Roustabout (film)

Last updated
Roustabout
RoustaboutElvis.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by John Rich
Screenplay by
  • Anthony Lawrence
  • Allan Weiss
Story byAllan Weiss
Produced by Hal B. Wallis
Starring
Cinematography Lucien Ballard
Edited by
Music byJoseph J. Lilley
Production
company
Hal Wallis Productions
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • November 10, 1964 (1964-11-10)(USA) [1]
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3,300,000 (US/ Canada rentals) [2]

Roustabout is a 1964 American musical feature film starring Elvis Presley as a singer who takes a job working with a struggling carnival. The film was produced by Hal Wallis and directed by John Rich from a screenplay by Anthony Lawrence and Allan Weiss. The screenplay was nominated for a Writers Guild of America award for best written American musical although Roustabout received a lukewarm review in Variety . [3] The film's soundtrack album was one of Elvis Presley's most successful, reaching no. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart. [4] It was filmed in Techniscope at Paramount Studios, with carnival sequences shot in Thousand Oaks, California. Filming began in March 1964. [5] [6]

Contents

Plot

The Honda 305 Superhawk motorcycle used in the film Honda CB77 from the movie "Roustabout" (1964).jpg
The Honda 305 Superhawk motorcycle used in the film

Musician Charlie Rogers is fired from a job at a teahouse after brawling with several college students in the parking lot. After a night in jail, Charlie hits the road on his Honda 305 Superhawk motorcycle. He spots Cathy Lean driving with her father Joe, and their employer, Maggie Morgan. When Charlie tries to become friendly with Cathy, Joe forces him off the road and the bike is wrecked after crashing into a wooden fence.

Maggie offers him a place to stay and a job with her struggling traveling carnival while the bike is being repaired. Charlie becomes a "carnie", a roustabout. Maggie recognizes his musical talents and promotes him to feature attraction. His act soon draws large crowds. Charlie romances Cathy, which creates animosity with Joe. After the two men repeatedly clash and Charlie is accused of holding back a customer's lost wallet that Joe was accused of stealing, Charlie leaves to star in the much better financed show of rival carnival producer Harry Carver.

Once again, he is a great success. However, when Charlie learns that Maggie is facing bankruptcy, he returns to her carnival. In the musical finale, he is happily reunited with Cathy. Charlie goes back to the carnival to help rescue the carnival. Joe takes another swung at Charlie and Charlie defends himself. Maggie witnesses the fight and asks Charlie to be honest once in his life and stop being a louse. Charlie said he came back to save the carnival and because he loves Cathy.

Cast

Uncredited actors listed alphabetically:

Musical numbers

See also Roustabout (soundtrack)

All tunes in the film were sung by Presley.

Reception

Roustabout reached #8 nationally at the box office in 1964 based on the Variety survey. The film finished as #28 on the year-end list of the top-grossing movies of 1964 and earned $3 million at the box office.

The New York Times writer Howard Thompson complained about "little in the way of dramatic substance" and that the movie wasn't "nearly so trim a package" as Fun in Acapulco or Viva Las Vegas , but noted that Elvis was "perfectly cast" and "surprisingly convincing in his role." [7] Variety was lukewarm, faulting mainly a script "loaded with clichés", but noted the film would likely be a box-office hit based upon its star names, songs, and "Technicolor, Techniscope frame." [8] John L. Scott of the Los Angeles Times called the film "a trite, cliche-ridden story that has been thrown together to showcase Elvis Presley and his vocalizing. It serves its purpose well, and probably will prove a box office bonanza for producer Hal Wallis." [9] The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote, "Presley vehicles have sadly deteriorated since the days of Follow That Dream, and this amiable but uninspiring piece does nothing to halt the process, despite curiosity value provided by Barbara Stanwyck, back with Paramount for the first time in ten years." [10]

Quentin Tarantino called Roustabout one of Presley's most entertaining films and said that it had the best soundtrack of all of Presley's color films. [11]

Roustabout holds a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on nine reviews. [12]

Awards and honors

The film's screenwriters, Anthony Lawrence and Allan Weiss, were nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical. The film generated a best-selling soundtrack album that went #1 on the Billboard charts. The soundtrack album would be Presley's final #1 soundtrack and last #1 album until 1969's From Elvis in Memphis , which topped the charts in the U.K.

Related Research Articles

<i>Viva Las Vegas</i> 1964 film by George Sidney

Viva Las Vegas is a 1964 American rock and roll musical film directed by George Sidney, written by Sally Benson, choreographed by David Winters, and starring Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova, William Demarest and Nicky Blair. Set in Las Vegas, Nevada, the film is about two competing race car drivers who also compete for the same girl.

<i>G.I. Blues</i> 1960 film by Norman Taurog, Hal B. Wallis

G.I. Blues is a 1960 American musical comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley and Juliet Prowse. The movie – Presley’s fifth, but his first after discharge from the US Army – was filmed at Paramount Pictures studio, with some pre-production scenery shot on location in West Germany while Presley was stationed there. The movie won a 2nd place Laurel Award in the category of Top Musical of 1960.

<i>Stay Away, Joe</i> 1968 film by Peter Tewksbury

Stay Away, Joe is a 1968 American comedy western film with musical interludes, set in modern times and starring Elvis Presley, Burgess Meredith, Joan Blondell, Katy Jurado and Thomas Gomez. Directed by Peter Tewksbury, the film is based on the 1953 satirical farce novel of the same name by Dan Cushman. The film reached number 65 on the Variety weekly national box office chart in 1968.

<i>Live a Little, Love a Little</i> 1968 film by Norman Taurog

Live a Little, Love a Little is a 1968 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley. It was directed by Norman Taurog, who had directed several previous Presley films. This was to be Taurog's final film, as he went blind shortly after production ended. Presley shares the screen with fellow legendary singing idol Rudy Vallée, whose career dated to the 1920s, but Vallee, in his late 60s, did not sing in the film.

Winfield Scott, also known as Robie Kirk, was an American songwriter and singer. He wrote or co-wrote the hit songs "Tweedle Dee" for LaVern Baker, and he was a co-writer with Otis Blackwell of "Return to Sender" for Elvis Presley. "Return to Sender", written for the Presley film Girls! Girls! Girls!, was a U.K. No.1 single and peaked at No.2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Sid Wayne was an American songwriter, lyricist and composer, who wrote a number of well-known songs from the 1950s to the 1980s. Almost every Elvis Presley film contained one or more works written by Wayne and his partner Ben Weisman.

Florence Kaye was an American songwriter who worked with Bill Giant and Bernie Baum. She was born in New York City. She performed a radio show in Georgia and entertained troops for United Service Organizations. The three built a significant list of credits, including many songs recorded by Elvis Presley. The majority of their tunes were used in Presley's musicals. Their work was also credited in the American version of Osamu Tezuka's anime Kimba the White Lion (1965). The only hit song by the trio was Elvis' "(You're the) Devil in Disguise", in 1963.

Bernie Baum was a songwriter who worked extensively with Elvis Presley. He grew up in New York City and later worked with Harvey Zimmerman and Florence Kaye. The majority of their songs were used in Presley's musicals. He and his two collaborators also wrote a theme music package for the NBC Weekend radio service called "Monitor" in 1965. Their work was also credited in the American version of Osamu Tezuka's anime Kimba the White Lion (1965). He had a #1 Hit with his song "Music! Music! Music!", Teresa Brewer's B side recording which unexpectedly took off, selling over a million copies and becoming Teresa's signature song with his other works included:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roustabout</span> Worker with broad-based, non-specific skills

Roustabout is an occupational term. Traditionally, it referred to a worker with broad-based, non-specific skills. In particular, it was used to describe show or circus workers who handled materials for construction on fairgrounds. In modern times it is applied to rural employment, such as those assisting sheep shearing, and positions in the oil industry.

<i>This Is Elvis</i> 1981 film by Andrew Solt

This Is Elvis is a 1981 American documentary film about the life of Elvis Presley, written and directed by Andrew Solt and Malcolm Leo. It combines archival footage with reenactments, and voice-over narration by pop singer Ral Donner, imitating Presley's speaking voice. It was screened out of competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival. The film grossed $2 million at the box office in the U.S. and Canada, ranking #92 for 1981.

<i>Roustabout</i> (soundtrack) 1964 soundtrack album by Elvis Presley

Roustabout is the ninth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2999, in October 1964. It is the soundtrack to the 1964 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California, on March 2 and 3, and April 29, 1964. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Top LPs chart. It was certified Gold on May 20, 1988 by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album would be Presley's final soundtrack to reach number one and his last number one album until 1973's Aloha From Hawaii: Via Satellite.

<i>Harum Scarum</i> (soundtrack) 1965 soundtrack album by Elvis Presley

Harum Scarum is the eleventh soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3468, in November 1965. It is the soundtrack to the 1965 film of the same name starring Presley. It peaked at number eight on the Top LP's chart.

Bill Giant was an American songwriter whose work included over 40 songs for Elvis Presley.

"Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)" is a 1961 rock song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and was recorded by the Coasters for their 1962 album, Coast Along with the Coasters. The song reached #16 on the R&B chart and #23 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. The subject of the song is depicted as a burlesque dancer or exotic dancer, "wearing nothing but a button and a bow."

"Edge of Reality" is a song first recorded by Elvis Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1968 motion picture Live a Little, Love a Little, released to cinemas on October 23.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kissin' Cousins (song)</span> 1964 song by Elvis Presley

"Kissin' Cousins" is a song first recorded by Elvis Presley as the title track for the soundtrack of the 1964 motion picture Kissin' Cousins. The movie also featured a completely different song, titled "Kissin' Cousins ", written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye.

"Paradise, Hawaiian Style" is a song first recorded by Elvis Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1966 motion picture Paradise, Hawaiian Style.

"You Gotta Stop" is a song written by Bernie Baum, Bill Giant and Florence Kaye and originally recorded by Elvis Presley for the 1967 Paramount picture Easy Come, Easy Go. It was also featured on the soundtrack EP for the movie.

"Roustabout" is a song written by Bernie Baum, Bill Giant and Florence Kaye for Elvis Presley and the 1964 Paramount picture Roustabout. The song also appeared on the soundtrack album for the movie.

"Today, Tomorrow and Forever" is a song written by Bernie Baum, Florence Kaye and Bill Giant and based on a classical piano piece titled "Liebestraum" by Franz Liszt. Elvis Presley performed the song in the 1964 MGM film Viva Las Vegas.

References

  1. "Roustabout - Details". AFI Catalog of Feature Films . Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  2. This figure consists of anticipated rentals accruing distributors in North America. See "Big Rental Pictures of 1965", Variety, 5 January 1966 p 6
  3. Adam Victor. The Elvis Encyclopedia. Overlook, 2008.
  4. Billboard Magazine.
  5. Cotten, Lee (1987). The Elvis catalog: memorabilia, icons, and collectibles celebrating the king of rock 'n' roll. Doubleday. Page 115. ISBN   9780385237055.
  6. DeNight, Bill and Sharon Fox (2003). Elvis: Commemorative Edition. Publications International, Limited. Page 186. ISBN   9780785348900.
  7. Thompson, Howard (November 11, 1964). "Elvis Presley Stars in 'Roustabout,' a Movie About Carnivals". The New York Times . p. 38. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  8. "Roustabout". Variety : 6. November 11, 1964.
  9. Scott, John L. (November 28, 1964). "Elvis Sells New Film Musical". Los Angeles Times : Part III p7.
  10. "Roustabout". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 31 (371): 178. December 1964.
  11. Tarantino, Quentin (March 7, 2020). "Carny - (1980)". The New Beverly. Archived from the original on 2020-04-01. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  12. "Roustabout | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes .