In New Orleans, Danny Fisher (Presley) fails to graduate high school for the second time and so uses his singing talents at nightclubs to provide for his destitute father and sister. Walter Matthau plays a shady nightclub baron while Carolyn Jones plays his floozy.
"King Creole" (1958) mixes the Elvis formula with B&W film noir. Despite the name, don't expect any bayous; the story takes place entirely in and around the Bourbon St. district of New Orleans.
Touted as one of the best Presley flicks because it's a relatively dark & serious Big Easy drama meshed with a few of his musical performances, it's not as compelling or believable as Elvis' better dramas, like "Kid Galahad" (1962) or "Roustabout" (1964) nor as entertaining as his more farcical movies, like "Viva Las Vegas" (1964).
The story, which came from a book by Harold Robbins, feels contrived. You have rival club owners (one good/one bad, of course) with a "sing for me or else" element and an eye-rolling subplot involving Danny's father, a pharmacy, back alley toughs and black mail. The B&W photography doesn't help. Hottie Liliane Montevecchi as the banana showgirl, Forty Nina, is the best part.
How anyone thinks this is the best Elvis flick is puzzling.
The film is overlong at 1 hour, 56 minutes; it was shot in New Orleans and Paramount Studios, California.
GRADE: C
"King Creole" (1958) mixes the Elvis formula with B&W film noir. Despite the name, don't expect any bayous; the story takes place entirely in and around the Bourbon St. district of New Orleans.
Touted as one of the best Presley flicks because it's a relatively dark & serious Big Easy drama meshed with a few of his musical performances, it's not as compelling or believable as Elvis' better dramas, like "Kid Galahad" (1962) or "Roustabout" (1964) nor as entertaining as his more farcical movies, like "Viva Las Vegas" (1964).
The story, which came from a book by Harold Robbins, feels contrived. You have rival club owners (one good/one bad, of course) with a "sing for me or else" element and an eye-rolling subplot involving Danny's father, a pharmacy, back alley toughs and black mail. The B&W photography doesn't help. Hottie Liliane Montevecchi as the banana showgirl, Forty Nina, is the best part.
How anyone thinks this is the best Elvis flick is puzzling.
The film is overlong at 1 hour, 56 minutes; it was shot in New Orleans and Paramount Studios, California.
GRADE: C