Frankie and Johnny

This is an oddity in Elvis’ filmography: a quaint but pleasing musical comedy based on the popular song which had already inspired a similarly-titled film from 1936 starring Helen Morgan – apart from being featured in the Mae West vehicle SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933) and, again, as recently as Robert Altman’s A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION (2006).

The star isn’t entirely comfortable amid the 1890s riverboat setting, what with a few of his musical performances (and especially his hairdo) coming off as inextricably modern. Still, the plot – thin as it is – emerges to be quite engaging (what with its backdrop of fortune-telling, gambling parlors, variety acts and costume parties and involving mistaken identities, misunderstandings, an attempted murder and a bar-room brawl)! The cast presents three notable female roles: Donna Douglas (as Frankie), Nancy Kovack as Elvis’ red-headed lucky charm and the flame of his jealous boss, and Sue Ane Langdon as a ditzy “blonde” – who, along with Presley’s long-suffering sidekick Harry Morgan, turns out to be the most likable character as well as the purveyor of the film’s comic relief.

Elvis’ best ‘new’ number is “Hard Luck”; apart from the title tune, he also gets to sing the standard “When The Saints Go Marching In” (while dressed in full military regalia)! The film is short enough at 87 mins. not to overstay its welcome, but the rather low-key presentation also prevents it from being anything more than unassuming entertainment. I wouldn’t classify it among the top-flight Presley vehicles, therefore, but it’s certainly superior to some of the bigger-budgeted (yet simple-minded) fluff he made over at MGM – this being a production from independent producer Edward Small released through United Artists.

This movie was OK. Not good, not bad. Some of the songs leave a lot to be desired, but there was a pretty good supporting cast in this movie, Donna Douglas (The Beverly Hillbillies) and Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H*) to name a few. This was a typical Elvis movie, but the fact that it was on a riverboat set in the late 1800's early 1900's makes it interesting. There were a few good songs in this movie, but they were few and far between. A watchable movie, but nothing spectacular.

My first review on IMDB and it's an Elvis film! Seen them all and although he had done better films ie King Creole,Wild In The Country and Flaming Star to name a few, this isn't that bad. I thought some of the one liners extremely funny. Lack of sexual chemistry or any chemistry between Elvis and Donna Douglas but Elvis worked very well with M.A.S.H. veteran Harry Morgan. Most of the songs are forgettable but considering it's set in the late 1800's it's not supposed to be Rock and Roll. Good example of Tom Parker's mismanagement of Elvis during the 60's. Worse that year was Harum Scarum.......shudder!

Some fun names -- Elvis, kind of in the middle of his movie making days. Donna Douglas (Elly May), Harry Morgan (Dragnet, and MASH, of course!) Elvis is the singer on a riverboat casino, with Morgan on piany. Singer Donna Douglas made this while playing Elly May in Beverly Hillbillies. Johnny (Elvis) is on a losing streak, and is searching for the redhead that will end his bad run. his lady friend Frankie, not being a redhead, (Donna Douglas) doesn't like the sound of that! jealousy. anger. love triangle. some fun elvis songs you probably haven't heard him sing before. the costumes are SO bright, pink, red, yellow. and TERRIBLE voice dubbing for Harry Morgan, when they show him singing... it doesn't sound ANYTHING like him, and it's not good dubbing. the film is pretty good overall. worth seeing, since it IS one of the 31 films Elvis made. and they don't show this one very often. you have to buy into them. Directed by Freddy DeCordova, who directed all those Tonight Shows with Johnny Carson.

Elvis plays a singer with an addiction to gambling and of course he is surrounded by a string of beautiful women such as his singer/dancer partner and girlfriend Donna Douglas as well as Nancy Kovack, Joyce Jameson and I cannot forget to include the great Sue Ane Langdon who plays the bubbly and ditzy rebound girlfriend to a tee.

This was a light yet very satisfying Elvis feature film that has stood the test of time for over fifty (50) years and I would definitely want it included in his franchise collection if one is ever released.

Great song and dance numbers and a decent plot as well. A classic Elvis Presley franchise film with great songs, dance, action and plenty of attractive women that I would be more than happy to gamble on.

A pleaseing 7 out of 10 IMDB rating