It was my senior year in college. A year earlier I was plagued by trouble, most of my own doing. First, I got caught flattening a tire of a guy who threatened my friend. Secondly, I spoke out against the faculty running the College radio station. When I look back on these acts, they were stupid and unnecessary. My senior year came and a new crop of unruly students entered my dorm. Especially the ones that lived above my room. Blasting their stereo all night after night. I couldn't take it anymore so I took things into my own hands as I broke into the room above and damaged the stereo. A witness turned me in. Despite those infractions, the college gave me multiple chances, but I went to the proverbial well too often which got me suspended from the College. So close to graduating. In this movie, King Creole, 19-year old Danny Fisher (Elvis Presley) is cleaning up before school in a New Orleans dive. During his cleaning duties, he rescues a woman patron Ronnie (Carolyn Jones ) from an abusive date. For his chivalrous act, Ronnie drives him to his high school. Upon his arrival, for all his classmates to see, she kisses him. Taunted by one of the students Danny proceeds to punch the kid in the mouth as witnessed also by his teacher Miss Pearson played by Helen Hatch. Miss Pearson had enough of Danny's poor attitude and is immediately summoned to the principal's office. You see it's the last day of high school for Danny and his second attempt at graduating from school. Danny and Principal Evans (Raymond Baily) have a heart-to-heart talk about his infraction. On behalf of Danny's defense, he explains, his unemployed Pharmacist's father (Dean Jagger) is in a downward spiral ever since his Mom died in an accident several months ago. Danny has to work before and after school to pay the bills with the help of his sister Mimi (Jan Shepard). The Principal insists that his hands are tied and prohibits Danny from graduating a second time. Danny walks out and quits and takes his chances hustling for a buck here or there. On the street, he encounters a local gang led by Shark (Vic Morrow). Shark orders his gang to attack Danny but he defends himself so well Shark asks him to join. The gang uses Danny as a diversion with the use of his velvety voice as he mesmerizes the masses with ballads in a local drug mart in which Shark and the gang perform their petty larceny. All but one is wise to the shenanigans, counterperson Nellie played by Delores Hart. Taken by Danny's looks she doesn't turn him in. Coincidentally Danny's Father gains employment at that particular establishment. Later That night Danny is working at the Blue Shade nightclub where Ronnie pretends not to know him. She tells her boyfriend Maxie Fields (Walter Matthau) she heard Danny sing once. Danny performs the song "Trouble" which I personally enjoy. Meanwhile, Danny's singing talents catch the eye of the owner of a club called King Creole. The club's owner. Charlie (Paul Stewart) hires Danny to sing. Tensions mount from all sides The gang, the club owners, the abusive behavior of Maxie as the film transforms into a film noir genre with Danny caught in the middle. This is truly Elvis Presley's finest work. I never get tired of watching this film. My first introduction to the Cresent City and its culture of the adult American playground called New Orleans. The opening despite being filmed in Black and white gives you a curiosity of things to come as you hear the duet between the King, Elvis, and Kitty White singing "Crawfish". The movie was an anomaly for the childhood TV watcher of the '60s. Seeing Carolyn Jones as Morticia in the Addams Family and Walter Matthau in mostly Comedy motion pictures was unusual but their characters never wavered as Matthau played the villain in the film to perfection and MS Jones playing the gun mole was equally displayed as adequate. To my surprise, the screenwriter was Michael V. Gazzo who is associated with the film The Godfather II as he plays screechy-voiced informant Frank Pentageli. To this day I wonder if I had finished College would my life be different. Despite my poor decisions could I go back and time and get through to that stupid kid?
Review of King Creole
