Danielle Solzman
Thanks to the new Paramount Presents line of films being remastered on Blu-ray, 1958 classic King Creole comes to Blu-ray for the first time.
It isn’t only that the film is presented here on Blu-ray for the first time but it’s been remastered from a 4K film transfer. With a vast library of titles to choose from, the Michael Curtiz film was among the first three to get issued–joining both To Catch a Thief and the more recent Fatal Attraction.
This film marked Elvis Presley’s fourth feature film and the Presley film to be released by Paramount. Casablanca‘s Michael Curtiz helms the film, reteaming with producer Hal Wallis. Walter Matthau is featured here in one of his earlier feature film roles. The actor–yet to work with either Billy Wilder or Jack Lemmon at this point in his career–plays a mobster, Maxie Fields, and gets beaten up by The King.
When the film rights were first optioned by Hal Wallis, Danny Fisher was a boxer and the film was set in New York. Things changed when James Dean died and would eventually be retooled so as to play to Presley’s strengths. The character became a singer and the location moved down to New Orleans. Though to be fair, the film was shot both on location and in Hollywood.
The only listed special feature for the release is a filmmaker focus with noted film critic/historian Leonard Maltin. Maltin hits it right on the money when he describes Elvis Presley as being at both his musical and dramatic peaks. Viewers are also able to play songs individually by selecting the scenes.
DIRECTOR: Michael Curtiz
SCREENWRITERS: Herbert Baker and Michael Vincente Gazzo
CAST: Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau, Dolores Hart, Dean Jagger, Vic Morrow, with Liliane Montevecchi and Paul Stewart
