Review of King Creole

Widely regarded as Elvis Presley's best film, 'King Creole' was originally called 'A Stone for Danny Fisher'(based on a novel) with James Dean in the lead role, but the project was shelved in 1955 following Dean's tragic death. This film was what could happen when you gave Presley a serious role with top quality actors around him such as Dean Jagger and Walter Matthau. Presley plays Danny Fisher, a 19 year old in a struggling family of three (he, his sister and their bumbling, struggling father Dean Jagger - who played Mr Land in Game of Death 20 years later.) Danny becomes a nightclub singer at New Orleans dive 'The King Creole' and turns the joint into the hottest club on Bourban Street, much to the annoyance of rival nightclub owner and local mobster Maxi Fields (Matthau) who attempts several underhand tactics to get Danny to join HIS Club as the singer, including having Danny's father beaten up and hospitilized so that he can take care of the medical fees, get Danny onside while also have something over his head - for it was Danny's gang who performed the mugging. In the midst of it all, Danny is torn between two lovers (a typical theme for later Presley movies!) including young Delores Hart (his 'Loving You' co-star.) and Carolyn Jones - Maxi's unhappy girlfriend. The result of it all is a bloodied combat as Danny tries to battle his way -and Carolyn Jones way - out of the mob gang and the lifestyle, so that in the end he can return to the King Creole. Again this is not MY personal favourite Elvis movie, same as 'Loving You', despite their high regard...Presley won rave reviews for his performance and this was the kind of role he craved but would rarely get upon his return from the Army in 1960.