Kid Galahad *** (1962, Elvis Presley, Charles Bronson, Gig Young, Lola Albright, Joan Blackman) – Classic Movie Review 3369

Director Phil Karlson’s 1962 movie Kid Galahad is the Elvis Presley musical remake of director Michael Curtiz’s famous 1937 prize-fighter movie Kid Galahad, in which Edward G Robinson gives a knockout turn as the promoter who turns a bellhop (Wayne Morris) into a prize-fighter.

This time it is Presley’s turn to plays the young boxer being trained as a champion he after completes his military service and returns to his birthplace of Cream Valley, New York. But, unlike Rocky Balboa, Walter Gulick just wants to be a garage operative.

There is strong support from Charles Bronson as gangster Lew Nyack, and Gig Young and Lola Albright as Willy Grogan and Dolly Fletcher, a cynical couple who are trying to promote Presley. But Joan Blackman is a dull heroine as Willy’s sister, Rose Grogan, whom Walter falls in love with.

Karlson directs with punch, but William Fay’s screenplay is no knockout. Presley sings seven songs, surprisingly none of them hits, unusually for an Elvis film of this period. Songs: King of the Whole Wide World, This Is Living, I Got Lucky, A Whistling Tune, Home Is Where the Heart Is, Riding the Rainbow, Love Is for Lovers.

William Fay’s lightweight screenplay is based on Francis Wallace’s novel.

Also in the cast are Ned Glass, David Lewis, Robert Emhardt.

RIP Lola Albright, who died on 23 March 2017, aged 91. She also starred in Champion (1949) with Kirk Douglas and The Tender Trap (1955) with Frank Sinatra..

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3369

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