Frankie and Johnny (1966)

Frankie & Johnny is in my opinion, not one of the better Elvis movies. But the star power was out in full force: Donna Doglas, Harry Morgan, Sue Ane Langdon.Elvis is a river boat gambler/hired singing help looking for a luck red head to help him find his fortune. His singing costar and paramour that is of blonde persuasion does not care for this behavior. Come for the songs, not the story!

Falling close to the middle of Presley's film career in both quantity and quality, this is an exercise in mediocrity with only a few things to recommend in it. Very loosely inspired by the classic title song, it showcases Presley as a riverboat performer and gambling addict. He has a relationship with his singing partner Douglas, but that is strained to the limit when he encounters Kovack, a redhead who he believes is essential in fulfilling his gypsy fortune to win big money at the roulette wheel. Unfortunately, Kovack is the one-time love of Presley's boss Eisley and he isn't quite ready to give her up yet, despite his own affair with kooky chorine Langdon. More direct comedy is provided by Morgan and Christie as Presley and Douglas' married friends. The shenanigans (including mistaken identity, flirtation, drunkenness and the roller coaster of the roulette wheel) all come to a head during a performance of the title song during which Presley's life is endangered. What may sound lively and entertaining in description is only partly so in reality. The pace of the film borders on stagnant, despite the setting, and the many songs Presley performs are chiefly forgettable and unimaginatively staged. Presley is close to his physical prime here, though his performance lacks any real spark. His infamous jet-black hair (which fails to ever move except for one cowlick in front) is incongruous with the time period, as are several of his costumes. It's surprising to see Douglas in a role other than her iconic Elly Mae Clampett. She is unable to ditch the accent from that character despite obviously trying to at various points. She is lovely to look at most of the time, but is obviously uncomfortable in the musical sequences in which her voice is dubbed and her movements are lacking in assurance. Morgan does a decent job, but Christie manages to outshine him with her caustic brand of dry humor. They share some of the movies most amusing bits. Langdon is, as usual, very broad in her role though she does contribute some energy to the proceedings. Eisley is adequate. Nothing more. Kovack is attractive, but, like Douglas, far from seeming at home in the musical interludes. The songs are mostly forgettable and the one major song, the title tune which has endured for so long, is rather mangled by switching it from a narrative style to a first-person number with people singing about themselves. Few things are as uncomfortable-looking as Presley loping down the street in his marching band get-up. Though the film has many colorful costumes and settings, it comes off as pretty cheap-looking. Fans of The King will still want to watch this for his brand of light romance and comedy, but it hardly ranks as one of his best outings.

"Frankie and Johnny" is undoubtedly one of, if not THE, worst of Elvis Presley's films. Mind you, none of Elvis' films were Academy Award material, but this film looked as if it were a hokey made-for-TV movie rather than a theatrical release. Donna Douglas' singing voice is obviously dubbed as is Harry Morgan's. Presley seems out of place in a cast made up primarily of 1960s supporting television actors. Even the director of the film, Frederick de Cordova, had his roots in TV working with George Burns and Johnny Carson - hardly credential enough to be directing a movie musical at a time when the movie musical was all but dead anyway.I walked away from the movie feeling as if I had wasted my time.

Romping, colorful Presley vehicle with plenty of songs and good comedy from Harry Morgan and Donna Douglas. Johnny (Presley) is a riverboat gambler who becomes convinced that a redhead is his good luck charm -- problem is, Frankie (Douglas) is a blonde! She goes after him with a gun, and the rest is in the song (a personal favorite of Elvis', I understand). Edward Small's production clearly outclasses the Sam Katzman drek Presley would soon be floundering in. Some fairly elaborate musical numbers well-executed, quality photography and decent directing. DVD is a good one, buy it Elvis fans.