As part of a regular column in Cashiers Du Cinemart, the films of Elvis Presley will be reviewed. It is with my great displeasure that this first column be a negative review but it was bound to happen sometime so it’s best to just get it out of the way.
I’ve been cheated! The films of Elvis Presley have long been considered a joke to a great many people but I’ve always defended the King based on the films that I have seen. KING CREOLE, CLAMBAKE, KISSIN' COUSINS, JAILHouse ROCK, and even TICKLE ME were very fun and entertaining to watch, albeit silly at times. But now I feel like I’ve been betrayed. All those times I’ve said, “They’re not so bad,” have come back to haunt me with STAY AWAY, Joe a film from later in Elvis’ movie career. This movie stunk! It was painful and embarrassing to watch.
Elvis plays a Native American who wants to help out his pappy (played by Burgess Merideth of all people) and his state’s senator by raising cattle and presenting a positive image and role model for his fellow Native Americans. But, things get complicated when his herd’s only bull gets barbecued and the replacement bull is not a stud at all (to this end, Elvis sings the hit song “Dominic the Impotent Bull”). This all sounds well and good, except for the negative treatment of Native Americans who are presented as hard-drinking, hokum speaking, white people make-up wearing, stereotypes. Hollywood has plenty of writers but they could always use Indians.
I couldn’t even sit through all of this movie which is saying a lot for someone who sat through all of A DANGEROUS WOMAN, Carnosaur, and half of NORTH. It was a little low on plot and made up for it in extended scenes of mud wrestling, partying, and general nothingness. This movie had a drunken brawl that felt longer than the one in Hooper. Perhaps Elvis spent so much time preparing for the 68 comeback that he really didn’t care about the movies anymore (not that FUN IN ACAPULCO was any masterpiece but it was still very watchable).