George Klein remembers the Coach

Elvis was a for a short time a member of the Humes High Football team, but he quit because he did not like the coach. George Klein tells the story when Elvis and the coach met each other again when he was already a star.

June Juanico & Dixie Locke: first date

Two of Elvis’ first girlfriends share their stories about being Elvis’ date.

Magdalena Morgan's Christmas gift

During elementary school, Magdalena was Elvis’ little girlfriend. She tells about the Christmas gift she got from him.

Mike Freeman: owning Elvis' house

Mike Freeman bought the house on Audubon drive that once belonged to Elvis in 1988. He tells about how it was to live in Elvis’ home.

Debunking the myth that Elvis was a Racist

In the beginning of Elvis’ career, a rumor was spread that Elvis was a racist. This came from an article, published in the SEPIA magazine. The JET magazine wrote that the rumor was a lie.

Elvis enters the Army newsreel

Original news broadcast about Elvis entering the army.

Elvis leaves the Army newsreel

Original news broadcast about Elvis leaving the army.

Elvis gets married newsreel

Original news broadcast about Elvis’ marriage.

Tupelo tornado newsreel

Very rare footage about the Tupelo tornado disaster in the 40’s.

'Washington Merry-Go-Round' Elvis Controversy newsreel


Probably the most interesting chapter on the bonus disc.

The program ‘Washington Merry-Go-Round’ was all about important political news. This episode however was about the controverse around Elvis.

In this complete 12min show from 1956, Elvis life story untill then is told. The program concludes with a ‘prediction’ about Elvis’ carreer. He is compared with educated and decent artists as Rudolph Valentino and Frank Sinatra. Elvis is advised to get rid of all the vulgarity if he does not want his star to fall as fast as it came up..

To understand the person behind Elvis, his musical preferences and his choices, it is important to discover the roots of this all. For the first time ever, all these facts are portrayed in such a detailed and interesting way!



Pre - Order Now Dvd "Elvis: Return to Tupelo".

2008/07/28 Michael Rose - www.elvismatters.be / www.epgold.com