Best movie ever!

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Blistering performances.

Elvis stars as a young man in New Orleans who, after failing out of high school, is working as a busboy in a nightclub to supplement his family income. He draws the attention of kept woman Carolyn Jones one night when he saves her from some drunken thugs, and this draws some unwelcome attention from the man who keeps her ... gangster Walter Matthau. His neck is saved when he demonstrates a talent for singing, and instead of killing him, Matthau offers him a job. Elvis turns Matthau down, instead taking a job at the KIng Creole, a nightclub run by nice guy Paul Stewart. Matthau enlists local thug Vic Morrow to change Elvis's mind. This is easily one of the best films Elvis appeared in. It's a fairly gritty street level crime film, shot in black and white by studio veteran Michael Curtiz and featuring a fantastic group of supporting actors. A lot happens in this film. I have left out his relationship with Dolores Hart, who he meets while robbing a five & dime with Morrow, and the struggles of his dad Dean Jagger at his demeaning job. This is a real film. The music Elvis performs is mostly a blend of light R&B and rock & roll and it suits him better than some of the pop fluff he sings in later films.

"King Creole" is a must for Elvis fans everywhere.There was a darkness in this movie something like Rebel Without a Cause set in New Orleans. Elvis was even darker than James Dean....in this movie. Violence, brutality, Organized Crime.... sex, and death....surrounded Danny, the main character. Elvis brought some light to this brutal story with his on screen performance....riveting for it's time. A tragic film with depth and superb acting by Elvis. Along the way, he also performs brilliant, knockout musical numbers like "New Orleans," "Trouble," "Dixieland Rock," and the amusing "Lover Doll".Elvis was surrounded by high-caliber star power in his third motion picture, With Walter Matthau, Carolyn Jones, Dean Jagger, and Vic Morrow. Add Michael Curtiz (who directed Humphrey Bogart in a number of films one of which was Casablanca) as director and also the superb Lieber-Stoller soundtrack songs, and you have a winning formula. Apparently, Elvis never really liked Jazz music, but he certainly forgot all about that when he cut the soundtrack to this movie.King Creole has Elvis in a serious dramatic role, AND singing his heart out, both with great success. Don't see it just because it's an "Elvis picture", see it because it's a really fine film.

King Creole is actually a good movie with pretty good story. It's one of Elvis' best films. The movie is a crime-drama with some hip-shaking songs thrown into the mix. The singing in the film is actually a part of the story line since the character Danny is a singer - it's not just some random musical interlude which is the case with most of Elvis' movies.The soundtrack is actually a nice one if you like Elvis and the songs fit the movie very well. Although the music is not the only reason to watch or ignore the film.King Creole is a must see for Elvis fans and movie goers alike. It is one of Elvis' best film and character roles.And let's not forget that Carolyn Jones is in this flick! Another reason to watch the film! She is great in this movie as the "floozy" Ronnie that Danny falls for.9/10

About a year and a half ago I bout the DVD for about 2 Euros and I don't remember just how often I've seen this film ever since! It simply makes you an addict, and that's because it's not an Elvis film but a serious film with Elvis in the lead role. It has the King and his music, but it has so much more - the New Orleans set, the great cast (you'll simply have to love Carolyn Jones! And you'll simply love to hate Vic Morrow - nearly as great as in "The Blackboard Jungle" - and Walter Matthau as the mob boss!). The whole atmosphere is dark and gritty thanks to Michael Curtiz' noir direction. And finally the plot - an adaptation of Harold Robbins' novel "A Stone for Danny Fisher" - is dramatic and exciting! There are more films whith great performances by Elvis - "Jailhouse Rock", "Flaming Star" or "Viva Las Vegas" - but this one really is the cream of the crop! My favorite line - a comment on the Elvis character - is Vic Morrow's: "Good boy! Fights real dirty!"