King Creole (1958)

[Albert]

KING CREOLE

Theatrical-Release: 1958
Studio: Paramount
Director: Michael Curtiz
Producer: Hal B. Wallis
Film Length: 116 minutes
Colour/B&W: b&w





Danny Fisher - Elvis Presley
Ronnie - Carolyn Jones
Nellie - Dolores Hart
Mr. Fisher - Dean Jagger
Maxie - Walter Matthau
Shark - Vic Morrow
Charlie LeGrand - Paul Stewart




When not at school Elvis works as a busboy in a cheap nightclub called the Blue Shade, on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter.

During an all-night drinking party a couple of hoodlums force Elvis into singing a song. He does, but has to rescue Carolyn Jones from one of those guys.
She's the property of Walter Matthau, a gangster.

After a fight at school Elvis is told by the principal he will not graduate. A little later on he's asked to join a group of young hoodlums, led by Vic Morrow.
Elvis refuses.

When he gets back home his father, Dean Jagger, says he has a new job, working in the drugstore. Elvis and him have an argument.
When his father begs him to go back to school Elvis refuses.

He joins the Morrow group after all and they rob the five-and-dime store, with Elvis singing as a decoy.
Elvis arranges a date with Dolores Hart, the girl who works there.

That night, when Elvis is working the Blue Shade again, he meets up with Jones and Matthau.
Walter Matthau challenges Elvis to sing and because he's so good, he is offered a job as a singer by Paul Stewart, who owns the King Creole nightclub.

After a while Matthau wants Elvis to stop singing at the King Creole and come work for him.
Carolyn Jones warnes Elvis, not to get involved with Matthau.
So, when Elvis refuses to sing for Matthau, the criminal contacts Morrow and orders him to set up something important to get to Elvis.
During the hold-up the hoods set up, Elvis' father is hurt and goes to the hospital.

Elvis, obviously raging mad at Walter Matthau, gives him a terrible beating. The result is that every criminal in town is on the lookout for Elvis.

Right after a fight with Morrow, Carolyn Jones takes Elvis to her hide-out in the country. She helps him recover.
Of course Matthau finds them and he kills Carolyn. Matthau himself is killed by one of his own men.

Elvis returns to the King Creole and Dolores Hart and all ends well.





Filming started on January 20, 1958 and ended on March 10.

In order to make this film, Elvis obtained a 60-day deferment from the Memphis Draft Board. He finally reported for duty on March 24 at 6:35am and became private 55310761.

Working titles: "Danny" and "Sing, You Sinners".

Director Michael Curtiz directed over a 100 films during his career, including the classis "Casablanca", which starred Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.





King Creole
As Long As I Have You
Hard Headed Woman
Trouble
Dixieland Rock
Don't Ask Me Why
Lover Doll
Crawfish
Young Dreams
Steadfast Loyal And True
New Orleans


Movie Trailer:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXyge3LJkMY"]YouTube- King Creole (Trailer)[/ame]





DVD review
CD release
Pictures:www.tcb-world.com/gallery/browseimages.php?c=55&userid=

[JerryNodak]

Excellent script, direction, supporting cast and soundtrack. It's the only Elvis '50s film I like.

[Sonny]

A very good b/w fifties movie indeed!

It's almost too bad Elvis had to join the army after this, because it certainly changed his style of singing and acting.

It gives you a nice feel of how New Orleans must've been in those days and after having seen this movie you might notice how often the "Elvis balcony" shows up in other movies which are set in New Orleans.

Elvis surely did a great job because he was directed by Michael Curtiz, who directed some all time classics (before and after King Creole): Passage To Marseille (1944, Humphrey Bogart), White Christmas (Bing Crosby, 1955), The Comancheros (1961, John Wayne) to name just three out of about 172 movies Curtiz was involved with.

And of course Walter Matthau, who's always been a very solid actor.

Great movie!

[Sonny]

Updated,

Sonny

[Tommy]

This is one of my favorite movies. Great acting from Elvis and love the songs and the feel of New Orleans. I must for collectors!

Tommy

[Memphisgurl]

i have just seen this film, i thought elvis did a great job

[ELV1S]

I am a huge movie fan and critic an i have to say without a doubt Elvis' best movie in his life was 'King Creole'

the acting, not just by Elvis but the whole cast, is superb throughout.

this movie, along with probably 'Flaming Starr' and 'Jailhouse Rock' etc are the best movies to show to critics, it shuts them up completley lol

[franny]

Here's a few short clips from King Creole...

franny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC6EuX6MvXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8GWxTnTo_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKcake-3oCs

[Dovey]

Thanks for posting the clips Franny...That was one of his best movies..

[franny]

You're welcome, Dovey...I just wish those were longer clips...
I agree, I also think it was one of his best movies...

franny

[Eve]

Thanks for posting the clips Franny...That was one of his best movies..

you are right

[franny]

It's too bad he didn't do more of these type of movies, it would have been great to see!

I really enjoyed this one, the storyline and the acting are fantastic, but I also like his other movies as well!

franny

[Elvis 1972]

Wasn't James Dean lined up to star in this movie?

[Sonny]

You could be right there elvis1972.

My first thought was Marlon Brando, but then it came to mind that he was supposed to star in Flaming Star, before Elvis stepped in.

Sonny

[Elvis 1972]

I think the James Dean role would have been that of a boxer, and not a singer.

[Eve]

[jadedragon61]

Best EP film ever. Hands down.

[Lisarose]

One of my favorite Elvis movies, I loved all the songs including Crawfish, & the woman he sings it with also has an excellent voice. My favorite scene as I've stated many times, is on the balcony when he flirts with the shady lady across the alley. His sister tells him not to let Pop catch him talking to "that" & he says why not, "I'm just being neighborly, & he picked the neighborhood". This also has one of the best soundtracks of any of his movies, IMO

[Sonny]

Updated with movie trailer.

Sonny

[ricardo b. prospero]

I believe King Creole could be considered as one of the finest movie Elvis ever done. His acting was something to consider that he has the talent to become a versatile actor like his idols Marlon Brando and James Dean. Pity it never happened, he should have achieved more like Frank Sinatra and perhaps earned him more accolade besides being an accomplished rock and roll singer. Like Sonny, I ranked King Creole as the number one all time Elvis movie