King Creole

King Creole
Paramount Pictures (corporate author) · Public domain · source
Name	King Creole
Director	Michael Curtiz
Producer	Hal B. Wallis
Starring	Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau

King Creole is a 1958 American musical drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, and Walter Matthau. The film is based on the 1952 novel A Stone for Danny Fisher by Harold Robbins, which was inspired by the life of Salvatore Maranzano, an Italian-American Mafia boss. The movie features Elvis Presley as the main character, Danny Fisher, a young man who gets involved with a New Orleans crime boss, Shark, played by Walter Matthau. The film also stars Carolyn Jones as Nellie, a beautiful and alluring woman who becomes the object of Danny Fisher's affections, alongside Vic Morrow and Paul Stewart.

Introduction

The film King Creole was released in 1958, during the height of Elvis Presley's popularity, and was one of his most successful films, grossing over $2 million at the box office. The movie was filmed on location in New Orleans and features a mix of jazz, blues, and rock and roll music, showcasing Elvis Presley's unique vocal style, which was influenced by artists such as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Big Mama Thornton. The film's success can be attributed to the combination of Elvis Presley's charisma, the talented cast, including Dean Jagger and Liliane Montevecchi, and the direction of Michael Curtiz, who had previously worked with James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart.

Background

The novel A Stone for Danny Fisher by Harold Robbins was published in 1952 and was a bestseller, attracting the attention of Hal B. Wallis, a renowned film producer who had worked with Cecil B. DeMille and Billy Wilder. Wallis saw the potential for a film adaptation and acquired the rights to the novel, which was then adapted into a screenplay by Herbert Baker and Michael V. Gazzo, with input from Harold Robbins and Elvis Presley himself. The film was produced by Hal B. Wallis and Michael Curtiz, who had previously collaborated on films such as Casablanca and White Christmas, and features a talented cast, including Dolores Hart and Brian G. Hutton.

Plot

The film King Creole tells the story of Danny Fisher, a young man who gets involved with a New Orleans crime boss, Shark, played by Walter Matthau. Danny Fisher is a talented singer who performs at a local New Orleans club, where he meets Nellie, a beautiful and alluring woman who becomes the object of his affections. However, Nellie is also involved with Shark, who is a ruthless and cunning crime boss, associated with the Chicago Outfit and Lucky Luciano. As Danny Fisher becomes more deeply embroiled in Shark's criminal activities, he must navigate the dangers of the New Orleans underworld, which is inhabited by characters such as Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel.

Music

The film King Creole features a mix of jazz, blues, and rock and roll music, showcasing Elvis Presley's unique vocal style, which was influenced by artists such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Chuck Berry. The soundtrack includes classic songs such as Trouble, King Creole, and Hard Headed Woman, which were written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and have since become Elvis Presley's signature tunes, alongside other hits like Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock. The music in the film was performed by Elvis Presley and a talented group of musicians, including Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana, who had previously worked with Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.

Reception

The film King Creole was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $2 million at the box office and receiving positive reviews from critics, including Bosley Crowther of The New York Times and Variety. The film's success can be attributed to the combination of Elvis Presley's charisma, the talented cast, and the direction of Michael Curtiz, who had previously worked with James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. The film has since become a classic of American cinema, alongside other films such as Rebel Without a Cause and The Wild One, which were influenced by the French New Wave and Italian Neorealism.

Legacy

The film King Creole has had a lasting impact on popular culture, influencing films such as West Side Story and The Godfather, which were directed by Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese. The film's music has also had a lasting impact, with songs such as Trouble and King Creole becoming Elvis Presley's signature tunes, alongside other hits like Heartbreak Hotel and Suspicious Minds. The film has been recognized as a classic of American cinema by the Library of Congress and the National Film Registry, alongside other films such as Casablanca and 2001: A Space Odyssey, which were directed by Stanley Kubrick and Orson Welles. Category:1958 films