Vagabond singer Elvis Presley (as Charlie Rogers) gets a job working at a carnival owned by strong-willed Barbara Stanwyck (as Maggie Morgan). There, after years "playing the field," Mr. Presley gets the urge to settle down with one woman, pretty Joan Freeman (as Cathy Lean). But, Presley doesn't get along with folks like Ms. Freeman's alcoholic father Leif Erikson (as Joe Lean). After a misunderstanding, Presley leaves his budding "family", and goes to work for Ms. Stanwyck's sleazy rival, Pat Buttram (as Harry Carver). Will chip-shouldered Presley stay with the bad influence Buttram, or return to stable Stanwyck and sweet Freeman?
The waste of cast and crew involved in this boring film is criminal. The musical highlight is the Leiber-Stoller classic "Little Egypt"; although Presley lip-syncs lethargically, dancing girl Wilda Taylor is a sight for sore eyes. Presley, who hides a growing paunch and occasionally appears "under the influence," looks better during the nicely photographed "Big Love, Big Heartache". The studio mixes of the other songs sound much better on the nicely sequenced "Roustabout" stereo album, especially "Poison Ivy League", "Roustabout", and "One Track Heart". "It's a Wonderful World" received some "Best Song" Oscar buzz.
*** Roustabout (11/11/64) John Rich ~ Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Freeman, Leif Erickson
The waste of cast and crew involved in this boring film is criminal. The musical highlight is the Leiber-Stoller classic "Little Egypt"; although Presley lip-syncs lethargically, dancing girl Wilda Taylor is a sight for sore eyes. Presley, who hides a growing paunch and occasionally appears "under the influence," looks better during the nicely photographed "Big Love, Big Heartache". The studio mixes of the other songs sound much better on the nicely sequenced "Roustabout" stereo album, especially "Poison Ivy League", "Roustabout", and "One Track Heart". "It's a Wonderful World" received some "Best Song" Oscar buzz.
*** Roustabout (11/11/64) John Rich ~ Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Freeman, Leif Erickson