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King Creole
 
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King Creole

Elvis Presley (Actor), Carolyn Jones (Actor), Michael Curtiz (Director) | Format: DVD
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)

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From Amazon.com

Before his handlers convinced him to settle for the safety of a screen franchise, the young Elvis Presley harbored riskier dreams as an actor, not just a star. This 1958 drama, his fourth feature outing, hints at the underlying seriousness of that goal. Presley plays Danny Fisher, a New Orleans teenager struggling to graduate from high school while working in a sleazy French Quarter club to support his family. He's also characterized as a troubled youth with a dangerous temper and feelings of shame and resentment toward his meek, unemployed father (Dean Jagger). When Danny's gift for singing provides him with a potential career break (and the requisite excuse for Elvis's production numbers), his involvement with a ruthless gangster (Walter Matthau) and his sultry, alcoholic moll (Carolyn Jones) soon threatens both his future and his family.

That story line, with Danny torn between a budding romance with a good waitress (Dolores Hart) and the bad moll, Ronnie (Jones), proves as effective as it is predictable, hardly surprising given its source in an early Harold Robbins bestseller. But King Creole also boasts an impressive production pedigree (including the team behind no less a classic than Casablanca, producer Hal Wallis and director Michael Curtiz), and the supporting cast helps elicit one of Presley's most emotional performances. Jones in particular rises above her role's inherent clichés, her self-loathing and sexuality both palpable. Presley, still a few years away from the more sanitized image that would be integral to those franchise features, is young enough to be a credible teen, but more crucially he makes his rage and yearning largely convincing.

Ironically, the dramatic sparks prove all the more welcome in light of the largely forgettable music, which variously plunders Chicago blues ("Trouble," a knock-off of "Hoochie Coochie Man") and unconvincingly crosses Presley's Memphis rock with Crescent City jazz ("Dixieland Rock"), all to far less effect than Presley's two preceding movies, Jailhouse Rock and Loving You. --Sam Sutherland

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Actually 4 and 1/2 Stars, But... May 14 2004
Format:DVD
I can't give that rating on Amazon. Anyway, as a lover of EP's music, and at the time only his music, I was so so so very hesitant to ever give a film of his the smallest chance, because of all the negative things I had heard. I didn't want a bad film to ruin the image that the music had created in my mind. So it was 35 years of just music, nothing else.
Then this past April 2004 I was able to make a "pilgrimage" to Memphis, specifically Graceland. While talking with an employee in one of the giftshops, she convinced me to give certain films a try, and King Creole was the one she recommended I start with. She was kind enough to also recommend a few that I must avoid at all costs, namely Girls, Girls, Girls.
If I could meet this Graceland employee again, I would thank her several times over. King Creole is a quality film that has an actual, and quasi-believable, plot. It has Elvis at his most handsome, and in black and white, that comes through even more. He gives a commendable performance, and his costars carry their weight in the film well also, esp the beautiful Carolyn Jones.
I would classify King Creole as a good overall film, and in the Elvis realm, I would consider it a great film. I think it is his best.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Reel Elvis May 11 2004
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This is more like it. A great movie, well directed and acted by all concerned.

Elvis is fantasic. He looks great, looks enthused and is enjoying working with a great cast and crew. This is just the type of movie he should have been doing but, as is known, went on to make the likes of Girls, Girls, Girls and, God help us, Speedway.

The songs are good, the story is good, it looks like money was spent on it. What a pity his stint in the Army more or less ruined his movie career. This is highly recommended along with Flaming Star and Wild in the Country.

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good elvis flick April 9 2004
Format:DVD
I would rank this as one of the better elvis films along with "love me tender" and "jailhouse rock" also recommend "loving you"
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Most recent customer reviews
Not just a great Elvis movie by any means
This is a great movie, it just so happens that Elvis Presley is the leading man, and it just so happens that Elvis Presley turned this movie into a masterpiece. Read more
Published on April 6 2004
Elvis...The Actor !!!
Finally Elvis really acts in this film,and you can tell he enjoys it.Great cast of actors and classic music.To bad he was given such bad scripts and songs later on.
Published on Jan 21 2004 by Donald J. Perrotta
Elvis' Favorite Film
He said it himself. This was Elvis' favorite film he starred in. There were several, of course, and with much more acclaim and popularity, ie. "Viva Las Vegas". Read more
Published on Jun 8 2003
AMAZING
I absolutely love this movie. It really shows Elvis's acting ability which was of course largely ignored by critics. Even if you're not an Elvis fan, you should see this one!
Published on May 18 2003
Take A Day Out of Your Life
The BEST Elvis movie which allows Elvis to show his true ability to act. The hospital scene is an example as Elvis is moving. Great lines from all the actors thru out the movie. Read more
Published on Jan 31 2003 by Deborah F. Brown
"King Creole" clearly defines Elvis' early movie career.
"King Creole" is right up there with "Jailhouse Rock" and "Loving You". The director, Michael Curtiz, was reluctant at first to do this picture. Read more
Published on Nov 1 2002 by Josh P.
THERE'S NOT MANY GREAT ELVIS FILMS, BUT THIS IS ONE!!!
Yeah, it's a little hokey - it's an Elvis flik! BUT, this one is really a joy to watch. It features Elvis at his best - his acting is strong, he looks fantastic, and the songs... Read more
Published on April 14 2002 by Coleen
I'd rather watch 3000 Miles To Graceland than this
This must have been Elvis Presley's worst movie. And when Mr. Presley was starting or doing this film, the army decided to draft him and Elvis Presley requested a 60 day brek to... Read more
Published on Jan 17 2002 by Stephen Verhaeren
great movie
king creole is elvis' best movie.it was filmed near me and my grandfather was the stuntman for the dummy when he jumped in the water to wrestle maxie.
Published on Aug 5 2001 by poopoo
Elvis Presley's personal favorite film role
"King Creole" from 1958,(the same year Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S.Army),is a good drama with a few good musical numbers thrown in. Read more
Published on Aug 17 2000 by Joe O'Brien
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