Flaming Star

Starring:Elvis Presley, Steve Forrest, Barbara Eden, Dolores del Rio, John McIntire, Rodolfo Acosta, Karl Swenson, Ford Rainey, Richard Jaeckel, Anne Benton, L.Q. Jones, Douglas Dick, Tom Reese, Marian Goldina, Tom Fadden, Lon Ballantyne, Roy Jenson, Griswold Green, Pat Hogan, Charles Horvath
Director: Don Siegel
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Definitely a contender for the underwhelming title of Best Elvis Movie, this handsomely shot Western actually makes Elvis act, rather than coast on his personality. (As though to underscore the point, the two obligatory songs are dispensed with under the opening credits and in the first scene.) Don Siegel was probably the best director the King ever worked with, and he draws a quietly smoldering performance from Elvis, who was still undeniably raw. Even better, Siegel captures an existential starkness to homestead and town, and calmly makes a pro-Native American case without preaching (Elvis plays a half-breed caught between sides in an Indian vs. settlers dustup). Yes, this was 30 years before Dances with Wolves--there were actually quite a few such movies during this era. All in all, a decent picture, and an indication of where Elvis's career might have gone if he hadn't given himself over to fluff. --Robert Horton

Description

West Texas in the years after the Civil War is an uneasy meeting ground of two cultures, one white. The other native American. Elvis portrays Pacer Burton. The son of a white rancher (John McIntire) and his beatiful Kiowa Indian wife (Dolores DelRio). When fighting breaks out between the settlers and natives, Pacer tries to act as a peace maker, but the "flaming star of death" pulls him irrevocably into the deadly violence.

Customer Reviews:

Western with a difference.......2007-03-29

For Elvis fans this shows the King in a serious role as a half caste neither accepted by his white counterparts or the Indian comunnity. For its time it is a good account of how predudice can influence the opions of all. For classic movie lovers it is well worth seeeing as the cast in general is excellent (Steve Forrest, Dolores del Rio) and the story does have merrit. It is a good western and for Elvis fans a tear jerker as "Pacer" rides off in the sunset to die. 97 mins of entertainment.

Flaming Star .......2007-03-08

This is one of Elvis's best movies. A movie the whole family can enjoy on a Saturday night.

Surprisingly good movie and performance.......2007-02-02

I can only concur with all the praise I am reading in these other reviews. I was completely unprepared for how good this movie is. I watched it only because it was an Elvis movie. During the credits, I wondered that there were only 2 songs listed. "How can that be?" But the songs were over 5 minutes into the film, and the rest was a masterful and suspenceful drama that I absolutely didn't expect to see.

The actors are all excellent. There wasn't anyone who seemed to be faking it or just going through the motions. Elvis is very believable in this role, and there are no excuses or apologies made for the feelings of anyone in the movie. This movie shows very much the ugliness that can happen when things go wrong and people band together based on color or background. Pacer, his mother, and their whole family are basically victims caught in the web of prejudice and hatred from *both* the white settlers and the Native-Americans who are protecting their land.

Despite the standard day-for-night shooting, there are some wonderful images in the film, such as the sequence where Pacer's wounded mother struggles across the windy and bare fields near their house. It seems almost allegorical the way the wind and dirt swirl and impede her progress, and she stumbles and struggles to push her way forward, across land that in previous scenes seemed friendly and bucolic. When her husband rushes out to look for her, I felt actual physical pain in my chest from his terror that she would be lost and dying in the bare soil of this land that he had tended for 20 years, and that now seemed like an enemy to him for it hid from him what he loved. Truly an amazing sequence from an excellent director.

Only film that they let him 'act' instead of alot of singing.......2006-10-08

This film showed Elvis's ability as an actor, the only one that ever did. Most of his films were chasing women, and singing. This and Blue Hawaii, to me, are the best. The theme 'Flaming Star', I really felt applied to him at his death...think of his life, and listen to the words....

Flaming Star is not just a great Elvis movie.......2006-08-13

It's a great movie, period! I just saw it in Cinemascope at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood last night and I was stunned by its excellence. I've often heard that this movie proved that Elvis could "act" but I've always been skeptical. I assumed the movie would be full of histrionic treacle and have studiously avoided it.

Big mistake. This movie is first rate, of the highest order. Elvis has gotten knocked over the years for not making more movies like "Flaming Star". But, when you really think about it, NO ONE made movies like "Flaming Star", in any era!

The movie starts tragically and continues it's ever-widening downward spiral until the very end! There's not a light moment in the picture (excluding the very first scene) and it's to be commended for not pulling any punches. Shakespeare didn't write tragedy any better than this.

That is why "Flaming Star" is so satisfying. It stands apart from just about any film you can think of. I LIKE tragedy and would like to see more of it. But, evidently, tragedy doesn't sell and that's why Hollywood stays away from it.

Not only does Elvis play the role of the half-breed Pacer perfectly but he is well-suited to the part. Marlon Brando would not have been a good choice. Elvis looks the part of a half-breed and resembles his Indian "brothers" as much or more than his "real" white brother.

Not enough has been said here at Amazon about the superb perfomances by John McIntire and Steve Forrest in this film. I've seen both of them a million times in films and it's hard to get excited about either one of them. But, in "Flaming Star", their performances are dead-on. They are well-cast and letter perfect in their roles.

Barabara Eden and Delores Del Rio are also superb. Don Siegal knew what he wanted out of all of the actors in this picture and he got what he wanted, in spades.

GREAT film! You don't have to be an Elvis fan to admire it.

Average customer rating:

Western with a difference
Flaming Star
Surprisingly good movie and performance
Only film that they let him 'act' instead of alot of singing
Flaming Star is not just a great Elvis movie

Flaming Star
Starring: Elvis Presley , Steve Forrest , Barbara Eden , Dolores del Rio , and John McIntire
Director: Don Siegel
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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