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Super-8 Magic Of '77 - The Fan-video DVDS.

Both fan-footage DVDs run about 2 ½ hours each, and of the total of five hours of footage an incredible 2 hours is previously unreleased.

With all the footage coming from fan-held video cameras you cannot expect great quality throughout, although the quality here has been improved on any of the clips I have seen before. Of course much of it is shot too far away, or blurred, but it is what one has to expect from home-video.

The vision is lip-synced to the concert audio throughout although due to the nature of the footage (most cameras held hardly any length of film in those days) the majority of songs have to be very short clips.
There is also no ‘song selection’ option on any of the concert, presumably due to this.

To pad out between available camera video there is a liberal use of panning-shots through the audience which at times become repetitive. However watching the various film-footage edited together and with lip-synced audio is far more enjoyable than previous poor-quality versions I have seen (and bought!).


Incredibly the fan-footage uses some multiple camera angles where this is possible! This is astounding and the first time I have seen this done with this kind of material.

The most fascinating material for everyone will probably be the final two concerts of Cincinnati (21 minutes) and Indianapolis (37 minutes) where away from the stress of the CBS cameras Elvis is far more relaxed and in great form.

Cincinnati highlights include 'Unchained Melody' some amazingly good quality camera footage at times - plus the 2-camera angles used for the end of ‘My Way’ – amazing video for fan-footage.


 
Indianapolis features some surprisingly good quality material - more 2-camera angles where possible.

 
The versions of ‘Hurt’ - includes different camera angles (right) and previously mentioned last ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ (two camera angles) and 'I Can't Stop Loving You' all show Elvis in a better state that the CBS special.
These are all great to see.


There is some very interesting and rare footage here, for instance the shows from Rochester, May 25th (20 minutes) and Binghamton May 27th (27 minutes).

Previously unseen footage such as Charlotte 20/2/77 is fascinating and other highlights I noticed were Baltimore May 29 (below right), and Macon June 1, that are new to me.


The footage from Chicago May 1st (19 minutes) and Chicago May 2 (18 minutes)(Above left) is also great to see.