Fight scene with Shark from
King Creole
MOVIE ROLE
Elvis's fourth pre-Army film was adapted from the novel, "A STONE FOR DANNY FISHER" written by Harold Robbins. Hal Wallis acquired the rights to the book in February 1955 for $25,000. The original plan was for James Dean to play the role. Unfortunately, that plan was scrapped due to Dean's untimely death in September 1955. So in January 1957, when the decision was made to cast Elvis Presley in the lead role of Danny Fisher, Danny's character was changed from a boxer in New York to a singer in New Orleans.
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ELVIS'S SECOND PARAMOUNT MOVIE
ELVIS'S SECOND PARAMOUNT MOVIE
Click Here To Read "A STONE FOR DANNY FISHER"
Publicity Shot for
King Creole
"KING CREOLE" is considered to be one of the best movie roles Elvis ever received. It showed he could have been a superb dramatic actor. Unfortunately, most of the post-Army scripts did not allow that to happen.
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THE MOVIE ROLE
THE MOVIE ROLE
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CLICK HERE for movie performance of "LOVER DOLL."
"KING CREOLE" was filmed at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California and on location in New Orleans.
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KITTY WHITE
"LOVER DOLL" (MP3 Download)
"CATFISH" is the first song performed by Elvis in "KING CREOLE" which happens to be a duet with the late American Jazz Singer, Kitty White. There is very little known about her, and she's never spoken of in any of the Elvis biographies outside of her name being mentioned in a rather happenstance way. Even then they use her maiden, Bilbrew and not White.
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KITTY WHITE
KITTY WHITE
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Kitty White was born Kitty Jean Bilbrew on Saturday, July 7, 1923, in Los Angeles, California to an entertainment family. Her parents were vocalists and her uncle had been a vaudevillian. Later her twin sister, Maudie Jeanette, sang and worked for Duke Ellington’s revue.
At sixteen Kitty began her profession as a singer and a pianist. With her deep soulful sound, she had extraordinary pitch and became popular in several Los Angeles night clubs including the Hob Nob, Club Gala, the Haig, and The Captain's Table. When Kitty opened at the Black Orchid in Chicago, Illinois, she signed with Mercury records.
Kitty performed "HUSH, LITTLE ONE, HUSH" in the 1955 film, "THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER" and the 1955 film "KISS ME DEADLY" where Kitty performed the song "RATHER HAVE THE BLUES" for actress Mady Comfort, who was falsely credited with the song because she was a more visually marketable African American woman for that particular role in the 1950s.
(1923 - 2009)
CLICK HERE - ORIGINAL ACETATE FOR "CRAWFISH"
CLICK HERE - "HUSH, LITTLE ONE, HUSH"
BOX OFFICE
In a scene with Carolyn Jones and Walter Matthau.
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Elvis signed a contract with Hal Wallis for "KING CREOLE," where he would be paid half a million dollars and fifty percent of the profits. When Elvis received his draft notice in December 1957, Paramount Pictures had already spent three hundred thousand dollars in production cost which was now in danger of being lost. To ensure the continuation of the movie’s production, Elvis requested a three-month deferment so the film could be completed. Like any other young man who needed to get his affairs in order before serving, Elvis's deferment was granted.
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"THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER: THE BETRAYAL OF ELVIS PRESLEY" (Chapter 6 - Pages 216-218)
However, his deferment brought on erroneous screams from underhanded politicians and critics crying "unfair." They twisted the truth of his deferment by concealing how a deferment only delayed an entry date; it did not decrease the amount of time a man spent in the military.
RELEASE DATES
Deleted scene with Dolores Hart.
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"KING CREOLE" was released nationally by Paramount on Wednesday, July 2, 1958, while Elvis was stationed at Fort Hood, a U.S. military base in Killeen, Texas. It climbed to number five in box office earnings on the Variety National Survey.
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INTERNATIONAL RELEASE DATES
August 28, 1958
United Kingdom
France
April 1, 1960
December 5, 1958
April 2, 1961
Spain
August 19, 1959
Italy
March 30, 1959
Denmark
Norway
Holland
Finland
May 29, 1959
February 25, 1959
Japan
Sweden
June 19, 1959
October 27, 1958
November 16, 1964
Turkey
CAST
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Carolyn Jones as Ronnie
Elvis Presley as Danny Fisher
Publicity still for
RELEASE DATES
CAST (CONTINUES)
Walter Matthau as Maxie Fields
Dolores Hart as Nellie
Dean Jagger as Mr. Fisher
Vic Morrow as Shark
Paul Stewart as Charlie LeGrand
Jan Shepared as Mimi Fisher
Brian G. Hutton as Sal
Jack Grinnage as Dummy
Dick Winslow as Eddie Burton
Raymond Bailey as Principal Evans
King Creole
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Helene Hatch as Mrs. Pearson (uncredited)
Val Avery as Ralph (uncredited)
Trustin Howard as King Creole’s Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
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Sam Buffington as Dr. Martin Cabot (uncredited)
On location during the filming of "KING CREOLE."
CAST
CAST CONTINUES
Alexander Lockwood as Dr. Patrick (uncredited)
Gavin Gordon as Mr. Primont - Druggist (uncredited)
Scotty Moore as the Guitar player (uncredited)
Bill Black as the Bass player (uncredited)
D.J. Fontana as the Drummer (uncredited)
Jordannaires as the backup singers (uncredited)
Eugene Jackson as the Saxophonist in Blue Shade (uncredited)
Candy Candido as the King Creole Doorman (uncredited)
Walter Merrill as Mr. McIntyre (uncredited)
Ric Roman as Eddie (uncredited)
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Tony Russel as Chico (uncredited)
Kitty White the Street Vendor duet in “Crawfish” (uncredited)
Fred Winston as Shark's Brother (uncredited)
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Ziva Rodann as King Creole’s Banana Dance Entertainer (uncredited)
Drugstore scene with Nellie played by Dolores Hart.
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CAST (CONTINUES)
Hazel Boyne as the Woman Asking for Water (uncredited)
Charles Evans as Mr. Furst (uncredited)
Ned Glass as the Hotel Desk Clerk(uncredited)
Liliane Montevecchi as Forty Nina
Reita Green as the Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
Susanne Sidney as a Salesgirl (uncredited)
Jacqueline Park as a Salesgirl (uncredited)
Chalky Williams as a Bartender (uncredited)
Thomas Martin as a Bartender (uncredited)
Cliff Gleaves as the guy leaving the brothel (uncredited)
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PHOTOGRAPH: Performing at the "KING CREOLE" with his backup singers and band the Blue Moon Boys and the Jordanaires.
CAST
PLOT NEXT
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The Blue Moon Boys played the part of Elvis's movie band and the Jordanaires his backup singers. At one point during the movie, Scotty Moore admits that he donned Elvis's shirt for them to shoot the close-up of his hands playing a complex guitar solo.
"THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER: THE BETRAYAL OF ELVIS PRESLEY" (Introduction II - Page XXV)
PLOT: SPOILER ALERT
CAST
PLOT (CONTINUES)
Play Movie Trailer
Elvis Presley plays a nineteen-year-old high school student named Danny Fisher. Danny's mother passed away three years ago and his father, Mr. Fisher (played by Dean Jagger), grieves to the point where he stops working as a pharmacist, loses his pharmacy, and the family's home. Mr. Fisher can't pull himself together, so all through Danny's high school years, he has to assume the "man of the house" responsibilities by working before and after school to support not only himself but also his father and his sister, Mimi (played by Jan Shepard).
PHOTOGRAPH: Scene with Jan Shepard.
MOVIE RENTAL CLICK HERE
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Far-left photograph of Elvis on location with fans.
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PLOT BEGINS
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On the day before graduation, Danny arrives at his morning job, The Blue Shade, a nightclub owned by gangster Maxie Field's (played by Walter Matthau). While trying to clean up, he meets and rescues a woman named, Ronnie (played by Carolyn Jones), from one of Maxie's drunken friends, making him late for school.
When Danny and Ronnie arrive tardy to his school, one of his female classmates informs him that Miss Pearson (played by Helene Hatch) marked him absent for the day. Another male student (played by Fred Winston) begins insulting Ronnie. Ronnie, who has taken a liking to Danny immediately insists on Danny kissing her before she leaves. After the cab pulls off, the same male classmate continues making snide comments. Danny being a hothead punches the instigator and winds up in Principal Evans's (played by Raymond Bailey) office. Miss Pearson tells Principal Evans that Danny attacked two (not the one in reality) of his classmates, and he will not graduate the next day. When Principal Evans backs up Miss Pearson's decision, Danny decides to drop out of school.
As Danny leaves the school grounds, he is forced into an alley by three ruffians about his age. The leader of this small gang, Shark (played by Vic Morrow), tells Danny that the student he hit at school that morning was his brother. Shark pulls out a blade and attacks Danny. Danny deflects the attack, presses Shark against the wall choking him, and warns the other two that he will bash Shark's brain if they pick up the knife which had fallen to the ground in the scuffle. Danny releases Shark. As a sign of admiration for his quickness and fighting skills, Shark invites Danny to join their gang. Danny declines the offer.
Arriving at home, Danny and his father have a heart to heart, which turns into an argument about Danny finishing school, not working on Bourbon Street anymore, and building a career for himself. When Mr. Fisher tries to assure Danny that he is getting a job, Danny tells his father that he doesn't want to be beaten down like him and storms out of the apartment.
PLOT: SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUED)
"TROUBLE" (Click for movie scene)
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Danny meets up to join Shark and his gang. Shark convinces Danny to distract the customers, employees, and owner of the local five-and-dime on Charles Street by singing. So Danny serenades the crowd with "LOVER DOLL," while the other three make off with quite a bit of merchandise. Danny finishes his song and discovers the counter girl, Nellie (played by Dolores Hart), observed the robbery and knew he was in on it. Danny becomes nervous when she inquiries about his partaking in the petty crime, so he relies on his masculine charms and invites her out on a date to keep her from ratting him out.
In the next scene, Danny's father holds up his end of the bargain by getting a job at a pharmacy. Mr. Primont (played by Gavin Gordon), the manager of the pharmacy doesn't want to hire Mr. Fisher because he's an older man. Primont's boss forces him to hire Danny's father, reminding him how the last four younger employees didn't work out.
That evening while Danny is busting tables at the Blue Shade, Shark shows up to let him know how much they earned from the stolen goods. Ronnie walks in with Maxie Fields who becomes irritated when Danny attempts to greet her. When Maxie asks Ronnie how she knows the busboy, she tells him she heard him sing. Maxie challenges Danny to perform a song on stage. Danny rises to the challenge by singing "TROUBLE" resulting in Maxie eating crow.
While on stage, Danny gets the attention of another club owner, Charlie LeGrand (played by Paul Stewart). LeGrand owns the King Creole and offers Danny a singing job, while Maxie tries to stop Danny from accepting the offer. Danny answers both of them by saying he has a date.
"TROUBLE" (MP3 Download)
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Photograph: Performing at the King Creole.
On his way to pick up Nellie, he stops in the alley to collect his share of the money from Shark. There he finds how Dummy (played by Jack Grimmage) was being cheated. Danny evens out the shares between the four of them, telling Dummy that if Shark tries to take the money back, let him know. Shark tells Danny he doesn't want him around anymore. Danny agrees. While leaving, Dummy thanks Danny profusely, which will pay off later for Danny.
Danny meets Nellie outside of the five-and-dime for their date. He tries to seduce her by tricking her into a fictitious party given by phantom friends at a cheap hotel. When Nellie isn't down for what Danny's pitching, he takes her home.
On his way from dropping Nellie off, he runs into Ronnie where she assures him that LeGrand is not only an upstanding guy, his club is the only club on Bourbon Street that isn't threatened into paying off Maxie.
Ronnie warns Danny that he needs to leave before Maxie shows up, but before he leaves, they plan an informal date. Danny insists on her kissing him before he leaves, the same way she insisted that morning at his school.
The next morning Danny takes his father's lunch to him at his new job and witnesses his father being verbally abused by his new employer, Mr. Primont. Hating the situation his father is in, Danny goes to the King Creole and inquires about the singing job. LeGrand tells Danny the pay starts at $85.00/week. Danny tells LeGrand his father is against him working on Bourbon Street and invites LeGrand to dinner to try and sway his father's opinion.
At dinner, Mr. Fisher is outraged at LeGrand's offer and pretty much puts him out. Danny and his father argue, and Danny storms out to accept LeGrand's offer who is charming Mimi into having a drink with him.
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SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUES)
Photograph: Maxie Fields forcing Danny Fisher into a contract.
As time rolls on, Danny becomes a big hit on Bourbon Street, a romantic relationship develops between Charlie LeGrand and Mimi, while Danny and Nellie continue to get closer, as well.
Even with Danny's new and improved income from singing, his father does not quit the pharmacy job. He continues to take abuse from his employer and is still adamantly opposed to Danny working at the King Creole or singing anywhere for that matter.
Shark devises a plan to get Danny in on a crime so they'll have something to blackmail him with. The idea is to steal the pharmacy’s deposit by mugging Mr. Primont while on his way to making the bank deposit. Shark will get the money and Danny will no longer have to see his father being abused by his employer.
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In the meantime, Shark starts working for Maxie. His first assignment is to find a way to get Danny to leave the King Creole and start working for Maxie.
On the evening of the robbery, Danny tries to talk Shark out of it but is not successful. While Danny stands as a lookout half a block away from the mugging, Shark and one of his cronies wait for Primont. However, it's Danny's father dressed in Primont's hat and coat who's carrying the bank deposit; Danny's too far away to see it's his father. Shark, on the other hand, recognizes it's Danny's father, hits Mr. Fisher hard enough across his head to knock him out and robs him.
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SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUES)
Maxie takes it to another level by threatening to bomb the King Creole. This finally forces Danny to submit to Maxie's demands. Maxie pulls out a blank sheet of paper for Danny to sign, which Maxie intends to fill out later. Reluctantly, Danny signs and storms out.
With the blank contract with Maxie forcing Danny to leave the King Creole, circumstances force him to break off his growing relationship with Nellie as well.
When Danny gets back to the King Creole, he is distraught over the robbery. He is informed that it was his father who was mugged and rushed to the emergency room. Danny's father was hit so hard that he needs costly surgery to relieve pressure from his brain. Neither Danny nor his sister can afford it and LeGrand can only come up with $500. Maxie who’s hiding behind the scene, pays for the surgery. This puts Danny in financial debt to Maxie; an scheme to get Danny to leave the King Creole.
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Mr. Fisher decides to meet with Maxie in an attempt to convince him to let Danny go back to the King Creole. When Shark walks in on their meeting, Mr. Fisher recognizes him as his attacker. He tells Maxie that if he lets Danny go, he won't turn Shark into the police. Maxie tells him he won't do it and reveals that Danny was in on his mugging as well.
PLOT: SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUED)
Meanwhile, Dummy finds Danny to tell him his father is meeting with Maxie. When Danny catches up with his father he tries to explain, but from his father's response, he doesn't want to hear his son's explanation.
Danny works to pay off Maxie, so the plot to get him to leave the King Creole fails. Next Maxie gets Shark to summon Danny to his home. There Ronnie is waiting for Danny to set him up. She needs Danny to spend sexual time with her for a price to get Danny in more debt to Maxie. Danny refuses her offer. Ronnie begs him to stay letting him know if she fails in this plot Maxie will get rough with her. Danny feels sorry for her decides to stay awhile. When they wind up in a passionate embrace, Maxie enters the room as planned. He threatens Danny with telling his father about the robbery and how his son was in on it. Not to be messed with, Danny threatens Maxie's life.
MOVIE POSTER
PLOT: SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUED)
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While badly wounded from the fight with Shark, and with Maxie's gang on the lookout for him, Danny tries to go home, but his father won't let him in. Nearly passing out from blood loss, Ronnie who was told about the latest events from Dummy, finds Danny and takes him to what she believes is a secret place for him to hide. She bandages him up, but he remains unconscious for two days. When he does come out of it, he and Ronnie begin to get intimate.
Publicity Still for "KING CREOLE"
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Danny retaliates by beating up Maxie and helping Ronnie escape. Finding himself lying on the floor after the beating, Maxie calls Shark who with another member of Maxie's minions, goes after Danny. Danny ditches into an alley where he knocks the other man out and kills Shark in a knife fight.
PLOT: SPOILER ALERT (CONTINUED)
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BACK TO MOVIE DIRECTORY
THE END
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Maxie along with Dummy arrive at Ronnie's secret place. With a gun in hand, Maxie shoots and kills Ronnie. Maxie continues shooting at Danny until Dummy stops Maxie by grabbing him. They both fall into the water. The gun goes off killing Maxie.
With Maxie finally dead, Danny returns to the King Creole. Nellie welcomes him back, but he tells her that with everything that has happened, it's not the right time for them. While he's on stage, Mr. Fisher finally comes to see his son perform.