King Creole
King Creole

Movie spotlight

King Creole

1958
Movie
116 min
English

Danny Fisher, young delinquent, flunks out of high school. He quits his job as a busboy in a nightclub, and one night he gets the chance to perform. Success is imminent and the local crime boss Maxie Fields wants to hire him to perform at his night club The Blue Shade. Danny refuses, but Fields won't take no for an answer.

Insights

IMDb7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes90%
Google Users88%
Director: Michael CurtizGenres: Crime, Drama, Musical

Plot Summary

A high school student works to support his family and escape a life of crime, but gets entangled with a local mob boss and a beautiful club singer. He finds himself torn between his desire for a legitimate future and the dangerous allure of the underworld. His choices lead him into conflict with rival gangs and put his relationships with loved ones at risk.

Critical Reception

King Creole is widely regarded as one of Elvis Presley's best films, often cited as his 'Citizen Kane.' Critics praised Presley's dramatic performance, showcasing a depth beyond his usual musical roles. The film successfully blended drama and musical numbers, offering a grittier portrayal of youth delinquency.

What Reviewers Say

  • Elvis Presley delivers a surprisingly strong and mature dramatic performance.

  • The film effectively balances musical numbers with a compelling crime drama narrative.

  • Praised for its darker tone and more complex characterizations compared to other Presley films.

Google audience: Audience reviews consistently highlight Elvis Presley's acting prowess, noting his ability to convey genuine emotion and depth. Many appreciate the film's compelling storyline and the integration of music, which adds to the overall impact.

Fun Fact

Director Michael Curtiz, famous for directing 'Casablanca,' initially disliked Elvis Presley and found his performances unprofessional, but was eventually won over by Presley's dedication and talent during the filming of King Creole.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
moard

moard

In this outing, Presley plays Danny Fisher, a kid from New Orleans. Danny is a troubled youth, and is hired by not one, but two nightclubs as a singer. This is Presley’s finest attempt at real acting.

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Holyrood certainly didn't stint on the resources it put into this outing for Elvis. Michael Curtis took the helm and Harold Robbins provided the original novel as we follow the escapades of "Danny Fisher". He is a skint college flunkey who ...

Wuchak

Wuchak

_**Elvis living on Bourbon St. in New Orleans**_ In New Orleans, Danny Fisher (Presley) fails to graduate high school for the second time and so uses his singing talents at nightclubs to provide for his destitute father and sister. Walte...

John Chard

John Chard

Elvis Noir as Rock N Roll comes to the King Creole. King Creole is directed by Michael Curtiz and adapted to screenplay by Herbert Baker and Michael V. Gazzo from the novel A Stone for Danny Fisher written by Harold Robbins. It stars Elv...