 Elvis' sixth movie was 'Flaming
Star'. A serious movie not only displaying the singer Elvis and his
songs.
Elvis plays under direction of Don Siegel (Dirty Harry) the son of a
Indian mother and a white father. Originally the role was meant to
be done by Marlon Brando. The original title of the movie was 'Black
Star', but that was changed because of commercial goals.
Pacer (Elvis
Presley) and Clint (Steve Forrest) Burton arrives at
their parents' ranch in the early evening. They are
welcomed with a surprise party for Clint's birthday by
their parents, Neddy (Dolores Del Rio) and Sam (John
Mclntire), and some friends. Among them are Tom
(L.Q.Jones) and Will (Douglas Dick) Howard and their
sister Dorothy (Anne Benton). The party breaks up early
because the Howards have a ten-mile ride. A Kiowa war
party, led by Buffalo Horn (Rudolpho Acosta), is waiting
for the Howards and everyone is killed and their ranch
burned.
A posse of white men led by Dred Pierce
(Karl Swenson) arrives at the Burtons' ranch. They
demand a declaration that the Burtons are on their side.
They insult Neddy (who is a Kiowa), which results in a
shooting incident, after which the posse shoots some of
the Burton cattle and scatters the rest. The next day
Sam and Clint go to catch the remaining of the cattle,
and Pacer stays to guard his mother. Pacer feeds two
trappers, who, while he is outside, humiliate Neddy. She
hits one with a ladle, and they fly when Pacer tells
them that Sam and Clint have returned. Pacer beats them
outside.
 Next morning Buffalo Horn arrives and
asks Pacer to join him. When Pacer refuses, he is told that his
ranch will be the next to go. He and Neddy decide to go with Buffalo
Horn to the Kiowa camp to try to stop this impending disaster for
everyone. Neddy is refused by the Kiowa but Pacer is accepted and
allowed to return home before making his decision. He and Neddy are
escorted by his boyhood friend, Two Moons (Perry Lopez) . Will
Howard has survived the massacre and is wandering the countryside,
obsessed with vengeance. He kills Two Moons and badly wounds Neddy.
At the ranch Sam takes care of his wife. But when he leaves to water
the stock, she follows some deep instinct to go into the mountains
in search of her 'Flaming star' of death. Sam sees her, and she dies
in his arms. Pacer, Clint, Roz and the doctor arrive too late. In
his grief, Pacer curses all those who delayed the doctor and decides
to join the Kiowa.
Clint, decides to fight the Indians and
attacks them in the middle of the night. He kills the chief, but
gets badly wounded. In order to save his brother Pacer leaves the
Kiowa again and ties his brother on his horse and sends him to the
city. He keeps the Indians busy until he's sure his brother is safe.
Clint wakes up in bed and wants to get up to help his brother. He
sees Pacer arriving in the city and wants to take care of him. But
Pacer, who is still too much Kiowa knows his time has come and rides
towards his flaming star.
 The film almost didn't happen. It was
based on a novel written by Clair Huffaker that was published in
1958. Pre-publication, the publisher first announced the title as
'The Brothers of Broken Lance'. They also announced that Fox had
bought the movie rights to the novel, going so far as to say that
Marlon Brando and
Frank Sinatra
would play the Burton brothers. The title changed to
'The Brothers of Flaming Arrow' and filming was to start in June of
1958. Negotiations with the actors broke down and the film, by then
named 'Flaming Lance', was put on hold until June of 1960, when it
was announced that Elvis Presley would play the lead role of Pacer
Burton.
By August of 1960 another title change took the film
from 'Flaming Lance' to 'Flaming Heart', which became 'Black Heart'
and then 'Black Star'. Elvis recorded the title song 'Black
Star' before the final title change to 'Flaming Star' and
then had to re-record the title song to fit the final change.
Elvisreported for
pre-production work on August 1, 1960 and began two
weeks of riding lessons to increase his riding skills.
He was thrown once while practicing, but wasn't hurt.
Elvis would own and enjoy riding horses for the rest of
his life. On August 4, 1960 blue-eyed Elvis was fitted
for brown contact lenses for his role as Pacer Burton, a
character who was Caucasian, half Native American.
Ultimately, he would not the use them in the role.
 On August 16, 1960 principle
photography began. Interior scenes were shot on the Fox stage while
exteriors were shot at locations in the San Fernando Valley,
including the Conejos Movie Ranch near Thousand Oaks. Elvis's friend
and entourage member Red West had a small uncredited role as an
Native American. Red injured his arm in a fight scene.
Shooting for 'Flaming
Star' wrapped up by October 4th and Elvis went into the
recording studio on the 7th to re-record the title song,
using the final title name 'Flaming Star'. On November
23 and 25, 1960 polls taken at advance screenings of the
film showed that the audiences preferred that two of the
songs originally recorded for the film be left out of
the final print. As a result, the songs 'Britches' and
'Summer Kisses, Winter Tears' were cut from the movie.
The movie opened nationwide on December 22, 1960. It was
#12 on the National Box Office Survey for that week. The
movie which focused on the complications of a bi-racial
family was banned in South Africa due to the strict laws
of racial separation there. Elvis was honored by a
tribal council for his positive portrayal of a Native
American.
Actor Steve Forrest played Clint
Burton, half brother to Elvis' character Pacer. Steve
Forrest was born William Forrest Andrews and his brother
is actor Dana Andrews. In 1954, Mr. Forrest shared a
Golden Globe Award as Most Promising Newcomer Male with
actors Hugh O'Brien and Richard Egan, (Egan co-starred
with Elvis in 'Love Me
Tender' in 1956.) Steve Forrest worked in such
films as 'The Longest Day', 'The Deerslayer', 'North
Dallas Forty' and 'Mommie Dearest'. He also has had a
number of roles in TV series including 'Dallas' and his
starring role in the TV series 'S.W.A.T'.
Barbara Eden
played the role of Clint's girlfriend Roslyn Pierce.
When Ms. Eden was first approached for the role, she was
busy with other commitments. British actress Barbara
Steele was hired instead. Ms. Steele's heavy accent
proved to be too problematic and she was let go. By that
time,
Barbara Eden
was available and she played the part. Ms. Eden
was a cheerleader and a pop singer as a teenager. She
made her film debut in the movie 'Back From Eternity'
followed by roles in 'Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?',
'Voyage To the Bottom of the Sea', and 'Harper Valley
P.T.A.' The latter inspired a TV series in which she
starred. She is best known for her long-running role as
the Jeannie, the genie in a bottle, in the'I Dream of
Jeannie' television series. That role garnered her
Golden Globe Award nominations in 1967 and 1970. In
recent years, the one-time wife of actor Michael Ansara
who worked with Elvis in his film 'Harum
Scarum', has had a number of roles in
made-for-TV movies.
Dolores del Rio
played Pacer's Kiowa mother Neddy Burton. Ms. del Rio
was born and raised as an aristocrat in her native
Mexico and she became known as the 'First Lady of
Mexican Cinema'. She emigrated to Hollywood in the early
1920s and, with her exotic beauty, she was often
referred to as 'the female Rudolph Valentino'. She
played sultry Latin women as well as Polynesian and
French ladies. It was her role as Longfellow's heroine
Evangeline that inspired a statue of her likeness as
Evangeline to be made and placed beside St. Martin de
Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, Louisiana. It
is on the spot marking the alleged burial place of
Emmeline Labiche, who is said to have been Longfellow's
inspiration. In 1942 Ms. del Rio moved back to Mexico
and continued her career there and was nominated for the
Silver Ariel, Mexico's version of the Academy Award. She
was nominated five times, winning three. She only
periodically returned to Hollywood to play supporting
roles such as the one she played in 'Flaming Star'.
Crusty character actor John McIntire played Pacer's
father Sam Burton. McIntire grew up in Montana where he
learned to ride and raise horses. He attended USC and
started his long career as a radio announcer. It was his
rugged features and deep voice that helped propel him
into his many roles in Western films and TV series. He
and his wife of 56 years, actress Jeanette Nolan, often
acted together. He might be best remembered for his
starring role as Christopher Hale in the TV series
'Wagon Train' and his role as Clay Grainger in the
series 'The Virginian'.
Rodolfo Acosta played the
role of Buffalo Horn. He, like Ms. del Rio, was born in
Mexico and had roles in a number of Mexican films. He
received a nomination in 1950 for a Silver Ariel Award
as Best Supporting Actor. He moved to the U. S. where he
was very successful in playing Mexicans and Native
Americans and most often the Western villain. He had
roles in such films as 'One-Eyed Jacks', 'How the West
Was Won', 'The Sons of Katie Elder' and 'The Greatest
Story Ever Told'. He had a recurring role as Vaquero in
the the TV series 'High Chaparral' as well as making
numerous guest appearances on other TV series.
Karl Swenson played Dred Pierce. His long career as a
character actor also included a number of TV series.
Most notable might be his long time role as Lars Henson
on the TV show 'Little House on the Prairie'. He also
had roles in such films as 'North To Alaska', 'How The
West Was Won' and 'The Sons of Katie Elder'.
Ford
Rainey played Doc Phillips. A native of Idaho, Mr.
Rainey studied acting in New York where he pursued work
on stage. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World
War II then moved to California and began his film
career in 1949. He has had hundreds of roles in both
film and TV. His most recent role at the age of 94 was
in the 2002 movie 'Purgatory Flats'.
Virginia
Christine played Mrs. Phillips. This veteran character
actress was also a concert pianist and trained soprano.
She studied dancing and acting and spoke several
languages. She had roles in such films as 'High Noon',
'Judgment At Nuremberg' and 'Guess Who's Coming To
Dinner'. However, she is best known for her twenty-one
years playing Mrs. Olson on the TV commercials for
Folgers Coffee. In her hometown of Stanton, Iowa, the
city water tower was made into the shape of a coffee pot
in her honor.
Clair Huffaker had
written for the TV series 'Lawman', 'Rawhide' and
'Bonanza'; however, adapting his novel 'Flaming Star'
was his first attempt at a screenplay. The studio teamed
him with seasoned veteran Nunnally Johnson to write for
this film. Mr. Huffaker went on to write for the 1962
film 'The Commancheros', for which he received a Western
Heritage Award. He also wrote for the films 'The War
Wagon' and 'Flap' among others.
Nunnally Johnson
received four Academy Award nominations for his writing
skills in the films 'The Grapes of Wrath', 'The Pied
Piper', 'The World of Henry Orient' and 'Holy
Matrimony'. He also produced and directed, with critical
acclaim, such films as 'The Man in the Gray Flannel
Suit', 'How To Marry a Millionaire', and 'The Three
Faces of Eve'.
The producer was David Weisbart,
who had also produced Elvis' first film
'Love Me Tender'.
After 'Flaming Star', he produced the Elvis films 'Follow
That Dream' and
'Kid Galahad'.
Other films Mr. Weisbart produced were 'Rebel Without a
Cause', 'April Love', 'Goodbye Charlie' and 'Valley of
the Dolls'. He also worked as a film editor on such
films as 'The Glass Menagerie', 'Mildred Pierce' and 'A
Streetcar Named Desire'. He was nominated for an Academy
Award for his editing work in the 1949 film 'Johnny
Belinda'.
Mr. Weisbart brought in Don Siegel as
the director. Mr. Siegel was educated at Cambridge and
trained at the London Royal Academy of Dramatic Art as
an actor. He didn't do well as a performer and turned to
directing in the 1930s. He first worked on montage
sequences for Warner Brothers. He then worked on films
such as 'Riot In Cell Block 11', 'Baby Face Nelson', and
the original 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'. Later, he
teamed with Clint Eastwood on the films 'Two Mules For
Sister Sara', 'Dirty Harry', 'The Beguiled' and 'Escape
From Alcatraz'.
Richard Jaeckel played Angus
Pierce. He began his career after working in the
mailroom at Fox. He would go on to have roles in many
Western films and war films such as '3:10 To Yuma',
'Come Back Little Sheba', 'Chisum', 'The Dirty Dozen',
and 'Sands of Iwo Jima'. For his performance in
'Sometimes A Great Notion' he received an Academy Award
nomination for Best Supporting Actor of 1972. He also
had a role in the TV series 'Baywatch' as Lt. Ben
Edwards. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame in 1994.
Q. Jones played Tom
Howard. You might also recognize him from his roles in
the Elvis films 'Love Me Tender' and 'Stay
Away Joe'. Mr. Jones began life in Texas a
Justus McQueen. He took on the name of his character
L.Q. Jones in his first film, the 1955 movie 'Battle
Cry' and used throughout his long career in movies and
TV. He has had roles in such movies as 'The Young
Lions', 'Ride The High Country', 'Major Dundee' and 'The
Wild Bunch'. His most recent parts were in the films
'The Patriot', 'The Mask of Zorro' and 'Route 666'.
Douglas Dick played Will Howard. He began his movie and
TV career in 1946. 'Flaming Star' was his last movie
role. His last TV role was in 1967 on the show
''Mannix'. Mr. Dick retired from acting and became a
psychologist.
Larry Chance played an uncredited Indian Chief
and would later play Captain Herat in the Elvis movie 'Harum
Scarum'.
Roy Jenson played Matt Holcom.
He had a long career in film and TV as a character
actor. He had played football for UCLA and then played
professional ball for teams in Canada.
Native
American actor Rodd Redwing played an Indian brave.
Years later, he had a role in the Elvis film 'Charro!'
Redwing was a renowned fast-draw artist and he taught
gun handling to many actors, including Elvis. He also
made the gun holster that Elvis used in the film
'Charro!'
Charles Horvath, one of the top stunt
men in the industry, played the man who attempted to
molest Pacer's mother. Mr. Horvath was a judo and karate
instructor for both the FBI and the U.S. Marines.
Loren Janes was another who performed stunts in
this film. Janes was an Olympic pentathlete and
co-founder of the Stuntmen's Association. He worked with
Elvis once before in the film 'Jailhouse
Rock'.
Roy Jenson was another of the
stunt men. He had been a pro football player and winner
of a Western Heritage Award.
Thomas A. Sweet was
also a stuntman in this film. He worked with Elvis again
years later in the film 'Stay
Away Joe'.
 The cinematographer for
'Flaming Star' was the five-time Academy Award nominee
Charles G. Clarke. Mr. Clarke won a Technical
Achievement Academy Award in 1944 for the development
and application of a device that composed artificial
clouds into motion picture scenes during production
photography. In 1980 he received a Medal of Commendation
from the Academy 'in appreciation for outstanding
service and dedication in upholding the high standards
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences'.
The film editor was Hugh S. Fowler. He received an
Academy Award in 1971 for his work in the movie
'Patton', which was a film that happened to become one
of Elvis' personal favorites to watch.
One of the
set decorators was twenty-one-time Academy Award nominee
Walter M. Scott. Mr. Scott's six Academy Award wins were
for the films 'Hello Dolly', 'Fantastic Voyage',
'Cleopatra', 'The Diary of Anne Frank', 'The King And I'
and 'The Robe'.
Makeup was done by Ben Nye, Sr.,
whose 329 movie credits also include the two Elvis films
'Love Me Tender'
and
'Wild In The Country'.
Hair stylist Helen Turpin also worked on 'Love Me
Tender' and 'Wild In The Country'.
Elvis' manager,
Colonel Tom Parker, scheduled a number of
visitors to the set of Elvis' sixth film, 'Flaming
Star'. Included in the visitors was photographer Don
Cravens who photographed Elvis on the set as well as at
the Beverly Wilshire Hotel for an article in 'Life'
magazine. Mr. Cravens was also commissioned to
photograph Elvis for future record covers including the
sleeve for the single 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' and
the gospel album 'His Hand In Mine'.
On September
9, 1960, after Elvis and his rowdy entourage wore out
their welcome at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Elvis then
leased a home in Bel Air at 525 Perugia Way. On
September 12, 1960, Elvis and Juliet Prowse, his co-star
from the movie 'G.I. Blues',
attended a special showing 'G.I. Blues' for theater
owners. Also attending was gossip columnist Hedda Hopper
and the film's choreographer Charlie O'Curran and his
wife, singer Patti Page. On Septenber 27, 1960 Elvis was
visited on set by his father Vernon and Vernon's friends
from Memphis, Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, who had been to
Hollywood in 1957 with Elvis' parents and visited him on
the set of 'Loving You'. Also on this trip to visit was
Elvis' Memphis fan club president Gary Pepper.
 Soundtrack
Flaming Star
A Cane and A High Starched Collar
Although four songs were
recorded for the soundtrack of Flaming Star (the other
two being 'Summer Kisses, Winter Tears' and 'Britches'),
Elvis was only seen singing 'A Cane and A High Starched
Collar' in the picture while 'Flaming Star' was played
behind the title credits.
Recorded at:
20th Century Fox Studios, Beverley Hills, California.
August 1960
Musicians:
Elvis Presley
(vocals), Howard Roberts, Tiny Timbrell (guitars), Myer
Rubin (bass), Bernie Mattinson (drums), Dudley Brookes
(piano), Jimmie Haskell (accordian), the Jordanaires
(vocals).
Directed
Don SiegelWriting Credits Clair Huffaker, Nunnally
Johnson
Cast Overview
Elvis Presley .... Pacer Burton, Steve Forrest ....
Clint Burton,
Barbara
Eden
.... Roslyn Pierce, Dolores del Rio .... Neddy
Burton, John McIntire .... Sam Burton, Rodolfo Acosta
.... Buffalo Horn, Karl Swenson .... Dred Pierce, Ford
Rainey .... Doc Phillips, Richard Jaeckel .... Angus
Pierce, Anne Benton .... Dorothy Howard, L.Q. Jones ....
Tom Howard, Douglas Dick .... Will Howard, Tom Reese
.... Jute, Marian Goldina .... Ph'sha Knay, rest of cast
listed alphabetically, Henry Armago .... Brave.
|
