Main Cast: Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Freeman, Leif Erickson, Sue Ane Langdon
Release Year: 1964
Country: US
Run Time: 101 minutes
Plot
Charlie Rogers (Elvis Presley) is a coffeehouse singer who joins a financially troubled carnival in Roustabout. He is hired by owner Maggie Morgan (Barbara Stanwyck) and soon catches the eye of his pretty female co-worker Cathy Lean (Joan Freeman). Cathy's irate father Joe (Leif Erickson) clashes with Charlie when he tries to romance his daughter, but Charlie's singing helps bring in the much-needed money for the failing carnival and keeps the wolves from the big tent show. A disagreement has Charlie joining another carnival before things are smoothed out. Watch for Raquel Welch and Terry Garr in bit parts. Presley delivers 11 songs, the highlight being the Mike Leiber/Jerry Stoller tune"Little Egypt". ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Hal Pereira - Art Director, Walter Tyler - Art Director, Earl Barton - Choreography, Edith Head - Costume Designer, John Rich - Director, Warren Low - Editor, Joseph Lilley - Composer (Music Score), Joseph L. Lilley - Composer (Music Score), Lucien Ballard - Cinematographer, Farciot Edouart - Cinematographer, Hal B. Wallis - Producer, Robert R. Benton - Set Designer, Sam Comer - Set Designer, Paul K. Lerpae - Special Effects, Allan Weiss - Screenwriter, Anthony Lawrence - Screenwriter, Paul Nathan - Screenwriter
Musician Charlie Rogers (Elvis Presley) is fired from a gig at a teahouse after brawling with a few rowdy college boys in the parking lot. After a night in jail, Charlie hits the road on his Honda 305 Superhawk motorcycle. He spots pretty Cathy Lean (Joan Freeman) driving along with her father Joe (Leif Erickson) and their employer, Maggie Morgan (Barbara Stanwyck). When Charlie tries to become friendly with Cathy, Joe forces him off the road and the bike is wrecked.
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. Maggie recognizes his musical talents and promotes him to feature attraction; his act soon draws large crowds. Off stage, Charlie romances Cathy, which does not endear him to Joe. After the two men repeatedly clash and Charlie is accused of stealing a customer's lost wallet, Charlie leaves to star in the much better financed show of rival carnival producer Harry Carver (Pat Buttram).
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.
Wilda Taylor as Little Egypt, the principal dancer in the number "Little Egypt"
In uncredited roles, Billy Barty played carnival midget Billy, and Teri Garr and Raquel Welch were cast as college girls. Garr can also be seen as a backup dancer during several musical numbers.
While the New York Times declined to review the film, Variety generally panned it but noted the film would likely be a box-office hit based upon its star names, songs, and Technicolor, Techniscope qualities.[1]
