Such a frustrating disappointment

Best movie ever!

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Again, one of Elvis' best films - I'd place 'Roustabout' in the Top 6 Elvis movies. The King looks great in it too! Elvis plays Charlie Rogers, a moody, arrogant nightclub singer who after getting fired for being involved in a brawl after a show, is ran off the road the next day by an even moodier father who takes grievance in the motorbike riding Rogers eyeing up his daughter Cathy - played by Joan Freeman, one of the most average looking of the "Elvis Girls". The leading lady in this flick however, is not a pretty young actress for The King to chase, but Hollywood veteran Barbara Stanwyck - one of the finest actresses of her generation. Stanwyck plays Maggie Morgan, Joe's romantic partner as well as owner of a nearby travelling carnival. After being driven off the road by Joe and having his bike put into the garage, "gypsy" (effectively) Elvis is forced to spend the next week with the family at the carnival and help out with the day to day running. Of course after initially being placed on Cat Rack and Candy Floss stands, Maggie soon finds that Rogers' talent is singing and he can certainly draw a crowd. She takes a chance by giving him his own show in one of the tents and the crowds flock to boost the ailing carny, so much so that a mega rich rival from a more modern, upgraded carnival swoops in with his wallet to steal Rogers from them. Rogers had initially pledged to stay with Maggie's carnival - if he indeed decided to stay i carnivals at all - but his hand his forced after several confrontations with the angry and aggressive Joe following Elvis' continued pursuit of his daughter. After Rogers performs several shows at his new "home" and Maggie and Joe's carnival is on the brink of closure due to increasing debts and a decreasing attendance number, Cathy finally wilts and sets off with her tail between her legs to succumb to Rogers' charms, lure him back to their carnival where he brings back the crowds, saves the carnival...and pledges to wed Cathy...to Joe's delight. There's a Brand new day on the horizon after all! There are cameos for Racquel Welch early on as one of the adoring female fans dating one of the guys who starts the brawl outside the Club, and the late Richard Kiel plays "The Tallest Man in the World" in a couple of brief non speaking appearances at Maggie's carnival. The soundtrack is regularly panned alongside the movie but I'm not sure why. The movie itself strays away from the stereotypical Elvis "formula" that critics became so obsessed with, and song wise apart from the obvious two "Carny Town" and "It's Carnival Time" which are both less than a minute anyway, it's a strong soundtrack. "It's a Wonderful World", "Little Egypt", "Big Love, Big Heartache" and "There's a Brand New Day on the Horizon" are obviously no "Always On My Mind" or "Burning Love" but nevertheless solid numbers.

i absolutely loved the songs out of roustabout, i thought they were great! i especially loved "little Egypt" and "poison ivy league" i have always loved Elvis and probably always will because his music will last forever along with his memory. roustabout is one of the best Elvis films i've seen! the songs make the film just so much better.i loved the way the film was done and i really liked Elvis' role as roustabout Charlie Rogers. i even liked Sue Ane Langdon as Madame Mijanou.i have the DVD at home so luckily i can watch it over and over again and i will never get tired of it!

Yes sir, that motorcycle is a HONDA alright -- not a Harley. In fact, it's a 305 Super Hawk, which may well be the bike that saved the motorcycle industry.Yeah, I was just a kid in the 1960s, and not much of an Elvis fan -- but I loved motorcycles, and that scene of the Elvis' character's "night ride," rounding a curve on a two-lane road on that nifty bike has stuck with me all these years.Back in those days, American industry had brought us Cushman scooters and Harley Davidsons. Both were under-engineered and certain to leave oil puddles on your drive or garage floor. Then came the friendly, high-tech Honda approach with its overhead cams and other excellent features, kicking the entire industry out of the design and marketing doldrums. No surprise today that Americans who used to fight over whether Fords or Chevys were best today drive Hondas, the embodiment of the world standard for quality.It'd be very interesting to know who chose the bike Elvis rode in the movie instead of a big, bad Harley. Maybe HE chose it -- which would seem to confirm his eye for innovation.TOM ELMORE Moore, Oklahoma

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!