TODAYS CLASSIC FILM: KING CREOLE (1958-USA) Some may question why I would have chosen an Elvis Presley film to feature as my classic, and I am not ashamed to confess that I am a fan of the great man, yet KING CREOLE, as you will discover if you read on, is deserving of its position here. Directed by Michael Curtiz (Casablanca) and based on the novel A STONE FOR DANNY FISHER by Harold Robbins, the film is set in the seedy underworld of New Orleans. Nineteen year old Danny (Elvis) lives in an apartment with his widower father (Dean Jagger) and sister Mimi (Jan Shepard). Danny is a senior in high school in his graduation year for the second time, after flunking the previous year, though because his father is out of work, must work both before and after school, cleaning up as a bus boy in seedy bars to make ends meet. One morning whilst at work, Danny comes to the rescue of Ronnie (Carolyn Jones), an older drunken woman who is being abused by her date. She accompanies Danny to his school by cab and before he sends her home she kisses him and the Danny is taunted by one of his classmates who in kind is punched in the mouth by Danny. As a result, he is hauled before the principal and told that he would not be graduating again. Whilst working home, Danny is set upon by a delinquent gang head by Shark (Vic Morrow) and escorted down an alleyway. Shark wants revenge as it was his brother that Danny punched and after pulling a knife, is overpowered by Danny. Impressed by his quick reflexes Shark asks if he is interested in joining his gang and who a living about of petty larceny. Danny declines initially though later takes up the offer and helps rob a five and dime store by singing and causing a distraction. This does not go unnoticed by an employee Nellie (Dolores hart) but she does not turn Danny in, as she is keen on him and they arrange to see each other again. That night whilst working at the Blue Shade Club, Danny runs into Ronnie again, though she pretends not to know him as her boyfriend is with her, the owner of the club in fact, Maxie Fields (Walter Matthau), who is also an underworld figure. Maxie senses the chemistry between the two and doesnt believe that Ronnie doesnt know him and she eventually confesses that she once heard him sing a song. Maxie wants evidence and tells Danny to get up on the bar and sing for him. https://youtube/watch?v=zfkLnZhhoTY Maxie is suitably impressed, as two is another patron Charlie Le Grand (Paul Stewart) who owns the KING CREOLE nightclub on the same strip and offers Danny a job singing which he accepts. Danny becomes an overnight success which annoys Maxie who must devise a way of luring Danny away, which will have significant consequences for all. Although the film is peppered with a number of Elvis songs, they are at least in context as he is a nightclub singer, and although I will concede of all of Presleys 31 narrative based films there are only a few good ones, this is by far his best, with Elvis clearly modelling his delinquent performance on his actor idols James Dean and Marlon Brando.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 03:13:01 +0000
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