Aloha From Hawaii and 68 Comeback DVDs

This article has been updated with new information received today (April 7) and with DVD running times removed after EPE's Tod Morgan made a statement (See full reply below) regarding this "Both figures cited by this journalist are inaccurate and exaggerated. He must have misunderstood what he was told by BMG."

BMG and EPE is scheduled to release "The '68 Comeback" and "Aloha From Hawaii" deluxe-edition DVD's on June 22.

Both DVD sets will have special packaging and will contain all the previously released material plus previously unreleased material all specially presented in newly re-edited and re-mastered form. In the case of the 1968 special, so much footage was shot from which to assemble the original TV show that the previously unreleased component of the '68 TV special DVD will be particularly significant.

"The '68 Comeback" will be a three-disc set and contain never-before-seen performances, the original unedited TV special as it aired and all the outtakes from the skits.

"Aloha From Hawaii" will be a double-DVD with previously unreleased material and content. Very quickly, the content on the Aloha will be the entire Aloha rehearsal show and the entire broadcast show, both re-edited and complete. In addition, the DVD will include the complete Japanese TV intro, which shows the helicopter arrival and leads all the way to Elvis' dressing room - it's about 20 minutes in total. Also, all of the filmed footage of the bonus Hawaiian numbers will be included, from both camera sources.

Just to clarify the reediting of the shows, there are totally new camera angles, no annoying split screens, and no inserted Hawaiian numbers in between Elvis' performances. The reedited broadcast version is like a totally new show, much like the TTWII Special Edition.

Also, the Aloha utilized three recording decks when it was recorded, and each of these has a mix of different camera angles in them. Each cameraman chose what he was focusing on and then the editor "assembled" these choices on the fly and created the Aloha show. Thus, some of the initial choices might not have been the best ones or what we as fans like to see. This has now been assembled with keeping Elvis and the fans in mind, and it's been done very well.

As for the rehearsals, two cameras were used, and each bonus song has at least one complete take. Some have two and there may be one three takes, not necessarily all complete. The video is everything EPE has of these songs, video faults and all. It is not, however, every take of these songs, as the cameras only started rolling once Elvis and the band had worked the songs out enough to feel good about filming them. Thus, some of the takes from the Alternate Aloha CD will not be found here, but you will see some playful cursing by Elvis, as well as the cue card guy at the bottom of the stage. There will be two Elvis' on the screen at the same time, as the cameras were positioned to put Elvis into a specific spot on the screen in order to fit him into the Hawaiian picture montages created for the show. Thus, one Elvis will be in the left corner and the other in the right corner. It's kind of odd, but it works.

Updated with reaction Todd Morgan EPE:

We've not actually sat down and tallied up how many hours and minutes of our comprehensive '68 and Aloha sets have not ever been in release. We probably need to come up with at least an approximation sometime soon. Both figures cited by this journalist are inaccurate and exaggerated. He must have misunderstood what he was told by BMG.

This was not a big formal announcement. Just a general "what's going on" interview done with BMG. As soon as absolutely every little aspect of the '68 and Aloha DVD content is locked in and cannot change, we will do a big, formal announcement with every detail. We know that if we say anything about content and one little thing changes, we'll get crucified. We expect no problems or disappointments. Actually, the information is all typed up and ready to post as soon as every detail is finalized. No one is more anxious to get the word out than we are. It gets more exciting by the day around here as the release date approaches and the work continues into its final stages.

Source: EPE

Status of Elvis' TV Specials On DVD (Original news story from 2002)

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