After watching Deadwood the inaccuracy of the costumes and style in Flaming Star was quite amusing. But after the opening sequence (which made me expect the movie to be another vehicle for Elvis' singing) I was happily surprised that the movie was so good.
shareyes it was and it's sad elvis didn't get to make more like this and love me tender. Col. Tom only saw $$$$ and used elvis when all elvis wanted was to be a respected actor and perhaps could have been if he'd stuck to flicks with roles like this and not movies where he breaks into a dumb song every 15 minutes.
Love & Peace T'
yes it was and it's sad elvis didn't get to make more like this and love me tender. Col. Tom only saw $$$$ and used elvis when all elvis wanted was to be a respected actor and perhaps could have been if he'd stuck to flicks with roles like this and not movies where he breaks into a dumb song every 15 minutes.I totally agree, this was Elvis at his best. He could have been a really good actor given half a chance. Sadly most of his films were a waste of his talent.
His performance in "Flaming Star" is probably his best. It's a shame more people aren't aware of the film, or how good in it he is.
shareAgreed.
share...Hear, hear!
I've heard that Parker was, pretty much, Elvis' downfall. I don't have all the facts on that, but how else to explain Presley's failure to land meatier roles more often than he did?
FS remains, IMHO, his top effort as an actor; but "Jailhouse Rock," "King Creole," and "Loving You" were also good items to include in his acting resume`...
It is reported that the Col. Parker turned down Barbara Streisand's request for Elvis in A Star is Born after Elvis had told her he was interested. Perhaps the movies was too close to reality for Parker.
shareFor a nice Elvis western you can also check out Charro!. It's pretty decent, spagheeti western style, well worth seeing.
shareCharro shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Flaming Star -- it's the polar opposite of a much stronger, more exciting, better directed and better acted film that Elvis genuinely done a good job in.
NOW TARZAN MAKE WAR!
Those are my faves too! I can take of leave the others, but Flaming Star and King Creole are my absolute favorites, and opened my eyes to what a great actor he could have been.
Chase: Wow. Yeah, I get it. House is adorable. I just want to hold him and never let go.
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I'm glad this was my first Elvis Presley film then. I saw it on tcm as a teenager and didn't listen to Elvis nor did I know he even did films. I was surprised how good of an actor he was. Of course after this mew Elvis film, I'm a huge fan of Elvis now and have seen all of his films. And I agree, he was at his very best here!
shareIf I remember correctly, this is the only Elvis movie released in which he didn't break into song even once. (The songs that were planned were not included in the final editing of the film.) I love Elvis' voice and I enjoyed most all of his movies, but this was definitely, in my opinion, his best.
shareI watched it today for the first time. When I realized that I was thinking "Pacer" and not "Elvis" I knew he had done a great job! I liked it quite a bit. Nice surprise for me today!
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but he does break into song right in the first scene.
wasn't charro the only movie where he didn't sing? i mean, he does the title song, but he doesn't sing *during* the movie, right?
You're right, no songs at all except for the main title theme in "Charro!".
Tabby S.
Yes, Elvis sang onscreen in one scene of FS (but JUST ONE!); but it was nothing like breaking into song as in a musical. It was more like his character was simply entertaining the company at his home, and that's pretty much it.
shareIalso was pleasantly surprised at Elvis' acting and agree this was one of his best. He was such an attractive man and had the abilities to become a good actor.
Regarding, "A Star Is Born"...I believe the Colonel wanted Elvis to have top billing in the movie. When Ms. Streisand said no, he said no. I wonder if Elvis even knew about this?
It is a nice surprise to watch Elvis act & I only wish he could've surprised us more often in quality acting roles like this. He could've been a good actor !
shareElvis also missed out on playing the Ricky Nelson role in Rio Bravo for the same reason. Can you believe that a singer (even if it is Elvis) would think they deserve top billing over John Wayne in a western?
shareThat's right & he also could've been in Thunder Road, Elvis was the first choice for the role of the mechanic brother. It was a supporting role but it would've been great to see Elvis & Robert Mitchum in a movie. I don't know why Elvis had to have top billing his first movie he was 3rd billed under Richard Egan.
shareElvis wasn't considered for a role in Rio Bravo, but Robert Mitchum asked him to be in Thunder Role. Tom Parker didn't like the material and outpriced Elvis into the bargain. Elvis accepted this kind of management, and often to his detriment. What happens with A Star is Born is a different matter, given that Elvis is said to have been initially keen, but then resigned himself from the challenge of acting again. Thus, he had Parker concoct terms that wouldn't be met.
NOW TARZAN MAKE WAR!
I believe Mitchum approached Elvis to play the main character actually. And Elvis was interested. Mitchum only played the older brother to his own son when he couldn't get Elvis.
Another film that was rewritten by Tennessee Williams for Elvis was The Fugitive Kind. It was directed by Sidney Lumet who approached the Colonel because they both wanted Elvis for the role, the Colonel of course turned it down. So instead they got Marlon Brando but if you watch it, the role really was a perfect fit for Elvis and Brando is out of place in it. Lumet lamented after the film was released what Elvis could've done with such a role. Baz Luhrmann really did his homework for the new film, a famous quote from The Fugitive Kind that was written for Elvis is on the new Elvis film.
Then you should also count Change of Habit as well.
shareDid he sing in Charro?
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