BlazeLime
Strong and Moving!
CrawlerChunky
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Numerootno
A story that's too fascinating to pass by...
Sameer Callahan
It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
gullwing592003
I consider myself an Elvis fan but I just watched this movie & I'm not sure I watched anything at all even with Elvis in it. Elvis did have some Cherokee Indian & played a halfbreed Indian once before. But Flaming Star, Wild In The Country, King Creole, Love Me Tender & Charro were better movies showcasing his dramatic acting ability.This film has no plot, no storyline, no purpose & no script, no character development & has no direction & has no point & says nothing at all. The movie falls flat on it's face & just doesn't work. There's too much hooping & hollering & nonsense which gets tiresome & meaningless with Elvis as a seemingly endless "Good Time Charlie", as if life is just one big party.The film is like a car spinning it's wheels but goes nowhere, if you haven't seen this you're not missing anything. It's a big toilet stinker, the toilet does play a role in this which is exactly where this film belongs. Even the songs are bad ! When I heard "Dominique" I couldn't believe my ears & I was so disgusted & beside myself. This is a sorry excuse for a film & I think it's Elvis's worst movie. In fact it's the worst movie I've ever seen in my life. I've only seen it once & that's more than enough for me. This one takes the cake !!
bkoganbing
Not even the normally astute management of Colonel Tom Parker who as usual got a cast of top flight players to support Elvis Presley could save a stinker like Stay Away Joe. I had heard for years at how the American Indians were upset at this film and I've finally seen why.As usual a bunch of white actors with a little olive oil makeup including the King are playing Navajo Indians. Elvis is a rodeo performer and a bull rider to be precise who has come home to the reservation bringing a herd of cattle that the government has given his parents Burgess Meredith and Katy Jurado to tend and raise. About two dozen cows and a bull which the Navajos slaughter and barbecue at a wild party to welcome Elvis home. The rest of the film deals with various escapades romantic and otherwise the King gets himself in. A running joke is Joan Blondell trying to affect a shotgun wedding between Elvis and her daughter Quentin Dean, a girl whom the facts of life haven't been sufficiently explained, but who has some real lively hormones.The Navajos here were portrayed as a bunch of partying drunken louts whom the white man isn't sure can deal with such responsibility as government cattle. No wonder they were all upset, not to mention the fact that white actors were portraying them as such. It's the Amos and Andy syndrome working here.A young man named Ryan Dirteater who is one of the rising stars of the Professional Bull Riders came to mind when I watched Elvis riding home, making a grandstanding gesture on the original bull. Bucking bull or not I think the riders of the PBR would have been hooting at this one, knowing how hard it is to make that 8 seconds. I single out Dirteater because he is from Oklahoma of Cherokee Indian background.Worst of all there are no good songs for Elvis coming out of the score. Isn't that what we really see a Presley movie for?Just Stay Away Joe, and you viewers stay too.
Bjorn (ODDBear)
As a devoted fan of The King I'm a bit more tolerable than the average non-Presley fan when it comes to his films. I tend to take away the positives from the likes of "Double Trouble" and "Speedway" (admittedly two of his lesser films) and the bad kinda' gets forgotten...or willed away.I mention those other two flicks 'cause I just recently downed 3 Presley flicks in a row. I started with "Stay Away, Joe" and I nearly packed it in. I'm being extremely generous rewarding the film with 3 stars. There's hardly anything to recommend it...even to hardcore Elvis fans.Elvis doesn't even attempt to act here and yet he fares better than old pro Burgess Meredith who gives a shamefully bad performance as Elvis's father. Depictions of Native-Americans here consist of excessive drinking at all times, low IQ's and laziness beyond belief. The comedy here is so over the top and badly performed that the only laughs stem from the likes of "Oh god - how bad can it get?". The script-if there ever was one-is chock full of stupid lines and one ridiculous scenario after another. And the songs; apart from the opening song they're silly and forgettable.Now I've laid out why the flick is bad and probably Elvis's worst. But The King looks absolutely smashing here and has probably never looked fitter. This film came at about the time of his Comeback Special and Elvis worked real hard at getting in physical shape...and it shows. Although he doesn't act here at all his presence is welcomed and he looks like he's enjoying himself and it's somewhat infectious...not much but a bit.It's a stretch but I'm awarding another star to the beautiful scenery in the flick. During the entire ordeal the viewer at least is treated to pleasant images of beautiful country and that (at least) pleases the eye. The third and final star goes to the gorgeous opening song "Stay Away" that plays out over beautiful images. In fact; the first three minutes of the film are very pleasant...too bad the rest isn't.
iNeedaTimeMachine21
Pretty much everybody who ever talks about this film says it's horrible and stupid. I could not disagree more. This is a light-hearted and funny movie that left me with a smile on my face. Sure, it's silly...but it's supposed to be. And Katy Jurado and Burgess Meredith both give hilarious performances. The 4 songs in the film are fun and catchy, and as always...Elvis's voice is top-notch. Three of his friends (Charlie Hodge, Joe Esposito, and Sonny West) join him on this movie, and it only adds to the fun.Say what you want about this movie, but as an Elvis fan...I was just happy to get to spend over an hour laughing with the King.How can you stay away?
