Roustabout (1964)
Overview
After a singer loses his job at a coffee shop, he finds employment at a struggling carnival, but his attempted romance with a teenager leads to friction with her father.
Cast
Elvis Presley
Charlie Rogers
Barbara Stanwyck
Maggie Morgan
Joan Freeman
Cathy Lean
Leif Erickson
Joe Lean
Sue Ane Langdon
Madame Mijanou
Pat Buttram
Harry Carver
Joan Staley
Marge
Dabbs Greer
Arthur Nielsen
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Wuchak
_**Elvis joins a carnival**_
A talented drifter with no family and an attitude joins a carnival in Southern Cal and soon becomes the main attraction. Barbara Stanwyck plays the owner of the carnival, Joan Freeman the love interest and Pat Buttram a rival in the biz.
“Roustabout” (1964) is easily one of the better Elvis flicks (for me, at least), probably because the setting is the carnival & carnies, but also because the story is serious (rather than farcical) and more captivating than most. Presley’s character, Charlie Rogers, makes for a great protagonist with whom to identify. Meanwhile, the presence of the towering Stanwyck is always compelling, plus Buttram’s character is perfectly suited for him. A plus is the many attractive showgirls in the periphery.
I’d put it on par with "Kid Galahad" (1962) and “Viva Las Vegas" (1964), although the latter is more of a fun farce; “Roustabout” is a serious drama with some musical sequences.
The film runs 1 hour, 41 minutes, and was shot in Potrero Valley, Thousand Oaks, California, & Paramount Studios.
GRADE: B
