King Creole (1958)

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Widely regarded as Elvis Presley's best film, 'King Creole' was originally called 'A Stone for Danny Fisher'(based on a novel) with James Dean in the lead role, but the project was shelved in 1955 following Dean's tragic death. This film was what could happen when you gave Presley a serious role with top quality actors around him such as Dean Jagger and Walter Matthau. Presley plays Danny Fisher, a 19 year old in a struggling family of three (he, his sister and their bumbling, struggling father Dean Jagger - who played Mr Land in Game of Death 20 years later.) Danny becomes a nightclub singer at New Orleans dive 'The King Creole' and turns the joint into the hottest club on Bourban Street, much to the annoyance of rival nightclub owner and local mobster Maxi Fields (Matthau) who attempts several underhand tactics to get Danny to join HIS Club as the singer, including having Danny's father beaten up and hospitilized so that he can take care of the medical fees, get Danny onside while also have something over his head - for it was Danny's gang who performed the mugging. In the midst of it all, Danny is torn between two lovers (a typical theme for later Presley movies!) including young Delores Hart (his 'Loving You' co-star.) and Carolyn Jones - Maxi's unhappy girlfriend. The result of it all is a bloodied combat as Danny tries to battle his way -and Carolyn Jones way - out of the mob gang and the lifestyle, so that in the end he can return to the King Creole. Again this is not MY personal favourite Elvis movie, same as 'Loving You', despite their high regard...Presley won rave reviews for his performance and this was the kind of role he craved but would rarely get upon his return from the Army in 1960.

King Creole is actually a good movie with pretty good story. It's one of Elvis' best films. The movie is a crime-drama with some hip-shaking songs thrown into the mix. The singing in the film is actually a part of the story line since the character Danny is a singer - it's not just some random musical interlude which is the case with most of Elvis' movies.The soundtrack is actually a nice one if you like Elvis and the songs fit the movie very well. Although the music is not the only reason to watch or ignore the film.King Creole is a must see for Elvis fans and movie goers alike. It is one of Elvis' best film and character roles.And let's not forget that Carolyn Jones is in this flick! Another reason to watch the film! She is great in this movie as the "floozy" Ronnie that Danny falls for.9/10

This is not your typical Elvis movie!!! It is pretty dark, not the light hearted romps that most of his movies are, and the songs are few and I guess because this takes place in New Orleans, they are bluesy. Which I think Elvis had a great voice and presence for the blues. Walter Matthau plays the heavy here. He has the stereotypical Hollywood gangster image. A woman beating, murderer. Carolyn Jones, well before the Addams Family, plays the gangsters girl and she looks pretty good and acts well. The family dynamics of Elvis's screen family, the Fisher's, is a little weird. The actress playing the sweet kind of naive girlfriend is nice to see compared to today's way too smart about everything young girl roles that get cast now.

Made early in his career when he was still bursting with promise and not strait-jacketed by an image this is the best film Elvis ever made and probably his best performance. Based on one of Harold Robbins few good novels the film gives him a real character to play and shows that had he been allowed he could have progressed to becoming a fine actor. I'm not trying to knock him, in most of his films he's an enjoyable presence but except for Wild in the Country and this none of them required much in the way of stretching his ability.While he is memorable in the lead there are several other factors that help make this such a strong picture. Chief among them is the presence of the master of any genre Curtiz in the director's chair lending his firm hand to keep the film focused and compelling. Something else that adds to this is the cast. Elvis usually was supported by one sometimes two strong veteran actors or actresses but here the film is loaded to the rafters with talent. Walter Matthau, Dean Jagger, Paul Stewart, Vic Morrow and Dolores Hart all contribute strongly to the texture of the film with best in show honors going to Carolyn Jones as a fragile, damaged woman with a good heart. It's a standard role but she makes something quite lovely out of it.