LittleStorpingInTheSwuff
Without Elvis it would be just another 'B' Western, even with a couple of named stars (Eagan and Paget). Although mostly unknown in 1956, there were a few actors in the cast that would be better know, such as James Drury and Neville Brand. As for Elvis' first movie role, I would have to rate it as so-so. And quite frankly if he hadn't been a heart throb singer his movie career probably wouldn't have gone very far.
DiCaprio74
So, Elvis is in movies... I'm pretty sure that became a popular line when this film came out. I decided to give this film a try seeing that the King of Rock N Roll was starring in it. Man, was I wrong for making that decision. There was no great acting skills in this film from Elvis. The others were copacetic enough to make the movie pass, but Elvis... It was like he was acting the way that he was singing. He didn't have any type of flow to him, he wasn't loosened enough, he seemed like he was just so stiff. I like the whole "let's put Elvis in a movie & make it a western one at that" type of theme that they tried to portray, but it honestly wasn't working out for them. He should've just stayed with the soundtrack on this one. Can't say that this is one of my favorites.
Zoooma
Elvis' screen debut and he is not great... but the movie itself ain't too bad, except the huge error in geography -- this is a western portrayed with mountains and mountainous desert landscapes... but it takes place in Louisiana. Ummm, Mr. Director, ever been to Louisiana?! You could simply have looked in an encyclopedia at the time to see that Louisiana has NO terrain of the nature you chose to film around. NONE. Very bad. In any case, it sure was strange to see Elvis shaking' and twistin' in "1865." He had four songs and three were rockin' numbers, two with women swooning at him -- so out of place for this time period. His acting was stiff at times and so very plain. Really an amateur. But a decent western otherwise--The Kat Pirate Screener
TedMichaelMor
I liked this film. I had never seen it until recently. Mr. Presley was a good actor; he had great potential. The entire cast does a fine job. Robert Webb was a solid director. Richard Egan and Debra Pagett did fine work. I found the narrative engaging. The story was complex as were the characters. I wish that Mr. Presley had had a chance to hone his craft with good instruction and other good material. He clearly had ability to create convincing, interesting, and well-rounded characters.The cinematography has a crisp look with good balance and tonalities. The locations don't remind me of Texas but that was common for westerns at the time this movie was filmed. I grant that the ending feels a bit forced, but the overall story works.The music did not have much, if anything, to do with the narrative but, heck, who cares. It is terrific.
AD
