BoardChiri Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

DipitySkillful an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Kinley This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Bjorn (ODDBear) 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.

JoeKarlosi Most people don't think too much of this Elvis romp compared to any other, but for me it stands out as one of the better "formula" movies the man made in the '60s. As club singer Charlie Rogers, Elvis is a little different from his usual stock characters from this period because the young man has a chip on his shoulder. He's a reckless person who never had a family and is prone to being self-centered and dismissive. After getting fired from a gig one day, he and his motorcycle are smacked up by a threesome of small-time carnival owners driving in their car, so they invite him to stick around their modest fairgrounds and work as a "roustabout" for a little cash while waiting for his bike to get back from the repair shop. Rogers is able to boost business with his singing to lure customers to the Fair.Barbara Stanwyck plays the strong-willed carnival chief who breathes the carny lifestyle, but she's saddled with a crotchety and hard-headed partner (Leif Erickson) who once caused a tragedy to a customer by not safely securing one of the rides at the fair, and who tries to keep Charlie away from his daughter Cathy (Joan Freeman). It's refreshing to see a leading girl who can hold her own and not easily succumb to Elvis' whims. There are a few decent songs here and there, if no great ones. Raquel Welch can be spotted in the beginning of the film as one of a group of young folks going to see Charlie Rogers perform at the club. *** out of ****

moonspinner55 Hot-headed singer who's prone to getting into fights gets a hankering for the daughter of a woman who runs a traveling carnival, eventually finds himself with a guitar working the run-ways. Good Elvis Presley musical, although the King himself is awfully pouty throughout. He sings several mediocre tunes in-between romantic bouts with pretty but bland Joan Freeman (who resembles both Susan Dey and a young Dorothy McGuire). Barbara Stanwyck is typically mercurial as Freeman's no-nonsense mother, and she gives the movie some kick. There are the usual carnival rowdies, a dim sub-plot involving a missing wallet, but the cinematography is colorful and the rural locations are well captured. There's a sensational tracking shot at the end done in one take, with the camera up and over the heads of the crowd, down along the run-way with the attractions and then onto the stage. A brunette Raquel Welch has a bit part at the very beginning, and Teri Garr is one of the carny dancers. An enjoyable star-vehicle for E.P.'s fans. **1/2 from ****

funkyfry 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!