Schlock-Wire: John Carpenter and Kurt Russell's ELVIS miniseries coming to DVD!
Big news from the good folks at Shout Factory - they're putting out a double disc of ELVIS, the killer 1979 miniseries that teamed director John Carpenter (in a rare non-genre outing) with Kurt Russell, who does a fine job playing the title star. It was the first time these two worked together, thus beginning a partnership that would ultimately reward cult movie mavens with Escape From New York and Big Trouble In Little China. Read on for more details and rest assured that Schlockmania will review this when it is released...
On March 2, 2010, Experience John Carpenter and Kurt Russell’s Ultimate Tribute to
THE KING OF ROCK ’N’ ROLL
ELVIS
Golden Globe® and Multiple Primetime Emmy® Nominated Motion Picture
Starring Kurt Russell, Shelley Winters, Season Hubley, Bing Russell, Pat Hingle,
Robert Gray, Joe Mantegna and Ed Begley Jr.
THE ACCLAIMED BIOPIC FINALLY COMES TO DVD FROM SHOUT! FACTORY 
Few figures in popular culture have endured in our collective consciousness as has multi-Grammy® Award–winning artist Elvis Presley. Crowned as the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Presley’s revolutionary rockabilly music and captivating performances were as much a part of his legend as his uninhibited hip swivels, blue suede shoes, his charm and good looks. There have been motion pictures, television specials and books chronicling the roller-coaster life of Elvis Presley, and one of the most successful of these properties came in the acclaimed 1979 film ELVIS, starring Golden Globe® nominee Kurt Russell in the title role, directed by John Carpenter. This highly regarded production captures the essence of The King at a time when his many fans were still mourning his passing. Hailed by audiences as one of the most powerful and moving biographical films, ELVIS garnered a Golden Globe® nomination and multiple Emmy® nominations, including one for Kurt Russell as Outstanding Lead Actor for his incandescent performance as the King of Rock ’n’ Roll. The film also marked Carpenter and Russell’s first collaboration in what would become a legendary pairing.Timed closely to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth, Shout! Factory, in association with dick clark Productions, present ELVIS on DVD for the first time March 2, 2010. This collectible DVD features the main presentation of the movie restored from the original film elements as it was meant to be seen, as well as an array of bonus features including: “Bringing A Legend To Life,” a featurette with archival interviews of Kurt Russell and John Carpenter (1979); commentary by “The Voice Of Elvis,” Ronnie McDowell, and author Edie Hand; rare clips and captivating photo gallery. Even 33 years after his passing, Presley continues 
to burn a powerful image of rock stardom and still conquers new legions of fans through his indelible mark in worldwide pop culture. Available for the first time in the home entertainment marketplace, this long-awaited DVD debut of the film ELVIS is priced to own at $19.97.Directed by John Carpenter, the biopic of Elvis Presley stars Kurt Russell and features the voice of ’70s country music hitmaker Ronnie McDowell re-creating Presley’s signature vocals. Tracing Presley’s life from his impoverished childhood to his meteoric rise to stardom to his triumphant return to Las Vegas, this film boasts an all-star ensemble including Academy Award® winner Shelley Winters (A Place In The Sun) as Elvis’ mother Gladys; Season Hubley (All My Children) as his wife Priscilla; Kurt Russell’s real-life father Bing Russell (The Magnificent Seven) as Elvis’s father Vernon Presley; Pat Hingle (Batman) as Colonel Tom Parker; Robert Gray (Murder She Wrote) as Red West; Golden Globe nominee Joe Mantegna (Searching for Bobby Fischer) as Memphis mafia member Joe Esposito; and Golden Globe nominee Ed Begley Jr. (St. Elsewhere) as D.J. Fontana.IN-DEPTH DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
- “Bringing A Legend To Life” Featurette With Archival Interviews Of Kurt Russell And John Carpenter (1979)
- Commentary By “The Voice Of Elvis” Ronnie McDowell And Author Edie Hand
- Rare Clips From American Bandstand