Elvis Presley - Crawfish (Film King Creole)

Elvis Presley & Kitty White sings Crawfish

Jean "Kitty" Bilbrew (7 July 1923 - 11 August 2009)
was a 1950s/60s jazz vocalist, who for years was a nightclub favorite among audiences in Los Angeles, known for her sophisticated songs with well-traveled lyrics.

Crawfish by Fred Wise and Ben Weisman
Excerpt from Film "King Creole" (1958)
Directed by Michael Curtiz

Hal Wallis, the producer, acquired the rights to Harold Robbins' novel "A Stone For Danny Fisher" with the intentions for it to be a non-musical vehicle starring either James Dean or Ben Gazzara. Following the death of Dean in 1955, the project was shelved. In January 1957, following the success of an Off-Broadway stage version of the story, Presley's name was suggested as a possible replacement. After negotiations were completed, the character of Fisher was changed from a boxer to a singer and the location was moved from New York to New Orleans.

Michael Curtiz, a noted director during the golden era of the Hollywood studio system whose famous productions included The Adventures of Robin Hood in 1938, Yankee Doodle Dandy in 1942, and in the same year, Casablanca, was hired to helm the project.

After seeing an early copy of the finished film Presley thanked Curtiz for giving him the opportunity to finally show people the potential he had as an actor. King Creole was said to have been Presley's favorite role of his entire career, and he had high hopes of returning from the army to pick up from where he had left off. However, despite being better received by the critics than his previous films, and ticket sales being very good, he never got the chance to be taken as seriously as an actor again.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Elvis
• Presley
• Kitty
• White
• Crawfish
• King
• Creole
• Michael
• Curtiz

[SophyaAgain]

Hi Saxon954

I neither. I was so fascinated with her voice in the duo with Elvis that I looked for her at Wikipedia. And what a surprise! I find out that she also sung in “The night of the hunter” which I have seen. It’s a great pity it’s the only film Charles Laughton had ever directed. Certainly one of the greatest MUST BE SEEN film.

[cazonetta]

I fucking love this song.

I'd always been told Elvis sucked at acting, so I decided to see that for myself and saw "Follow That Dream" and "King Creole." Hell, this guy really had some potential! I was prepared to see a stiff, muttering guy who couldn't pull weight with the supporting actors unless it was breaking out into irrelevant song - so wrong!

To anyone who thinks he couldn't act period, at least watch those two. They are real Elvis gems and might change your perception a bit. :)

[SophyaAgain]

@cazonetta Actually he wanted to be an actor. He didn't believe that his singer career could last; that he would be out of date after the Beatles and all those rock bands. How wrong! He believed that being a good actor he would have a life lasting job. Yes, I said job. He wasn't afraid of losing his condition of super star but afraid of not be able to take care of his kin. There is a great Australian site where you can find huge information about him.

3w dot elvis dot com dot au

Cheers

[texasbaa]

Best Elvis movie by far. I believe the original version Danny was a race car driver made for James Dean but when he died they changed the script to a singer for Elvis.

[SophyaAgain]

@texasbaa

Thaks for your comment. Actually original Danny was a New York boxer.

Cheers

[54nomore]

Too bad Kitty White passed away a year ago. She sings this great song w/the King of Rock & Roll. This was his best movie by far. Classic!

[SophyaAgain]

@54nomore Hi David. Have you ever seen Charles Laughton’s “The Night of the Hunter”? An amazing movie. She sings “The Lullaby Song” in this movie.

[la9777]

This is so soulful.

[Anagilvanete]

(¯`•♥•´¯)☆ Elvis I ♥ ♪♪♪

[9MusicLover6]

A young and awesome Elvis!I love he!

[reneholz66]

what a great song! I love it...

[loveurheart2]

hey song bird if u come here 2night i'll dance with you? E 4eva!!!

[saxon954]

@SophyaAgain.

I never realised that Kitty White was in Night of the Hunter. It was a strange film, full of symbolism and atmosphere and there are similar echoes in King Creole. Black and White images with something disturbing.

[RyanMcEnaney]

I love this!

[valentine0591]

@cazonetta Streisand wanted him for "A Star Is Born", but Col Parker wouldn't let him. So, the part went to Chris Christopherson. Elvis was very unhappy with how his movies became same-old same-old. He should have dumped Parker. Maybe a happier Elvis would still be with us.

[63theworld]

Elvis Presley大好き~~♪♪♪

カッコ良い～～～SophyaAgain さん

有難うございます♪~~~♪