It's 1964 & this is a somewhat interesting curiosity seeing Elvis as a free spirited motorcycling singing musician. "Roustabout" shows Elvis kind of reverting back to his 1950's rebel image to a certain point but without the sideburns & duck-tail & with black leather. He's a bit of an angry young man & a hothead like his character in "Jailhouse Rock" & is self centered & unsympathetic & not too likable. But Charlie Rodgers is watered down compared to Vince Everett in "Jailhouse Rock".
It has a good cast with some big legends like Barbara Stanwyck, Leif Erickson & Steve Brodie & they elevate the movie with some memorable performances. This is a formulated musical with an edge & with serious moments so it's not all tongue & cheek & bubblegum like a lot of his '60's musicals were. Leif Erickson as Joe hates Elvis's character for most of the movie until Elvis redeems himself by the end.
There's also Pat Buttram from "Green Acres" as a big shot carnival master who gives Elvis a better offer after Elvis burns his bridges with Joe & Maggie. Other memorable scenes is when Steve Brodie arrogantly never misses the target when he keeps throwing balls dunking Joan Freeman plunging in the water endlessly. And the "Wall of Death" motorcycle show. And of course Elvis sings but his role in this story is a singer & Elvis sings 10 songs. The songs are OK but nothing to write home about.
It's not one of Elvis's best movies but it's not one of his worst either. But it's one of his better formulated musical dramas that has some realism & the characters are believable & down to earth. If you want to see Elvis in quality musicals this one & "Kid Galahad" & "Follow That Dream" are good choices because these films are more realistic & tell a story unlike the rest of the trash he was doing during most of the 1960's.Regardless if you're an Elvis fan or not stay away from most of his '60's cliché musicals they're a waste of time. But Roustabout is watchable even on repeated viewings but it's not worth buying for my money.
It has a good cast with some big legends like Barbara Stanwyck, Leif Erickson & Steve Brodie & they elevate the movie with some memorable performances. This is a formulated musical with an edge & with serious moments so it's not all tongue & cheek & bubblegum like a lot of his '60's musicals were. Leif Erickson as Joe hates Elvis's character for most of the movie until Elvis redeems himself by the end.
There's also Pat Buttram from "Green Acres" as a big shot carnival master who gives Elvis a better offer after Elvis burns his bridges with Joe & Maggie. Other memorable scenes is when Steve Brodie arrogantly never misses the target when he keeps throwing balls dunking Joan Freeman plunging in the water endlessly. And the "Wall of Death" motorcycle show. And of course Elvis sings but his role in this story is a singer & Elvis sings 10 songs. The songs are OK but nothing to write home about.
It's not one of Elvis's best movies but it's not one of his worst either. But it's one of his better formulated musical dramas that has some realism & the characters are believable & down to earth. If you want to see Elvis in quality musicals this one & "Kid Galahad" & "Follow That Dream" are good choices because these films are more realistic & tell a story unlike the rest of the trash he was doing during most of the 1960's.Regardless if you're an Elvis fan or not stay away from most of his '60's cliché musicals they're a waste of time. But Roustabout is watchable even on repeated viewings but it's not worth buying for my money.