King Creole

Starring:Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau, Dolores Hart, Dean Jagger, Liliane Montevecchi, Vic Morrow, Paul Stewart, Jan Shepard, Brian G. Hutton, Jack Grinnage, Dick Winslow, Raymond Bailey, Candy Candido, Walter Merrill, Blanche Thomas, Kay Haydn, Lilyan Chauvin, John Indrisano, Kitty White
Director: Michael Curtiz
Studio: Paramount Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Before his handlers convinced him to settle for the safety of a screen franchise, the young Elvis Presley harbored riskier dreams as an actor, not just a star. This 1958 drama, his fourth feature outing, hints at the underlying seriousness of that goal. Presley plays Danny Fisher, a New Orleans teenager struggling to graduate from high school while working in a sleazy French Quarter club to support his family. He's also characterized as a troubled youth with a dangerous temper and feelings of shame and resentment toward his meek, unemployed father (Dean Jagger). When Danny's gift for singing provides him with a potential career break (and the requisite excuse for Elvis's production numbers), his involvement with a ruthless gangster (Walter Matthau) and his sultry, alcoholic moll (Carolyn Jones) soon threatens both his future and his family.

That story line, with Danny torn between a budding romance with a good waitress (Dolores Hart) and the bad moll, Ronnie (Jones), proves as effective as it is predictable, hardly surprising given its source in an early Harold Robbins bestseller. But King Creole also boasts an impressive production pedigree (including the team behind no less a classic than Casablanca, producer Hal Wallis and director Michael Curtiz), and the supporting cast helps elicit one of Presley's most emotional performances. Jones in particular rises above her role's inherent clichés, her self-loathing and sexuality both palpable. Presley, still a few years away from the more sanitized image that would be integral to those franchise features, is young enough to be a credible teen, but more crucially he makes his rage and yearning largely convincing.

Amazon.com

Before his handlers convinced him to settle for the safety of a screen franchise, the young Elvis Presley harbored riskier dreams as an actor, not just a star. This 1958 drama, his fourth feature outing, hints at the underlying seriousness of that goal. Presley plays Danny Fisher, a New Orleans teenager struggling to graduate from high school while working in a sleazy French Quarter club to support his family. He's also characterized as a troubled youth with a dangerous temper and feelings of shame and resentment toward his meek, unemployed father (Dean Jagger). When Danny's gift for singing provides him with a potential career break (and the requisite excuse for Elvis's production numbers), his involvement with a ruthless gangster (Walter Matthau) and his sultry, alcoholic moll (Carolyn Jones) soon threatens both his future and his family.

That story line, with Danny torn between a budding romance with a good waitress (Dolores Hart) and the bad moll, Ronnie (Jones), proves as effective as it is predictable, hardly surprising given its source in an early Harold Robbins bestseller. But King Creole also boasts an impressive production pedigree (including the team behind no less a classic than Casablanca, producer Hal Wallis and director Michael Curtiz), and the supporting cast helps elicit one of Presley's most emotional performances. Jones in particular rises above her role's inherent clichés, her self-loathing and sexuality both palpable. Presley, still a few years away from the more sanitized image that would be integral to those franchise features, is young enough to be a credible teen, but more crucially he makes his rage and yearning largely convincing.

Customer Reviews:

KING CREOLE - ELVIS PRESLEY.......2007-07-04

This was Elvis Presley's FAVORITE FILM made of all his films. His acting is superior and I enjoyed this very much.....noting the great potential Elvis had to become a major motion picture star, had he been offered better acting roles, which he begged for, but was never allowed by Colonel Parker, his Manager. It is no secret that Elvis was most unhappy with the simple roles he was given only to use his voice and good looks...which made lots of money, but which left him disillusioned, dissatisied and unhappy throughout his motion picture career. If you are an Elvis Fan you will appreciate his acting in this film and the great potention he had.....sadly, that Elvis' "unhappiness" was not the concern of the Colonel's BUT THE MONEY was foremost. Thanks for taking the time to read this. ENJOY THE FILM

A CLASSIC.......2007-07-03

Before Elvis was drafted, he was an incredibly uninhibited performer, ideally suited to his medium. This film, along with Jailhouse Rock, Loving You, and Love Me Tender, featured classic Elvis, as he was creating his persona. The "inside" interplay between Elvis and Scotty Moore during a guitar solo is worth the price of the whole production. It's a "must" for any pop/rock music fan.
Tony Horowitz

music is life.......2007-02-28

I'm 60+ and brought this for my male-friend who loved the music on the CD because he had seen the movie in his youth.

I had never seen the movie up until now, but I think of all the Elvis movies made, the DVD had the best music of all the films Elvis made. Up until his mention my favorite was G. I. Blues.

Musically I'd stick with Elvis's 68 Comeback DVD: the black leather program shown on TV way back when.

The only one that sticks in my memory that I don't have is "Jailhouse Rock," in black & white, I beleive.

A very good movie(4 stars on the Elvis scale).......2006-07-28

Probably 3 on a standard scale. But lets face it, he gets an extra star because of his charisma!
Elvis had limited acting abilities at best. This is one of his better efforts. They made this one before the Colonel got him wrapped up in his Frankie and Annette style movies in the 60's.
This one isn't quite as good as Jail House Rock, but it is up there.
There are also several of his classic tunes in this one that are not to be missed!

Good music, okay film.......2006-07-20

I just recently began to enjoy the music of Elvis Presley and, in doing so, decided to purchase a couple of movies to see how they were. I certainly didn't go in expecting a worthwhile film; I was pleasantly surprised at Elvis's ability to act. Don't get me wrong--he isn't worthy of notoriety based on his acting. But, in combination with his extraordinary ability to sing and captivate an audience (camera included), his movies probably shouldn't be totally ignored. I would consider them a great way to access a singing legend on film and enjoy something you can't see anymore--Elvis Presley singing songs. I particularly enjoy this movie as "Trouble" and "King Creole" are both pretty good songs (from a vocal standpoint, anyway) especially being movie tunes. Good, but not great.

Lights! Camera! Elvis! Collection (Blue Hawaii/Easy Come, Easy Go/Fun in Acapulco/G.I. Blues/Girls! Girls! Girls!/King Creole/Roustabout/Paradise Hawaiian Style)

Average customer rating:

Lights! Camera! Elvis! Collection (Blue Hawaii/Easy Come, Easy Go/Fun in Acapulco/G.I. Blues/Girls! Girls! Girls!/King Creole/Roustabout/Paradise Hawaiian Style)
Starring: Elvis Presley
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Musicals & Performing Arts | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Elvis - The Hollywood Collection (Charro / Girl Happy / Kissin' Cousins / Live a Little, Love a Little / Stay Away, Joe / Tickle Me)
Elvis Presley MGM Movie Legends Collection (Clambake / Frankie and Johnny / Follow That Dream / Kid Galahad)
Jailhouse Rock (Deluxe Edition)
This Is Elvis (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Viva Las Vegas (Deluxe Edition)

ASIN: B000QUU7LQ
Release Date: 2007-08-07

Average customer rating:

King Creole
Starring: Minta Durfee Arbuckle , Val Avery , Raymond Bailey , Franklin Farnum , and Jack Grinnage
Director: Michael Curtiz
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: 630583783X
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Average customer rating:

KING CREOLE - ELVIS PRESLEY
A CLASSIC
music is life
A very good movie(4 stars on the Elvis scale)
Good music, okay film

King Creole
Starring: Elvis Presley , Carolyn Jones , Walter Matthau , Dolores Hart , and Dean Jagger
Director: Michael Curtiz
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

G.I. Blues
Blue Hawaii
Roustabout
Girls Girls Girls (1962)
Fun in Acapulco

ASIN: 6305837805
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Amazon.com

That story line, with Danny torn between a budding romance with a good waitress (Dolores Hart) and the bad moll, Ronnie (Jones), proves as effective as it is predictable, hardly surprising given its source in an early Harold Robbins bestseller. But King Creole also boasts an impressive production pedigree (including the team behind no less a classic than Casablanca, producer Hal Wallis and director Michael Curtiz), and the supporting cast helps elicit one of Presley's most emotional performances. Jones in particular rises above her role's inherent clichés, her self-loathing and sexuality both palpable. Presley, still a few years away from the more sanitized image that would be integral to those franchise features, is young enough to be a credible teen, but more crucially he makes his rage and yearning largely convincing.

Customer Reviews:

KING CREOLE - ELVIS PRESLEY.......2007-07-04

A CLASSIC.......2007-07-03

music is life.......2007-02-28

A very good movie(4 stars on the Elvis scale).......2006-07-28

Good music, okay film.......2006-07-20

Average customer rating:

King Creole [Region 2]
Starring: Elvis Presley , Carolyn Jones , Walter Matthau , Dolores Hart , and Dean Jagger
Director: Michael Curtiz
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00005UO5R

Average customer rating:

King Creole
Starring: King Creole
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000MV906W
Release Date: 2007-02-13

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