saturday march 27, 6pmStarring Elvis Presley, Walter Matthau, Carolyn Jones, Dolores Hart. Directed by Michael Curtiz.
(1958 115mins. B&W)
Shown in Paramount Pictures' Vault Print.
If many of the movies Elvis Presley starred in could be considered thinly scripted and perhaps under-produced excuses to showcase his singing talents, “King Creole” is different. Elvis certainly did sing in the film, but those numbers were skillfully worked into the film’s narrative. And Presley also displayed an acting ability that was only hinted at in many of his other films, giving an entertaining and compelling performance as a young man trying to find himself while finding his way between good and bad choices. Presley plays a high school drop-out working to help support his unemployed father when he falls in with a gang of teenage toughs. But since he can sing, and the owner of a struggling nightclub gives him a chance to go straight and perhaps even make it big. Yet he soon finds himself being pulled into the corrupt world of a local mob boss who runs a successful nightclub and wants Presley to work for him. Presley also has to make a choice between his true love and the good-girl-gone-wrong moll of the mob boss.The film is greatly aided by good performances from Walter Matthau, who plays a very effective heavy as the mob boss, and a pre-“Addams Family” Carolyn Jones as his reluctant moll.
Famed director Michael Curtiz gives the story polish and keeps the script moving effectively. “King Creole” unquestionably lacks the gravitas and finesse of “On the Waterfront”, but nevertheless echoes some of its themes in a lighter but still entertaining production. And Elvis’ musical numbers, which include the title song, "Hard Headed Woman," and "Trouble" are anthems of their era. Presley considered “King Creole” to be his best movie.
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