Best movie of this year hands down!

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

This is Elvis's Best Movie. Please get the correct billing for Ronnie as Keely Smith.

Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.Both 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'King Creole' in particular are proof that some of Elvis' early films are pretty good or more and that he could give a good performance when his material allowed it. Can understand totally the indifference at best towards his later films though. 'King Creole' is (along with 'Jailhouse Rock') often considered Elvis' best film, and even more widely his performance is considered his best, Elvis even called 'King Creole' his personal favourite and it is more than easy to see why on all counts.Maybe 'King Creole' is a touch overlong, and the female characters are not as interestingly written as the male ones, somewhat lazy and it's the performances that stop them from being completely vapid. Otherwise there is very little to dislike. Have commented a couple of times on the writing and stories not being strong suits in Elvis' films, but 'King Creole' is a pleasant exception. The writing is surprisingly gritty and suspenseful, with few soap-operatic or corn elements, and the story is darker and meatier than the usual story for an Elvis film, thus one of the most absorbing.As for Presley, his role here shows a dark and vulnerable side and he does it with intensity, charisma, swagger, charm and emotional honesty and no stiffness. Of his performances, which largely varied dependent on his material, it is agreed that this is his best. He has one of his best supporting casts, particularly a terrifyingly reptilian (while also remarkably complex for a mobster heavy) Walther Matthau, a touching Carolyn Jones and perfectly weasel-like Vic Morrow.The songs are absolute knockouts, especially the title song, the sultry "Trouble" and the moving "As Long as I Have You". All performed by The King of Rock and Roll in his glorious and vocally distinctive prime. Michael Curtiz directs assuredly and with finesse, making one of the best-directed Elvis films, while 'King Creole's' film noir photography and atmosphere are strikingly done.In conclusion, very good, tied for Elvis' best film and the best Elvis had to offer. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I watched this again recently and loved it. This film clearly shows that Elvis Presley can act! Elvis plays Danny, a rile that was originally meant for James Dean, but in my opinion Elvis is a much better actor than Dean ever was.OK there are the obligatory singing bits but even then the music is well in keeping with the story and shows Elvis at his very best.The title track 'King Creole' as well as 'Steadfast, Loyal and True', 'Hard Headed Woman', and 'Trouble'. In fact the beginning of this film is truly remarkable and one of the finest I have seen. Kitty White and Elvis sing 'Crawsish' along with an unknown bass singer. I believe this showed how good Elvis was as a white singer with a Black man's soul.Dean Jagger, Walter Matthau, Vic Morrow, Carolyn Jones are all good and play their parts perfectly.Such a shame that more of Elvis later films could not have been directed as well as by Michael Curtiz does in this film.Sadly he never made another film as good as this one, mainly due to his manager, Colonel Parker, forcing him into silly musical films.As another poster here rightly says this film is a hint at the movie career that Elvis could have had without his manager Col. Parker's constant greed to display his peacock client in an ever-grating role of innocence to make money. Brilliant film!

Made early in his career when he was still bursting with promise and not strait-jacketed by an image this is the best film Elvis ever made and probably his best performance. Based on one of Harold Robbins few good novels the film gives him a real character to play and shows that had he been allowed he could have progressed to becoming a fine actor. I'm not trying to knock him, in most of his films he's an enjoyable presence but except for Wild in the Country and this none of them required much in the way of stretching his ability.While he is memorable in the lead there are several other factors that help make this such a strong picture. Chief among them is the presence of the master of any genre Curtiz in the director's chair lending his firm hand to keep the film focused and compelling. Something else that adds to this is the cast. Elvis usually was supported by one sometimes two strong veteran actors or actresses but here the film is loaded to the rafters with talent. Walter Matthau, Dean Jagger, Paul Stewart, Vic Morrow and Dolores Hart all contribute strongly to the texture of the film with best in show honors going to Carolyn Jones as a fragile, damaged woman with a good heart. It's a standard role but she makes something quite lovely out of it.