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Purely Joyful Movie!

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

This is an oddity in Elvis’ filmography: a quaint but pleasing musical comedy based on the popular song which had already inspired a similarly-titled film from 1936 starring Helen Morgan – apart from being featured in the Mae West vehicle SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933) and, again, as recently as Robert Altman’s A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION (2006).The star isn’t entirely comfortable amid the 1890s riverboat setting, what with a few of his musical performances (and especially his hairdo) coming off as inextricably modern. Still, the plot – thin as it is – emerges to be quite engaging (what with its backdrop of fortune-telling, gambling parlors, variety acts and costume parties and involving mistaken identities, misunderstandings, an attempted murder and a bar-room brawl)! The cast presents three notable female roles: Donna Douglas (as Frankie), Nancy Kovack as Elvis’ red-headed lucky charm and the flame of his jealous boss, and Sue Ane Langdon as a ditzy “blonde” – who, along with Presley’s long-suffering sidekick Harry Morgan, turns out to be the most likable character as well as the purveyor of the film’s comic relief.Elvis’ best ‘new’ number is “Hard Luck”; apart from the title tune, he also gets to sing the standard “When The Saints Go Marching In” (while dressed in full military regalia)! The film is short enough at 87 mins. not to overstay its welcome, but the rather low-key presentation also prevents it from being anything more than unassuming entertainment. I wouldn’t classify it among the top-flight Presley vehicles, therefore, but it’s certainly superior to some of the bigger-budgeted (yet simple-minded) fluff he made over at MGM – this being a production from independent producer Edward Small released through United Artists.

I generally like Elvis' music and movies, but this turkey of a movie should be permanently shelved and never shown again. The acting and dialogue are stilted, and the songs featured in this flick are far below Elvis' standards.When I first saw the movie in its theatrical run, I got up and walked out of the theater after only about 15 minutes of viewing.When I recently saw the movie again, I changed TV channels after enduring 30 minutes of the movie. Don't waste your time with this one.It's too bad that Elvis never got the chance to perform as a serious actor.

Falling close to the middle of Presley's film career in both quantity and quality, this is an exercise in mediocrity with only a few things to recommend in it. Very loosely inspired by the classic title song, it showcases Presley as a riverboat performer and gambling addict. He has a relationship with his singing partner Douglas, but that is strained to the limit when he encounters Kovack, a redhead who he believes is essential in fulfilling his gypsy fortune to win big money at the roulette wheel. Unfortunately, Kovack is the one-time love of Presley's boss Eisley and he isn't quite ready to give her up yet, despite his own affair with kooky chorine Langdon. More direct comedy is provided by Morgan and Christie as Presley and Douglas' married friends. The shenanigans (including mistaken identity, flirtation, drunkenness and the roller coaster of the roulette wheel) all come to a head during a performance of the title song during which Presley's life is endangered. What may sound lively and entertaining in description is only partly so in reality. The pace of the film borders on stagnant, despite the setting, and the many songs Presley performs are chiefly forgettable and unimaginatively staged. Presley is close to his physical prime here, though his performance lacks any real spark. His infamous jet-black hair (which fails to ever move except for one cowlick in front) is incongruous with the time period, as are several of his costumes. It's surprising to see Douglas in a role other than her iconic Elly Mae Clampett. She is unable to ditch the accent from that character despite obviously trying to at various points. She is lovely to look at most of the time, but is obviously uncomfortable in the musical sequences in which her voice is dubbed and her movements are lacking in assurance. Morgan does a decent job, but Christie manages to outshine him with her caustic brand of dry humor. They share some of the movies most amusing bits. Langdon is, as usual, very broad in her role though she does contribute some energy to the proceedings. Eisley is adequate. Nothing more. Kovack is attractive, but, like Douglas, far from seeming at home in the musical interludes. The songs are mostly forgettable and the one major song, the title tune which has endured for so long, is rather mangled by switching it from a narrative style to a first-person number with people singing about themselves. Few things are as uncomfortable-looking as Presley loping down the street in his marching band get-up. Though the film has many colorful costumes and settings, it comes off as pretty cheap-looking. Fans of The King will still want to watch this for his brand of light romance and comedy, but it hardly ranks as one of his best outings.

Elvis plays Johnny, a riverboat entertainer that has a big gambling problem. Donna Douglas, better known as Elly Mae Clampett, is Johnny's girl, Frankie. A fortune teller tells Johnny how he can change his luck. Enter a new lady luck played by Nancy Kovack and the cat fight begins. Costumes range from classy to gaudy. A dozen songs make up the soundtrack featuring "Hard Luck" and "Please Don't Stop Loving Me". This film was directed by Fred de Cordova, director of Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show". Also in the cast are Sue Ane Langdon, Harry Morgan and Anthony Eisley. A fun movie to watch.