| King Creole | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Curtiz |
| Screenplay by | |
| Based on | A Stone for Danny Fisher by Harold Robbins |
| Produced by | Hal B. Wallis |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Russell Harlan |
| Edited by | Warren Low |
| Music by | Walter Scharf |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 116 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
King Creole is a 1958 American musical drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and based on the 1952 novel A Stone for Danny Fisher by Harold Robbins. Produced by Hal B. Wallis, the film stars Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau, Dolores Hart, Dean Jagger, Vic Morrow, Liliane Montevecchi and Paul Stewart, and it follows a nineteen-year-old (Presley) who gets mixed up with crooks and involved with two women.
Presley later indicated that of all the characters that he portrayed throughout his acting career, the role of Danny Fisher in King Creole was his favorite. To make the film, Presley was granted a 60-day deferment from January to March 1958 for beginning his military service. Location shooting in New Orleans was delayed several times by crowds of fans attracted by the stars, particularly Presley.
The film was released on July 2, 1958, by Paramount Pictures to critical and commercial success. Many critics praised Presley's performance, and the film peaked at number five on the Variety box-office earnings chart. The soundtrack song "Hard Headed Woman" reached number one on the Billboard singles chart and number two on the R&B chart, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), while the soundtrack album peaked at number two on the Billboard album chart.