Customer Reviews

Frankie & Johnny

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Elvis appeared in this lighthearted musical based on the folk song, "Frankie and Johnny". In the original song, the title characters are lovers whose romance goes awry when red-headed Nellie Bly steals Johnny away from Frankie. Frankie gets revenge by shooting Johnny dead. The movie lightens the tone of the tale by adding a few details and changing the downbeat ending. In the film, the song has been especially written for riverboat performers Frankie and Johnny, played by Donna Douglas (The Beverly Hillbillies) and Elvis Presley. Johnny is a gambler whose bad luck changes when dancer Nellie Bly, played by Nancy Kovak, joins the troupe aboard the riverboat. Each night, the three perform the number "Frankie and Johnny" onstage. As Johnny's interest in Nellie increases, so does Frankie's jealousy. One night, someone loads real bullets into Frankie's prop gun, and Johnny is shot during the performance. As luck would have it, Johnny is saved by a charm that he wears around his neck.

The film did benefit from the juicy secondary roles played by a seasoned cast of character actors which keep the film from being any less interesting. Harry Morgan, who later gained recognition on the TV series M*A*S*H played Cully the piano player. Robert Strauss, the burly villain in many crime dramas, played Blackie, the boss's stooge and Sue Ane Langdon portrayed Mitzi, the girl who is always edged out in the romance department.

Produced for United Artists by Edward Small. Released March 31, 1966. Color.

Like other Elvis Presley movies, he gets into fights. But he seems to have lost his luck in most of the 60's then he had starting in the mid to late 50's. As the movie opens, Johnny (Elvis Presley) is a riverboat singer and gambler nad his sining partner named Frankie (Douglas) won't marry him until he gives up gambling. So Johnny decides to end his losing gambling ways by getting help from a fortune teller. She tells him to get a lucky red head. And Johnny does find one in a redhead (Nancy Kovack).

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY is better than the previous two films (TICKLE ME and HARUM SCARUM), but that doesn't mean that it succeeds on all levels.

Elvis looks quite comfortable in the costumes he wears in this picture, but the lousy dialogue and dumb plotline are anything but brilliant.

The songs are okay, but nothing outstanding. Only "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" could succeed on it's own.

It's not as bad as some of the other Elvis pictures of the era, but it's not an essential addition to anyone's collection.

Frankie and Johnny (1966) 88 Min.Rated: NR Color Starring:Elvis Presley,Donna Douglas,Harry Morgan, Sue Ann Langdon, Nancy Kovack, Audrey Christie, Robert Strauss, Anthony Eisley. Director: Frederick De Cordova. Elvis is a riverboat gambler and Donna Douglas (Elly Mae-Beverly Hillbillies)is his lady love. As the headlined act (Franky & Johnny) on the paddle-wheeled steamer they should be happy cruising the Mississippi but Lady Luck (gambling)keeps luring Johnny (Elvis) to the roulette tables where he loses all his money. A fortune teller tells him that a red-headed woman will change his luck and he meets a beautiful redhead and goes on a hot winning streak. But it's not as hot as Frankie's (Donna Douglas) rage when she hears he's been "doing her wrong." Lots of songs including the title and When The Saints Go Marching In. The period sets, costumes, and Harry Morgan's performances are great also!

THE FILM IS QUITE ENTERTAINING AS A MUSICAL PIECE. LACKING ANY IN DEPTH PLOT(WHICH IS COMMON IN ALL ELVIS MOVIE)THE FILM DELIVERS PLEASANT ENTERTAINMENT AND BRILLIANT MUSICALS BY THE KING. I WOULD RECOMMED THIS FILM ONLY TO ELVIS FANS, WHO CAN TRULY APPRECIATE HIS TALENT.

A slapdash effort at recreating a folk legend, the story of Frankie and Johnny suffers in the heavy hands of the Presley machine. The only redeeming features are a couple of atmospheric numbers ("What Every Woman Lives For" and "Hard Luck"), and Harry Morgan's deft comedy timing. Even the old chestnuts "When the Saints.." and "Down by the Riverside" get a workout to try and fire up the action, with little success.