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Roustabout

Roustabout

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Can you believe it? A leather-clad drifting biker!
Review: "Roustabout" has Elvis playing a karate-chopping, drifting motorcyclist who is picked up after an accident involving him being knocked off his bike by local carnival foreman Leif Erikson, with his daughter Joan Freeman and owner Barbara Stanwyck. After his bike and guitar are damaged, he is hired by Stanwyck to work as a roustabout in her carnival. Elvis, of course, soon falls for Joan Freeman who is a little reluctant at first. Over time the carnival becomes the local night spot around as Elvis attracts people for singing along the midway. In come the teenagers and crowds in droves. Rival carnivla owner Pat Buttram asks if Elvis is interested in joining his big carnival. He refuses. After some confrontation involving a stolen wallet Erikson is convicted of and Joan Freeman's unhappiness with Elvis, he quits Stanwyck's outfit. Then it's off to the Carver show. Elvis is a hit. Back at the other carnival, business is failing and troubles with the bank build. Joan Freeman tries to bring him back, but to no avail at first. Later Elvis decides to go back, pay off the debt, win Joan Freeman, and make the carnival a swinging place again. Quintessential!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Presley and Stanwyck!
Review: "Roustabout" (1964) is a better-than-average Elvis Presley musical, with the added bonus of Barbara Stanwyck in one of her last films. It's nice to see Elvis play an unsympathetic character for a change -- not unlike "Jailhouse Rock." Despite the upbeat ending, he's still a jerk and it's great when Stanwyck yells at him. The soundtrack is mostly forgettable but it does include one classic song, "Little Egypt." As always, there are a few Elvis fight scenes to keep things lively. Overall, "Roustabout" represents the last decent Presley vehicle before the downhill journey into endless schlock.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Can you believe it? A leather-clad drifting biker!
Review: "Roustabout" has Elvis playing a karate-chopping, drifting motorcyclist who is picked up after an accident involving him being knocked off his bike by local carnival foreman Leif Erikson, with his daughter Joan Freeman and owner Barbara Stanwyck. After his bike and guitar are damaged, he is hired by Stanwyck to work as a roustabout in her carnival. Elvis, of course, soon falls for Joan Freeman who is a little reluctant at first. Over time the carnival becomes the local night spot around as Elvis attracts people for singing along the midway. In come the teenagers and crowds in droves. Rival carnivla owner Pat Buttram asks if Elvis is interested in joining his big carnival. He refuses. After some confrontation involving a stolen wallet Erikson is convicted of and Joan Freeman's unhappiness with Elvis, he quits Stanwyck's outfit. Then it's off to the Carver show. Elvis is a hit. Back at the other carnival, business is failing and troubles with the bank build. Joan Freeman tries to bring him back, but to no avail at first. Later Elvis decides to go back, pay off the debt, win Joan Freeman, and make the carnival a swinging place again. Quintessential!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The SILLIEST Elvis movie ever!
Review: ..and I mean this in a good way.

I am not that big of an Elvis fan really and never paid much attention to his films. Every now and again, I would catch one late at night and giggle a bit but be incredibly bored after about 5 mins.

This one however is different! I was told by a friend of mine (an avid, if not rabid Elvis fan) that I had to see this. She called me late one night and told me it was on so I figured, what the hell? I ADORED it!

The plot is ridiculous. It seems Elvis, our misunderstood biker/bad boy hero has his motorcycle almost destroyed by a small family run carnival owner who graciously has the bike fixed...but it will take some time. To make some spare travelin' cash..Elvis decides after much prodding to work at this carvial as a barker of sorts. The business is not going well and an EVIL carnival conglomorate wants to take it over (seriously, how silly is that?). Of course the plot thickens, carny daughter falls in love with bad boy Elvis, bad boy gets accused of making trouble (stealing a wallet..my word!), bad boy leaves for the big lights of a larger carnival but is wooed back by beautiful headstrong girl and of course because when all is said and done, Elvis does have a heart of gold! One of the best scenes is Elvis riding a motorcycle in a giant barrel, around and around and around...hilarious!

The entire film is goofy but in a real good kitch sort of way. The thing that makes this movie is of course, Elvis and his singing. I have never heard such silly songs..."It's Carnival Time" and "Little Egypt" will leave you holding your sides, particularly with the "dance" numbers! "Big Love, Big Heartache" is actually a very good song, I would have to say one of my top 5 favourite Elvis songs.

This film is good fun and the best part is, he really doesn't sweat all that much (have you noticed that in all the Hawaii films, it looks like a hose has been turned on him?).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The SILLIEST Elvis movie ever!
Review: ..and I mean this in a good way.

I am not that big of an Elvis fan really and never paid much attention to his films. Every now and again, I would catch one late at night and giggle a bit but be incredibly bored after about 5 mins.

This one however is different! I was told by a friend of mine (an avid, if not rabid Elvis fan) that I had to see this. She called me late one night and told me it was on so I figured, what the hell? I ADORED it!

The plot is ridiculous. It seems Elvis, our misunderstood biker/bad boy hero has his motorcycle almost destroyed by a small family run carnival owner who graciously has the bike fixed...but it will take some time. To make some spare travelin' cash..Elvis decides after much prodding to work at this carvial as a barker of sorts. The business is not going well and an EVIL carnival conglomorate wants to take it over (seriously, how silly is that?). Of course the plot thickens, carny daughter falls in love with bad boy Elvis, bad boy gets accused of making trouble (stealing a wallet..my word!), bad boy leaves for the big lights of a larger carnival but is wooed back by beautiful headstrong girl and of course because when all is said and done, Elvis does have a heart of gold! One of the best scenes is Elvis riding a motorcycle in a giant barrel, around and around and around...hilarious!

The entire film is goofy but in a real good kitch sort of way. The thing that makes this movie is of course, Elvis and his singing. I have never heard such silly songs..."It's Carnival Time" and "Little Egypt" will leave you holding your sides, particularly with the "dance" numbers! "Big Love, Big Heartache" is actually a very good song, I would have to say one of my top 5 favourite Elvis songs.

This film is good fun and the best part is, he really doesn't sweat all that much (have you noticed that in all the Hawaii films, it looks like a hose has been turned on him?).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Elvis Presley as a Roustabout
Review: Charlie Rodgers (Elvis Presley) is a coffee shop singer. As the movie opens, he is fired after a short fight is picked. Film after film, after film, after film, after film, after film, after film, after film, after film, and did I mention after film, we see Elvis Presley's characters fighting.

But yet, that is all what we see Elvis Presley doing singing and fighting. But yet if he has a job he almost aways loses his jobs. Charlie is hired by Maggie Morgan to be her carnvial's Roustabout. Yet we never see him in another sport film besides racing. Whether in cars or in boats.

And for the time he meets a lot of female characters in films. And maybe even fight for the women. But why would Charlie Rodgers get a job as a Roustabout? In yet, Elvis almost aways finds a way out of fights, even if it lands him in jail and costs his job.

But yet are we supposed to be happy for Elvis Presley's chacters. Even if we don't find it in our hearts to be happy for his characters. And have other people like his he is a father or mother or both bail him out instead of sending him in jail for a time in jail. Like a couple of months or weeks or years.

Doesn't Elvis Presley get tired of playing characters that get into this sticky mess. Charlie has a motor bike but gets broken and stays at a carnival until it is fixed.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Roustabout
Review: Elvis plays opposite Barbara Stanwyke (The Big Valley) this time out and is in awe of his co-star. It is reported he worked hard on this film to live up to Ms. Stanwyke's professional standards.
Unfortunately, the scriptwriters were less demanding of themselves, and the film suffers from banal dialogue and predictable plotting. Elvis stars as Charlie Rogers, a drifter with a chip on his shoulder who lands a job as a roustabout (handyman) with a down-and-out carnival operated by strong-willed Maggie Morgan, played by Stanwyke. When Charlie breaks into song on the midway one day, throngs of young people flock to hear him sing (which may be believable were they all penned by Lieber & Stoller). As news of his talent spreads, Maggie's carnival begins to turn a tidy profit. Charlie's good fortune continues as Cathy, a young and pretty carnival worker played by Joan Freeman, takes a romantic interest in him. However, after a misunderstanding involving a customer's missing wallet, Maggie and Cathy chide Charlie for his selfish attitudes. The embittered young Charlie quits Maggie's outfit to work for a rival carnival. When Maggie's carnival starts to go under, Charlie returns with enough money to ward off the creditors. His unselfish act wins Maggie's respect as well as Cathy's heart.

With a cast of big-name stars, including Barbara Stanwyke, Leif Erickson, and Jack Albertson, Roustabout was one of Elvis's better films from this period.

Elvis would later says that working with Stanwyke made him a better actor.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wheels On Your Heels!
Review: I won't bore you with a plot synopsis or my opinion of the borderline interesting story - this movie IS WORTH SEEING for one jaw-dropping sequence: For the rockingest song in the movie, "Wheels On My Heels", Elvis is driving his own motorcycle on a real location road and lip-syncing at the same time - without a helmet! This is not some lame rear projection process and most of the time the entire bike is shown, so it's not being towed - I just found it amazing, no kidding. I mean, what if he lost his concentration...boom! Brain damage.
Oh and Leif Erickson will make you really uncomfortable in this movie - what a loser slime.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wheels On Your Heels!
Review: I won't bore you with a plot synopsis or my opinion of the borderline interesting story - this movie IS WORTH SEEING for one jaw-dropping sequence: For the rockingest song in the movie, "Wheels On My Heels", Elvis is driving his own motorcycle on a real location road and lip-syncing at the same time - without a helmet! This is not some lame rear projection process and most of the time the entire bike is shown, so it's not being towed - I just found it amazing, no kidding. I mean, what if he lost his concentration...boom! Brain damage.
Oh and Leif Erickson will make you really uncomfortable in this movie - what a loser slime.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wheels On Your Heels!
Review: I won't bore you with a plot synopsis or my opinion of the borderline interesting story - this movie IS WORTH SEEING for one jaw-dropping sequence: For the rockingest song in the movie, "Wheels On My Heels", Elvis is driving his own motorcycle on a real location road and lip-syncing at the same time - without a helmet! This is not some lame rear projection process and most of the time the entire bike is shown, so it's not being towed - I just found it amazing, no kidding. I mean, what if he lost his concentration...boom! Brain damage.
Oh and Leif Erickson will make you really uncomfortable in this movie - what a loser slime.


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