Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

It's 1964 & this is a somewhat interesting curiosity seeing Elvis as a free spirited motorcycling singing musician. "Roustabout" shows Elvis kind of reverting back to his 1950's rebel image to a certain point but without the sideburns & duck-tail & with black leather. He's a bit of an angry young man & a hothead like his character in "Jailhouse Rock" & is self centered & unsympathetic & not too likable. But Charlie Rodgers is watered down compared to Vince Everett in "Jailhouse Rock".It has a good cast with some big legends like Barbara Stanwyck, Leif Erickson & Steve Brodie & they elevate the movie with some memorable performances. This is a formulated musical with an edge & with serious moments so it's not all tongue & cheek & bubblegum like a lot of his '60's musicals were. Leif Erickson as Joe hates Elvis's character for most of the movie until Elvis redeems himself by the end.There's also Pat Buttram from "Green Acres" as a big shot carnival master who gives Elvis a better offer after Elvis burns his bridges with Joe & Maggie. Other memorable scenes is when Steve Brodie arrogantly never misses the target when he keeps throwing balls dunking Joan Freeman plunging in the water endlessly. And the "Wall of Death" motorcycle show. And of course Elvis sings but his role in this story is a singer & Elvis sings 10 songs. The songs are OK but nothing to write home about.It's not one of Elvis's best movies but it's not one of his worst either. But it's one of his better formulated musical dramas that has some realism & the characters are believable & down to earth. If you want to see Elvis in quality musicals this one & "Kid Galahad" & "Follow That Dream" are good choices because these films are more realistic & tell a story unlike the rest of the trash he was doing during most of the 1960's.Regardless if you're an Elvis fan or not stay away from most of his '60's cliché musicals they're a waste of time. But Roustabout is watchable even on repeated viewings but it's not worth buying for my money.

Good songs, a solid performance from Elvis and a decent story in a unique setting is about what you take away from "Roustabout".It's one of the King's later (and less ambitious) flicks but they varied in quality and "Roustabout" comes off well. Elvis is good as a restless (and quite temperamental) average Joe who lends a hand in a traveling carnival while his motorcycle is in the shops. Despite himself he starts caring for the married couple who run the place (a very charming Barbara Stanwyck the better half) and falls for their daughter.The film looks nice, Elvis sings quality songs like the title track, "Little Egypt" and "One Track Heart" among others, he's in fine acting form and gets solid support from old pro Stanwyck and the story ain't too shabby either.All in all; a solid Presley film.

Vagabond singer Elvis Presley (as Charlie Rogers) gets a job working at a carnival owned by strong-willed Barbara Stanwyck (as Maggie Morgan). There, after years "playing the field," Mr. Presley gets the urge to settle down with one woman, pretty Joan Freeman (as Cathy Lean). But, Presley doesn't get along with folks like Ms. Freeman's alcoholic father Leif Erikson (as Joe Lean). After a misunderstanding, Presley leaves his budding "family", and goes to work for Ms. Stanwyck's sleazy rival, Pat Buttram (as Harry Carver). Will chip-shouldered Presley stay with the bad influence Buttram, or return to stable Stanwyck and sweet Freeman? The waste of cast and crew involved in this boring film is criminal. The musical highlight is the Leiber-Stoller classic "Little Egypt"; although Presley lip-syncs lethargically, dancing girl Wilda Taylor is a sight for sore eyes. Presley, who hides a growing paunch and occasionally appears "under the influence," looks better during the nicely photographed "Big Love, Big Heartache". The studio mixes of the other songs sound much better on the nicely sequenced "Roustabout" stereo album, especially "Poison Ivy League", "Roustabout", and "One Track Heart". "It's a Wonderful World" received some "Best Song" Oscar buzz.*** Roustabout (11/11/64) John Rich ~ Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Freeman, Leif Erickson

One of Paramount's best Elvis films. Barbara and Elvis have great chemistry -- too bad no may-december hoochy-coochy was allowed. The songs are pretty bizarre, but mostly pretty good by 60s Elvis standards. I dig the carnival atmosphere. Billy Barty pops up as........ a midget!