 Elvis Pesley' most
critically acclaimed performance as an actor was in what is
considered (rivaled only by 'Jailhouse Rock') the best of all the
films he starred in - 'King Creole' (1958).
The story was based upon the Harold Robbins novel 'A
Stone For Danny Fisher'. Elvis played the role of Danny. The film
was directed by Michael Curtiz. Danny Fisher (Elvis) coming up from
the ghetto to seek fame and fortune as a singer in the New Orleans
Jazz clubs. Along the way he tangles with gangland boss Maxie Fields
(Walter Matthau) and love interest Ronnie played by
Carolyn Jones.
Harold Robbins was a successful author whose novels sold over
750,000,000 copies worldwide and most of them were made into movies.
Robbins grew up in an orphanage as well as in several foster homes.
He took his name from one of those foster families. His early jobs
included a numbers runner and a futures buyer. He had made and lost
a million dollars by age twenty. He became a writer after working
his way up with Universal Pictures, starting as a shipping clerk. He
specialized in novels about celebrity and Hollywood.
'King Creole' co-starred
Carolyn Jones, who is best known for her work in the TV show
'The Addams Family'. However, long before the TV series, she
appeared in a number of stage productions and in movies such as
'East of Eden', 'The Seven Year Itch', 'The Tender Trap' and 'The
Man Who Knew Too Much', as well as 'The Bachelor Party', for which
she her 1957 Oscar nomination or Best Supporting Actress. She also
won a Golden Globe award in 1958 as Most Promising Female Newcomer.
Ms. Jones was born in Amarillo, Texas in 1929. For a time she was
married to producer Aaron Spelling.
 Also co-starring in 'King Creole' was
Walter Matthau, born Walter Matuschanskayasky in New York
City. Matthau's parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. He served in
the Army Air Corps during World War II as a radio cryptographer.
After the war he began his movie career. His many film credits
include: 'The Kentuckian', 'Lonely Are The brave', 'Charade', 'The
Fortune Cookie', 'The Odd Couple', 'Cactus Flower', 'Kotch', 'The
Sunshine Boys", "The Bad News Bears", "Dennis The Menace", "Grumpy
Old Men', and 'Grumpier Old Men' to name a few. Matthau was
nominated for eight Golden Globe Awards, winning one in 1976 for
Best Actor in 'The Sunshine Boys'. He was nominated for three
Academy Awards, winning one in 1967 as Best Supporting Actor in 'The
Fortune Cookie'.
Co-starring with Elvis for a second time was
Dolores Hart, daughter of actor Bert Hicks
and niece of singer Mario Lanza. Dolores also starred with Elvis in
his 1957 movie 'Loving You'. She would go on the appear in several
other films including 'Where The Boys Are' and 'Come Fly With Me'.
Ms. Hart left her successful film career to become a nun in the
cloistered Benedictine Monastery in Bethlehem, Connecticut, where,
today, she a Mother
Superior and still a voting member of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences (The Oscars).
 Dean Jagger played
Elvis' father in 'King Creole'. He began in vaudeville in the 1920s
and went on to appear in films such as 'brigham Young -
Frontiersman', 'The Robe', 'Elmer Gantry' and 'White Christmas', to
name a few. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for
his role in 'Twelve O'Clock High'.
Actor Vic Morrow played
Shark in the movie with Elvis. Born in New York, he had dropped out
of school to join the Navy. After serving in the Navy, he went to
school to study pre-law. After a taste of acting in a school play,
Morrow decided to change majors and went into acting. After
graduation, he signed with MGM. His movie debut was in 'Blackboard
Jungle' as a street punk. He then became typecast as a heavy, which
is what he also played in 'King Creole'. In the 1960's he became
well known for his role in the TV series 'Combat!', for which he
received an Emmy nomination. He also took up directing. In 1983 he
was killed in an accident on the set of the film 'Twilight Zone: The
Movie'. Today, his daughter, Jennifer Jason Leigh, is a successful
actress.
 Michael Curtiz was born
Mano Kertesz Kaminer in Budapest, Hungary. He began his acting and
directing career in Hungary in 1912. He moved to the United States
in 1926, going to work for Warner brothers and making such movies as
'The Adventures of Robin Hood', 'Angels With Dirty Faces', 'Yankee
Doodle Dandy', 'Casablanca', 'Mildred Pierce', 'Life With Father',
'Jim Thorpe - All-American', 'The Jazz Singer', 'White Christmas',
and the original 1937 version of 'Kid Galahad'. Curtiz was nominated
for four Academy Awards as Best Director, winning in 1944 for the
film 'Casablanca'.
  Soundtrack
King Creole
As Long As I Have You
Hard Headed Woman
Trouble
Dixieland Rock
Don't Ask Me Why
Lover Doll
Crawfish
Young Dreams
Steadfast, Loyal And True
New Orleans
Recorded at Radio Recorders
Studios, 7000, Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood. January 1958.
Musicians: Elvis Presley (vocals),
Scotty Moore
(guitar), Bill Black
(bass),
D.J Fontana
(drums), Kitty White and the Jordanaires (vocals).
King
Creole - Paramount 1958
Directed
Michael Curtiz
Writing Credits Harold Robbins (Novel),
Herbert Baker (Screen play)
Producer Hal Wallis
Technical AdvisorColonel Tom Parker
Cast Overview: Elvis Presley ....
Danny Fisher,
Carolyn Jones
.... Ronnie, Walter Matthau .... Maxie Fields,
Dolores Hart
.... Nellie, Dean Jagger .... Mr. Fisher, Liliane Montevecchi ....
Forty Nina, Vic Morrow .... Shark, Paul Stewart .... Charlie
LeGrand, Jan Shepard .... Mimi Fisher, brian Hutton .... Sal, Jack
Grinnage .... Dummy, Dick Winslow .... Eddie Burton, Hazel Boyne
.... Woman Who Asks For Water, Raymond Bailey .... Mr. Evans
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