ROUSTABOUT

US, 1964, 101 minutes, Colour.
Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, Sue Anne Langdon, Joan Freeman, Leif Erickson.
Directed by John Rich.

Roustabout is a routine Elvis Presley entertainment. It has a carnival setting and Elvis is a motor cyclist who has a talent for singing and drawing crowds. However, the interest in the film for many viewers will be Barbara Stanwyck as the owner of a carnival. (Commentators noted how she appeared in Edith Head designed dungarees and was never seen doing any of the manual work but was nevertheless a strong carnival leader.)

The film follows the usual pattern of Presley vehicles - highlighting the character, his being something of an outsider, clashes, falling in love, proving his worth. The film has a strong supporting cast and was directed by John Rich (Wives and Lovers, Boeing Boeing).

1. An entertaining Presley vehicle? Personality and presence? Type of character? America in the '60s? Singing, his particular style?

2. The use of Techniscope, carnival locations? A piece of Americana? The musical score? The songs, the vocal accompaniment?

3. The title and the focus on the carnival and Charlie Main's work? The humour of the carnival, the dangers and rivalries, money difficulties? Predictable themes?

4. Presley as Charlie: young, tough, orphan, karate, singing? In trouble, motor cycle, the clash with Maggie Moore? The encounter with Cathy Lean and her father? The opposition by her father? His pushing him off the road? The arguments and temper? Maggie helping him? Repairing the cycle, the broken guitar? His work as a roustabout? His work, interest in Cathy? His staying? His success with the songs? Not wanting to be tied down, the contract? The offer from Harry Carver? The dispute with Joe, the lost wallet, the joyride on the Wall of Death, rows? Going to Carver? Success? Cathy's arrival, discovering they're in love? His going back to Maggie? Rescuing it from bankruptcy? Typical Presley hero?

5. Barbara Stanwyck as Maggie Moore - the tough owner, the encounters with Charlie, friendship with Joe and Cathy, financial difficulties, the contract, Charlie's going, difficulties and Charlie to the rescue?

6. Cathy as typical heroine? Carnival assistant? Falling in love? Clashes with Charlie? Going to see him, reconciliation? Her father and his stern manner, clashes with Charlie?

7. The background characters of the carnival? Humour, glamour? Harry Carver as big business, unscrupulous, contracts?

8. The image of the young American offered by Presley - for the audiences of 1964? Now?