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Elvis Fans Still Swoon Over “The King” in New Concert Film, Two Even Kiss-and-Tell!
LOS ANGELES – More than 50 years after Elvis Presley graced the Las Vegas stage, his legendary charm continues to captivate audiences, with a new concert film, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, hitting theaters this Friday. And for some lucky ladies, those memories are still as fresh as a stage-side kiss!
Director Baz Luhrmann, the mastermind behind the 2022 biopic Elvis, revealed that during recent screenings of EPiC in the U.K. and at the Toronto International Film Festival, two women came forward to identify themselves as the very fans seen in vintage footage, receiving spontaneous smooches from “The King” himself.
“When I was in TIFF, a woman reached out and said, ‘I was one of the girls and he kissed me and he was right there. His face was right there,'” Luhrmann, 63, recalled during a recent Zoom interview.
“She was crying.” The woman in the U.K. likewise became emotional recounting her unforgettable encounter.
Luhrmann emphasized the unique connection Presley forged with his audience. “He literally gives himself physically to the audience,” he said. “Of course, those that get a kiss never forget it.”
EPiC is a labor of love, compiled from a treasure trove of unearthed footage, including 16mm film from the 1972 Elvis on Tour documentary and intimate 8mm home movies from Graceland, all discovered by Luhrmann while researching his biopic. The director meticulously restored enough of this material to create an immersive IMAX experience.
The IMAX version promises a dynamic visual journey, shifting between widescreen and full-frame footage. What truly sets EPiC apart is the narration: Presley’s own voice guides viewers through his incredible story, from his early days dancing to rhythm & blues, through his military service, and into his Hollywood career.
“It was Elvis determining, in the telling of his story in a way, what we should be guided by,” Luhrmann explained, highlighting the authenticity of the narrative.
Beyond the music and the moves, the film also showcases Presley’s playful side. Luhrmann suspects Elvis used humor to disarm people and put everyone at ease, despite his iconic status. “He wanted to get the best out of everyone and make everyone feel they were on the same level,” he noted.
While the film offers a glimpse into Presley’s personal life, Luhrmann deliberately minimized the inclusion of the women in Elvis’s life, out of respect for the recent passing of his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in 2023. “For Riley [Keough] that’s mum, and for Priscilla that’s her daughter,” Luhrmann said, acknowledging the sensitivity of the footage.
“Priscilla’s going to see it next week but I think they want to see it privately. It’s a sensitive thing.”
The Presley family had welcomed Luhrmann during the production of the 2022 film, making Lisa Marie’s untimely death, just five days after Austin Butler won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Elvis, a particularly poignant moment for the director.
“Having barbecues at Graceland, then Austin winning the Golden Globe and the incredible, unexpected shock of losing Lisa Marie, being around for the sadness afterwards, I’m very sensitive,” Luhrmann shared.
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is set to open Friday, offering fans old and new a chance to experience the magic of Elvis like never before.