Very well executed

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The early sixties offered a ton of musical films that offered teen idols in various roles. This was the time of Frankie and Annette at the beach, juvenile delinquents in hot rods and Elvis doing just about everything from working a carnival to being in the Army. All of them made tons of money and in the case of Elvis cemented him in mega league stardom.This time around in KID GALAHAD Elvis is ex-G.I. Walter Gulik heading home who stops in the small town of Cream Valley, NY to visit. This was the town he was born in before he was raised by an aunt in KY after his parents passed away. Looking for work as a mechanic he's told he might want to check in at Gaelic Gardens, a boxing camp run by Willy Grogan (Gig Young).When he arrives looking for work he meets Dolly (Lola Albright), Willy's long time love who helps him around the place hoping for the day they will marry. When Willy finally arrives he tells him he has nothing for him until he realizes he has no one to spar with a fighter on hand. Willy's main trainer Lew (Charles Bronson) tells him this is murder but Walter needs to money so agrees. The surprise of all times happens as Walter appears to be getting beaten badly only to knock out his competition.With dollar signs in his eyes Willy sees this as an opportunity and offers to train Walter. In need of money Walter agrees. But there is more to meet the eye in Willy. A terrible gambler he is in deep debt and on the edge of losing everything. In addition to that a mobster involved in the fight racket thinks he overheard a conversation that could land him behind bars. To make sure this doesn't happen he sends two thugs to watch over Willy.Helping to keep the camp afloat is Willy's sister Rose (Joan Blackman) who sends him money. With his latest request she shows up herself to make sure things are running smoothly. Along the way she catches the eye of Walter and the two fall in love.Walter begins to fight and does well for himself but you know a conflict is coming up. As the town rallies behind the home town boy, the mob wants to make sure their guy wins. They step in to let Willy know and now he's faced with the options of disappointing everyone in his life or bowing before the mob.The movie offers plenty of drama, a touch of romance for Elvis and plenty of songs for him to sing. That was the standard formula for most of the movies he made. A number of people would call his films, including this one, hokey but you know what? It works. It makes for an enjoyable film that doesn't have to be taken seriously and can be watched over and over again. This is not high drama or Oscar material. This is pure fun.And interesting to watch in the film is Bronson in a side role. For most of us growing up in the late sixties and into the seventies he was a major star in Hollywood. He'd done solid work up to this point but he shows here that he could actually act and wasn't just a tough guy as he was later portrayed. Elvis too does a fine job here. The role doesn't call for subtle nuance but he brings out the innocence of the character while at the same time shows him as one not to take guff from anyone. All in all the movie is just a good time to enjoy.Twilight Time has brought the film to us in their usual well done style with a great looking transfer. Extras include the original theatrical trailer and an isolated score and effects track. As with all their titles the movie is limited to just 3,000 copies so if you're an Elvis fan make sure to pick this one up before they're no longer in stock.

Elvis Presley is an ex- GI penniless & broke looking for work as a mechanic but stumbles onto boxing instead as a way to earn some fast cash. Gig Young is a boxing manager up to his ears in debt with gangsters breathing down his neck & constantly putting the squeeze on him to pay up. Charles Bronson in a very different type of role is his trainer. There's some great dramatic acting from Elvis & Gig Young & Charles Bronson in pain with broken hands & some very realistic fight scenes in the ring.There's only a few songs which are OK but distracts from the dramatic story which is quite serious. The songs are out of place & don't belong in a boxing tale. After all this is a remake of the 1937 classic Warner Bros. movie with Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis & Humphrey Bogart who was also in the 1941 remake retitled "The Wagons Roll At Night". Elvis steps into Wayne Morris's shoes in the title role. Elvis is believable & perfect for the role of the boxer but it might've been better if Elvis played it straight with no singing musical scenes like the original version.Kid Galahad is a serious boxing drama not a musical. But it's still exceptional for an Elvis movie & it's one of his better 60's vehicles & not as formulated like most of the trashy & cheesy musicals he was pumping out like "GI Blues" & "Blue Hawaii" & others not worth mentioning. Another one of his better films is "Follow That Dream" from the same year. Kid Galahad has a storyline & some gritty realism & packs a punch...so to speak. There's some quality in this one & it's worth watching but the original 1937 version is better.

Presley's first movies were arguably the best he made.Some of them were eminently watchable:"love me tender" "jailhouse rock" "king creole" "flaming star" -probably his very best- and at a pinch "Wild in the country".In almost all these movies ,there's a mother's loss (or absence).This permanent feature comes back in "Kid Galahad":the hero lost his parents when he was an infant.Besides ,as it is a remake ,we have at least a script ,which will cruelly lack in films to come."Kid Galahad" is never exciting though.The songs always come at the most awkward moment ,and as only Elvis sings -his female partners contenting themselves with looking languorously at the star-,one can hardly call that (and all Presley's subsequent flicks)musicals.And the songs are not particularly memorable;only the peppy "I got lucky" and the romantic " Home is where the heart is" stand out.Whereas songs make sense in "jailhouse rock" or " king creole" ,where Elvis portrays singers ,they do not fit in a boxer's tale .Watchable because of the lovely pictures and the good -but wasted-supporting cast including Gig Young,Charles Bronson,Lola Allbright.Love interest consists of an affair between Elvis and Young's kid sister .Willy (what a naughty boy!) does not want Rose to marry Walter!

As a big fan of Elvis Presley, Gig Young, and Charles Bronson, as well as the sport of boxing, I enjoyed this movie for those reasons alone. Elvis gives a decent performance, but is stereotyped by the script as a goofy, goo-natured, lug-head, who has a natural gift of a cast-iron chin and one-punch knockout power. Half the movie Elvis looks in a daze with his mouth open catching flies!Charles Bronson has a surprise role as a trainer. Not once does his show off his impressive muscular build and even gets both his hands broken by gangsters. A truly different role for him. He too is stereotyped as the ex-boxer walking on his heels.Gig Young gives his usual out-standing performance, but there is nothing to like at all about his character; he's a liar, a user, aback-stabber, and an over-all jerk. The fight scenes are poorly done and considering they were advised by former World Light-welterweight boxing great Mushy Callahan, a big disappointment.However, if you like Elvis, this will be an enjoyable film.