Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.
His twenty-sixth film 'Stay Away Joe' has often been cited as one of his worst, something that is agreed with by me. Before anybody asks, this is coming from somebody from enjoyed a good deal of Elvis' earlier parts pre-'Kissin' Cousins' (as well as a couple of his mid-later films like his last very good film 'Viva Las Vegas') and who considers Elvis a very capable actor when his material allowed it like his earlier films did and his later and particularly formulaic films didn't.
'Stay Away, Joe' isn't completely unwatchable. The production values generally are improved over many of Elvis' later films, the scenery is colourful and not artificial-looking and it's nicely shot mostly though in need of a more sweeping style. Most of the rather spare soundtrack does not fare well, but "Stay Away" is lovely.
Regarding Elvis himself, he is the best he's looked in any of his films since the mid-1960s, and gives an enthusiastic performance that actually saw him trying after seeing many post 'Viva Las Vegas' films where his performances were at best perfunctory and like he had lost interest. Faring best in support are an amusingly deadpan Thomas Gomez and charming Katy Jurado.
Unfortunately, for all Elvis' valiant efforts, his role is pretty wasted, one that is underwritten and severely underutilised in favour of the veteran actors. As much as it pains me to say it, Burgess Meredith is made to look, sound and act foolish and odd and it's in a way that's pretty embarrassing for a character actor of considerable calibre like Meredith. Joan Blondell is saddled with repetitive bawdy physical comedy that's not particularly funny first time and outstays its welcome quickly, another waste of talent. Quentin Dean's character is basically a typecast stereotype and her scenes with Elvis have an unintentional creepiness, but Dean does her best.
"Stay Away" aside, the songs are too few and none of them are any good or do anything for Elvis' talents. "Dominic" in fact is nearly as rock bottom as the likes of "Yoga is as Yoga Does", "Old MacDonald Had a Farm", "Confidence", "Hello Little Girl", "Petunia the Gardener's Daughter" and "Smorgasbord".
Being more familiar with quainter and more wholesome material, director Peter Tewkesbury seems ill suited for 'Stay Away, Joe's' more broad and bawdy approach, a large part as to why the comedy perhaps fell so flat. Generally the writing needed to be much sharper, with almost everything being overplayed and sloppy. The story is paper thin and at times somewhat chauvinistic, complete with the overlong beginning and drawn-out and unexciting ending being only two examples of a film that drags quite badly as a result, while the outrageously patronising and shamefully childish portrayal of Native Americans is not for the easily offended. Oh and the makeup is amateur hour.
All in all, pretty poor and nothing to get wild about. Even hard-core fans and completests may find 'Stay Away, Joe' hard to watch. 3/10 Bethany Cox
His twenty-sixth film 'Stay Away Joe' has often been cited as one of his worst, something that is agreed with by me. Before anybody asks, this is coming from somebody from enjoyed a good deal of Elvis' earlier parts pre-'Kissin' Cousins' (as well as a couple of his mid-later films like his last very good film 'Viva Las Vegas') and who considers Elvis a very capable actor when his material allowed it like his earlier films did and his later and particularly formulaic films didn't.
'Stay Away, Joe' isn't completely unwatchable. The production values generally are improved over many of Elvis' later films, the scenery is colourful and not artificial-looking and it's nicely shot mostly though in need of a more sweeping style. Most of the rather spare soundtrack does not fare well, but "Stay Away" is lovely.
Regarding Elvis himself, he is the best he's looked in any of his films since the mid-1960s, and gives an enthusiastic performance that actually saw him trying after seeing many post 'Viva Las Vegas' films where his performances were at best perfunctory and like he had lost interest. Faring best in support are an amusingly deadpan Thomas Gomez and charming Katy Jurado.
Unfortunately, for all Elvis' valiant efforts, his role is pretty wasted, one that is underwritten and severely underutilised in favour of the veteran actors. As much as it pains me to say it, Burgess Meredith is made to look, sound and act foolish and odd and it's in a way that's pretty embarrassing for a character actor of considerable calibre like Meredith. Joan Blondell is saddled with repetitive bawdy physical comedy that's not particularly funny first time and outstays its welcome quickly, another waste of talent. Quentin Dean's character is basically a typecast stereotype and her scenes with Elvis have an unintentional creepiness, but Dean does her best.
"Stay Away" aside, the songs are too few and none of them are any good or do anything for Elvis' talents. "Dominic" in fact is nearly as rock bottom as the likes of "Yoga is as Yoga Does", "Old MacDonald Had a Farm", "Confidence", "Hello Little Girl", "Petunia the Gardener's Daughter" and "Smorgasbord".
Being more familiar with quainter and more wholesome material, director Peter Tewkesbury seems ill suited for 'Stay Away, Joe's' more broad and bawdy approach, a large part as to why the comedy perhaps fell so flat. Generally the writing needed to be much sharper, with almost everything being overplayed and sloppy. The story is paper thin and at times somewhat chauvinistic, complete with the overlong beginning and drawn-out and unexciting ending being only two examples of a film that drags quite badly as a result, while the outrageously patronising and shamefully childish portrayal of Native Americans is not for the easily offended. Oh and the makeup is amateur hour.
All in all, pretty poor and nothing to get wild about. Even hard-core fans and completests may find 'Stay Away, Joe' hard to watch. 3/10 Bethany Cox