Well, if you are looking for a fluffy Elvis Presley musical with lots of dancing and hip gyrating, you have come to the wrong movie. Naturally, there is a certain amount of Elvis gyration, but it is much less of a focal point for this film as compared to many others. If, however, you are looking for a riveting drama in which you get the added bonus of Elvis proving that he can act as well as sing, then look no further. This is a solid film.
King Creole is based on the Harold Robbins novel, “A Stone For Danny Fisher,” the story of a tough young man from Bourbon Street, New Orleans. His name is Danny Fisher (Presley), and he works as a busser in a nightclub to help support his family. After being thrown out of high school, Danny gets in with a bad bunch of guys and agrees to help them rob a five and dime store by singing in order to create a diversion. It is during this robbery that he meets Nellie (Dolores Hart). Danny soon becomes so smitten with her that he decides to go straight. But it’s not easy to escape a dark past. Danny had previously encountered Ronnie (Carolyn Jones – who you may recognise as Morticia from the television series, The Addams Family), the girlfriend of the nightclub’s mobster owner Maxie Fields (Walter Matthau). As a result of this meeting, Danny finds himself put on the spot, forced to prove to Fields that he can sing. Danny’s singing so impresses Charlie LeGrand (Paul Stewart), owner of the failing King Creole Club – who happened to be in Fields’ club checking out the competition – that he offers Danny a job. Taking full advantage of his big break, Danny finds himself in demand, with even Fields trying to hire Danny to sing in his club. Of course, it’s not always a good thing to be the object of a gangland boss’ attention, and Danny finds himself under pressure.
This film, by veteran director Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, White Christmas, and Yankee Doodle Dandy ) is packed with catchy tunes, from the bluesy “Trouble” to the ballad “As Long As I Have You”. We are even treated in the title track “King Creole” to some fancy guitar playing by Elvis. There is also a particularly sexy number “Banana” performed by Forty Nina (Liliane Montevecchi), wearing a costume that shows off her gorgeous long legs to perfection.
And, yes, Elvis can act. It’s a pleasure to see an Elvis film with plenty of music plus a story that’s substantial enough to support real, live acting by Presley and his supporting cast.
Those who know Elvis movies as nothing but singing, dancing and silliness might take a while to adjust to King Creole, but once you do, you’ll realize that this is definitely one for your collection.
