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The DVD itself starts with a language selection, which is done in a pretty stylish way. This goes also for the sound-setup (Dolby 5.1 or original stereo). Now watch close, since the company info is about the only good quality movie you'll get on this DVD. The main menu gives you the choice between the complete documentary, the songs, the other footage ("Elvis in public and private") and a photo gallery. The songs-section has 3 different sub-menus, of which the second is very unclear. The first and last are better, but still you'll need a pretty large TV to be able to read (and recognize) the items properly. When the DVD entering through the song-menu, you are able to navigate from song to song, skipping the in between stuff of the documentary and after finishing a song, you end up at the song menu again (unfortunately there isn't a possibility to play all songs in a row). Being able to access the songs easily is about the only positive we can say about the DVD-production. Basically they just "threw" the video on DVD, without noticeable remastering it. Therefore the image quality is way too poor for this medium. Okay, it will not decline further, like the video did, but our video was as least as good, if not better, when we first played it. The photo gallery is just a bloody shame. The way the pictures, all stills from the actual documentary, are presented is stylish in a way, but the image quality is so poor that it really hurts your eyes. It's a shame that once again Elvis' work is treated this way. Maybe the fans should stand up and refuse to buy these half-products. Content To many the content will be well known, but for those that missed the original documentary, we give a short overview. As said in the introduction, George Klein presents this documentary. He gives you some basic information about Elvis' career, together with Elvis himself - in the form of interviews he gave later during his life. The whole is decorated with rare footage (at least at the time the original was released) and parts of TV-performances. The songs selection is pretty good, with some special, otherwise hard to get, gems like "Blue Suede Shoes", an audition version where Elvis lip-synced to his own record, and "Unchained Melody", from the CBS-tapes (1977). Especially that last one is pretty special since EPE is always ignoring this part of Elvis' career. This is understandable, since the press mostly jumps on the "fat, drugged" image of Elvis, but it is touching to see Elvis trying so hard to satisfy his audience. The documentary ends immediately after "Unchained" with the knock-out version of "All Shook Up", taken from the "NBC-special", where Elvis was probably at his best physically. The difference between these two images is almost hurting, but at least you are not left with a sad "this was the end"-feeling. Conclusion If you don't know the documentary, you should definitely get it, but be prepared for the awful production. We really hope (in vain probably) they did a better job on the other two volumes. Release Information: Company: Icestorm/ DVD Release Date: 2002 Edition Details: Region 2 PAL, Black and White / Color, Digital 5.1 Surround / multi language 

"Volume 1: Center Stage" includes Elvis' television debut on March 24, 1956 on the "Stage Show" and runs all the way through a performance of "Unchained Melody" from a 1977 TV special. Also featured is his first performance from "The Ed Sullivan Show," appearances on "The Steve Allen Show" and "The Milton Berle Show," Elvis' first (and long-lost) screen test for Paramount Pictures, and clips from the films "Love Me Tender," "Loving You," "King Creole," and "Jailhouse Rock."

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