Elvis: The Comeback Special

Elvis' manager Col. Tom Parker originally wanted Elvis to perform without any dialogue, wearing a cardigan sweater like that worn by Perry Como, in front of a fireplace and a Christmas tree, and sing 20 Christmas songs. Producer Steve Binder axed this idea and came up with the concept of Elvis' performing in a black leather outfit and entirely improvising, for two hours, with an acoustic guitar, songs he had performed in private, dressing-room sessions with his fellow musicians.

Many different edits of this special have been released to TV and video over the years. Some of these versions have their own IMDb entries under different titles. Among the more notable versions:

• The original broadcast did not include the bordello musical number "Let Yourself Go" which was edited out at the last minute. It was subsequently restored in later video and TV versions, including the 2004 DVD release.
• When NBC rebroadcast the special in 1969, it replaced the performance of "Blue Christmas" with "Tiger Man." Some versions of the special released later include both songs. The 2004 DVD version only has Blue Christmas.
• The 2006 'Special Edition' DVD version re-edited and expanded the program to 94 minutes.
• Two full-hour "sit-down" concerts and two shorter "stand-up" concerts were videotaped for use in the special. The full version of the first sit-down concert was released separately to video and TV in the 1980s as _Elvis: One Night with You (1984) (TV)_. The other 3 concerts were released to video for the first time as bonus material on the 2004 DVD release.
• Many alternate takes, false starts, bloopers, practical jokes, and run-throughs taped during shooting of the various production numbers have been included in their unedited entirely on the 2004 DVD release. The DVD also includes an alternate version of the special's closing credits without text, unedited footage of a promotional spot shot on the set, and a newly-edited music video of "If I Can Dream" created from some of the previously unseen footage.

Edited into The Story of Elvis Presley (1977)