ROUSTABOUT (1964)

Paper-thin PLOTS and silly DIALOGUE definitely meet the CRITERIA of what makes an ELVIS Movie tick, especially in the sixties.  But the only REQUISITE that matters in any ELVIS movie, are the musical numbers and Colonel Parker would tell you that. Colonel Parker made it his life's mission to make sure that his client showcased his musical talents in every film he made. Presley was required to have TWELVE songs to sing which would be needed to fill a soundtrack album. The ROUSTABOUT soundtrack peaked on the Billboard charts at #1in 1964.

Like many of the characters, Elvis Presley portrayed before, had a chip on his shoulder and the role of Charlie Rogers in ROUSTABOUT (1964) was no different. Charlie Rogers definitely had an ax to grind against the privileged college boys who come to hear him perform at The Teahouse night after night. Maybe, it was because Charlie grew up without a family, was PENNILESS and has had enough of the SCHOOL of HARD KNOCKS. One night when Charlie was on stage, ready to perform for yet another group of privileged college boys, took it too far by FLIRTING with their dates (which included Raquel Welch), telling them to DITCH those guys and meet up with him after the show. At this point, the PISSED-OFF college boys were not happy with their entertainer.  Then when Charlie berated their kind in a song called 'POISON IVY LEAGUE, it was war. All HELL broke loose in the parking lot, landing Charlie in JAIL.

The next morning, Charlie was BAILED out of jail, by The Tea Garden waitress who called the police.  No longer an employee of The Tea Garden, Charlie decides to get on his MOTORCYCLE and leave town. But before he does, the cocktail waitress wants to ride into the sunset with him. Unfortunately for her, she learns that Charlie is a SOLO ACT. Even though Charlie is grateful to be out of jail, tells her in no certain terms " Just because you BAILED me out of JAIL, doesn't mean you own me." and leaves her in the DUST.

Maggie Morgan (Barbara Stanwyck), a strong-willed owner of the broken-down CARNIVAL, who's luck about to change when she meets Charlie Rogers.  That chance meeting would come about when her handyman Joe (Leif Ericson) runs Charlie OFF THE ROAD for flirting with his daughter Cathy (Joan Freeman). Maggie apologizes to Joe and agrees to take on the responsibility of REPAIRING his MOTORCYCLE and BUYING him a NEW GUITAR. Charlie agrees on the terms, riding back with his new acquaintances back to the CARNIVAL.

After arriving at the CARNIVAL, Maggie suggests that Cathy give Charlie a TOUR of the grounds. But Charlie wasn't really interested in looking around the CARNIVAL, he would rather do some NECKING. But GOOD GIRL, Cathy was not used to being KISSED by someone she just met and SLAPPED Charlie's face.

Charlie was DEALT another BLOW when Maggie told him that it would be several days before his MOTORCYCLE could be REPAIRED. Maggie offers Charlie a TEMPORARY job as a ROUSTABOUT. Charlie ACCEPTS hoping to SPEND more TIME with Cathy. What Charlie doesn't know that Maggie 's CARNIVAL is STRUGGLING due to Cathy's father's NEGLIGENCE being UNDER the INFLUENCE of ALCOHOL, which caused the death of a customer. Now, the creditors are breathing down her neck, threatening to CLOSE her DOWN.  But Maggie is given ONE more CHANCE to prove that she keeps the show running.

It seems that Cathy is over that KISSING incident when she agrees to take a TEST SPIN on the FERRIS WHEEL with Charlie. Of course, we know that this opportunity is going to be used for Charlie to break out in a song. After the song, ready to disembark off the Ferris wheel, Charlie is greeted by Joe, who WARNS Charlie to STAY AWAY from his daughter Cathy.

 But Charlie does the opposite, trying to help Cathy ENTICE customers to SPEND MONEY in the midway. When his efforts become fruitless until Charlie breaks into song DRAWING a CROWD. Maggie gets the idea to use Charlie to DRUM UP business for her high-class GIRLIE SHOW. Charlie becomes an INSTANT SUCCESS, which prompts Maggie to OFFER him a CONTRACT as her HEADLINER with union scale wage. But to Maggie's dismay, Charlie 's not interested, he wants to CUT OUT when his MOTORCYCLE is REPAIRED. Probably for the best, after Cathy finds Charlie NECKING with the FORTUNE-TELLER Madame Mijanou (Sue Ann Langdon) and REFUSES to speak to him when he tries to explain it was nothing.

Charlie continues to pack'em in, even on Monday night. After one of his PACKED shows, Charlie meets up with COMPETITOR Mr. Carver (Pat Buttrum) who OWNS the one of the BIGGEST Carnival called Carver's Combined Shows. Carver OFFERS Charlie more money if he signs on to his outfit, but Charlie REFUSES. Later Charlie runs into Cathy, realizing he still has feelings for her. He then hunts down Maggie to SIGN a CONTRACT. 

Meantime back the MIDWAY, Joe seems to be having trouble with a CUSTOMER with a great pitching arm. The CUSTOMER keeps DUNKING Cathy who sitting in the DUNKING BOOTH, over and over and over again that she can't catch her breath. Joe tries to encourage someone else to give it a shot, only to OUTRAGE the customer.

 Charlie comes onto the scene, trying to DISBAND the situation. The customer REFUSES to stop playing, but this time when he HIT the TARGET, it did not send Cathy into the FREEZING cold WATER. The customer BLAMES Joe for RIGGING the booth and for STEALING his WALLET, which came up MISSING when he tried to play again. The police were called and took Joe down to the police station.

That night Charlie heads down to the DUNKING BOOTH stand, searching for the MISSING WALLET. He RETRIEVES the MISSING WALLET which fell under the stand. But Charlie is not alone, Madame Mijanou SLINKS onto the scene with her TIGHT RED DRESS. She sees that Charlie has FOUND the wallet, giving him the option to SPLIT with her. But Charlie has other plans for it. Madame Mijanou pours on the charm, which Charlie responds to. But when Madame Mijanou wants to take it behind CLOSED DOORS, Charlie REFUSES. He tells her that he would rather do it in OUTDOORS in the wide open. Madame Mijanou is definitely not happy about being STRUNG ALONG and then DUMPED.

Instead of bringing the MISSING WALLET forward, that night Charlie decides to HANG ON to it until morning making Joe stew longer in jail. But the cat's out of the bag when Charlie takes a SPILL on his BIKE in the WALL of DEATH stunt. Maggie and Cathy run to make sure Charlie alright, only to learn that he has been holding onto the MISSING all this time, thanks to Madame Mijanou. Everyone is SORE with Charlie, especially Cathy.

 When Maggie RETURNS with JOE from the jail, Madame Mijanou INFORMS him what Charlie had done. Joe immediately starts to go after Charlie making him pay for having to stay OVERNIGHT in JAIL. After all the drama, and with Cathy not forgiving him any time soon. Charlie decides to leave Maggie's carnival and go to Carver's Combined Shows.

Roustabout's BEST MUSICAL NUMBER is "LITTLE EGYPT" which Charlie PERFORMS at Carver Combined Shows. This ELABORATE production looks more like a LAS VEGAS act with SHOWGIRLS than a carny act. Charlie is doing well at Carver Combined Shows with SOLD-OUT performances every night. As for Maggie's Carnival, it resembles that of a REMOTE DESERT with hardly any signs of life around. In desperation to save Maggie's carnival, Cathy visits Charlie to convince him to come back. But finds herself not able to follow through and tells him her motives before returning back to Maggie's carnival.

Charlie chases after Cathy, leaving Carver's Combined Shows in the PREDICTABLE fashion to save the day. Just before Maggie's CARNIVAL was about to go under, Charlie pays the creditors a thousand dollars which he made from Carver's Combined Shows. The Creditors agrees not to close the carnival as long as Charlie stays on. Charlie PROCLAIMS his LOVE for Cathy. And yes, Cathy ACCEPTS his LOVE, now that he no longer just passing through. Everyone who STAYED AWAY now COMES BACK to Maggie's CARNIVAL for Charlie's return and for the FINALE song.

FILM FACTS :                                                                                                 

Mae West was offered the role of Maggie Morgan but declined. West was unhappy with the studio when they wouldn't change the role to make her Elvis's love interest instead of his boss. The role went to Barbara Stanwyck who was quite content to be Elvis 's boss with NO romantic entanglements.

Raquel Welch (Left) had a bit role as a college girl in ROUSTABOUT (1964).

Terri Carr (front right) had a bit role as a Carny dancer in ROUSTABOUT (1964)

Before Richard Kiel played James Bond villain JAWS, he had a bit role as The Strong Man in the finale of ROUSTABOUT (1964)

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Sue Ann Langdon who played Madame Mijanou in ROUSTABOUT (1964) also played in FRANKIE AND JOHHNY (1966).

When the ROUSTABOUT album was released, it peaked at # 1 on the Billboard charts. ROUSTABOUT would be the last soundtrack to top the charts. In 1988, ROUSTABOUT became certified gold by the Recording Industry of America.

                 IMMORTAL DIALOGUE

" Just because you bailed me out of jail, doesn't mean you own me."

" Those fresh kids think they own the world. Don't pay attention to him, Cathy."

" I'm sorry Charlie, I like you too but you're just passing through."

Madame Mijanou; " What do you see in my eyes."
Charlie " Maybe, I better slap your face!"

               
   THE CAST:
Elvis Presley (Charlie Rogers), Barbara Stanwyck (Maggie Morgan), Joan Freeman (Cathy Lean), Leif Erickson (Joe Lean), Sue Ann Langdon (Madame Mijanou), Pat Buttram (Harry Carver), Joan Staley (Marge), Dabbs Greer (Arthur Nielsen), Steve Brodie (Fred), Norman Grubowski (Sam), Joel Fluellen (Cody Marsh), Wilda Taylor (Little Egypt), Raquel Welch (College Girl), Terri Carr (Carny Dancer), Richard Keil (Strong Man).

MY BOTTOM LINE ...

Veteran Actress Barbara Stanwyck's talents are definitely wasted here, but she rises to the occasion, delivering another first-rate performance despite the inferior material. Stanwyck saves this movie from a fate worse than death. Stanwyck not only steals every scene without any effort, but she also makes the film bearable. Rumor has it that Elvis had high regard for Miss Stanwyck because she inspired him to be a better actor.

ROUSTABOUT (1964) is the middle of the road when you are talking about ELVIS MOVIES. It's not the best and it's not the worst. At this point in Elvis's career, he was 30 years old, still wallowing in the Beach Movie/ Travelogue Musicals depending on the script. Unfortunately, things progressively go downhill after Hal B, Wallis stopped producing the ELVIS MOVIES.  

Elvis Presley

                                     Elvis Presley

                              Barbara Stanwyck & Elvis Presley 

                                     Elvis Presley