Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

King Creole Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 13, 2021

The 1958 film King Creole, Directed by the legendary Michael Curtiz (The Adventures of Robin Hood, Casablanca), may have all the looks of a simple star vehicle from the outside, an opportunity for star Elvis Presley (Viva Las Vegas, Jailhouse Rock) to draw audiences with his butter-smooth baritone and timeless good looks. But audiences may be surprised to find that the film, based on Harold Robbins' 1952 novel A Stone for Danny Fisher, embraces both Elvis-as-star and Elvis-as-serious-actor in a film that builds a compelling portrait of a young man in search of his place in the world. The film works through some complex character maneuverings as Danny Fisher, played by Presley, navigates troubled waters at school, on the streets, at work, in love, and through a fractured relationship with his unemployed father. Heartfelt, sometimes humorous, home to some great music, and compelling through its richly realized layers and spurred on by solid work from Elvis Presley, King Creole emerges as a solid all-around film and arguably the best from Elvis' cinema career.

Danny Fisher (Presley) is a young man on the cusp of high school graduation who more-or-less has his head on straight but is finding it hard to find his place in the world. He's a gifted singer who is working honest jobs before and after school to help make ends meet; his father (Dean Jagger) is a pharmacist with a quarter-century experience under his belt but is finding it increasingly difficult to gain employment in the field. While at work one morning, Danny meets Ronnie (Carolyn Jones) whom he winds up kissing in front of his classmates at school. That, and the fight that ensues with a classmate, leaves him ineligible to graduate. Rather than slog through another year, he drops out of school against his father's wishes. Soon, Danny finds himself as part of a gang, led by Shark (Vic Morrow), and using his singing talents to distract customers and employees at stores while the others commit petty larceny. In the process, he meets Nellie (Dolores Hart) with whom he slowly builds a romantic relationship. Soon, Danny's talents are recognized and he finds himself torn between the his loyalty to the owner of the King Creole nightclub, operated by Charlie LeGrand (Paul Stewart), and Maxie Fields (Walter Matthau), who wants Danny performing at his club by hook or by crook.

The film’s star isn’t necessarily Elvis but rather the character he plays. Danny Fisher proves to be a compelling and well-rounded character who is just trying to get through life as best he knows how, within his rather small, but slowly growing, sphere of influence and area of operation. Dead-end work, small time thievery, various love interests, and a difficult relationship with his father, not to mention his uncanny singing ability and growing demands for his talents pushing his life this way and that, altogether lead him through a murky world he can only navigate one moment at a time. Danny is never free from trial, be it physical or emotional. The film puts him through the figurative wringer as he attempts to wrong rights and find his place as a son, a singer, and a lover.

Presley turns in one of the best performances of his career for King Creole. His performance is layered and compelling, refusing for this character to be defined by the musical performances but instead working hard and digging deep to build and expose the humanity that gives life to the talent and the man on the stage. His Danny Fisher has his head on right, most of the time, even if it’s manipulated by external influences now and then that can lead him to some darker places with disastrous results. Presley may not prove to be the world’s foremost actor in the film but this is the entertainer at his very best, blessed with great material and a solid cast around him that challenges him to elevate, which he does to wonderful result. This is arguably the best film and best performance of his screen career.

King Creole Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

King Creole' 1080p transfer is gorgeous, largely, with little evidence of significant processing. Paramount's Blu-ray retains a light, flattering grain structure that yields a healthy filmic façade that boosts the image's credentials in every shot. Textural finesse is excellent. The picture is sharp and sure with only the odd shot appearing otherwise soft or fuzzy. In general, though, details are thoroughly crisp and well defined, whether considering essentials like faces and clothes or stretching to explore backgrounds in the clubs (both on the floor and in backrooms), apartments, and the odds and ends scattered around the pharmacy where Danny's father eventually finds employment, troubled employment but employment nonetheless. The black and white photography impresses as well. The grayscale is sure and firm with solid black levels and, at the other end, pleasantly crisp whites, certainly neither nowhere near so precise as they might have been on a theoretical UHD release with Dolby Vision grading, but fans will be more than pleased with the spectrum as it's presented on Blu-ray. The image suffers from very few obviously visible print anomalies or fluctuations and there are no major encode failures of note, either. This is a very healthy and impressive Blu-ray presentation from Paramount.

King Creole Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

King Creole's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack is primarily a front-sided affair, focusing all of its attention across the three main channels and barely, if at all, engaging the surrounds in any meaningful way. Yet the track is well capable of a fruitful presentation as it is, boasting fine front end stretch and solid all-around elemental clarity. Musical performances -- from Presley's soft a cappella numbers to full band musical sensations -- enjoy fruitful clarity and engagement. The track doesn't deal in much more than light scattered ambience and there are no seriously hard-hitting action-type effects of note, either. Music and dialogue primarily propel the film forward. Spoken word definition is just fine, featuring firm center placement for the duration.

King Creole Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

King Creole includes a single extra. Filmmaker Focus: 'King Creole' (1080p, 6:10) features Film Critic and Historian Leonard Maltin discussing Director Michael Curtiz's direction and his collaboration with Elvis Presley, Danny Fisher's believability and likability as a character, the film's aesthetics, Hal Wallis' work as producer, the music, the film's success, and more. This release is the 2nd in the "Paramount Presents" line and includes the slipcover with fold-open poster artwork. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase.

King Creole Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

King Creole tells the compelling story of a young man in search of his place in the world. It's an old story but given a fresh perspective here thanks to Elvis Presley's quality performance as the lead and the complexities of his character's life and journey. He's surrounded by top talent and solid direction from the legendary Michael Curtiz. Paramount's Blu-ray, part of its prestigious "Paramount Presents" line, delivers high yield video and audio presentations in addition to a retrospective interview with Critic Leonard Maltin. Very highly recommended.