Actually, this has been considered Elvis Presley's best movie that he ever made. Great directing, great writing, great cast, great music, and of course, there's Elvis. Too bad he didn't get more material like this to do. Michael Curtiz said Elvis would become a "wonderful actor." I think he was a wonderful actor. Too bad he didn't get more like this.
sharePeople deem it as one of Elvis' best because it’s a relatively dark & serious drama in The Big Easy meshed with a few of his performances. But it’s not as compelling or believable as Elvis’ better dramas, like "Kid Galahad" (1962) or “Roustabout” (1964), nor as entertaining as his more farcical movies, like “Viva Las Vegas" (1964).
The story, which came from a book by Harold Robbins, feels contrived. You have rival club owners (one good/one bad, of course) with a “sing for me or else” element and an eye-rolling subplot involving Danny’s father, a pharmacy, back alley toughs and black mail. The B&W photography doesn’t help. Hottie Liliane Montevecchi as the banana showgirl, Forty Nina, is the best part.
How anyone thinks this is the best Elvis flick is puzzling.