Flaming Star

Viewing the relatively recent release on Blu-ray of Elvis Presley's Flaming Star has provided a certain opportunity for reappraisal of the 1960 western. Technically, the transfer is quite stunning.

He dominates a film originally intended for Brando .

He dominates a film originally intended for Brando .

Given that Elvis Presley was never going to win any acting awards, he does pretty well in this Don Siegel-directed western, as half-breed Pacer Burton.The main theme of the story is the classic whites against Native Indians - only in this case Elvis's pa is white (John McIntire) and his ma is Indian (the lovely Dolores del Rio) and that causes problems with the redneck locals.

... Said the BBc announcer just before the broadcast of FLAMING STAR at 12 noon yesterday .

Don Siegel's "Flaming Star" isn't your ordinary, run-of-the-mill, cowboys and Indians horse opera. First, Elvis Presley sings only two tunes.

I was very surprised by this Western. It is really touching, bittersweet, well done, and features an excellent acting role by Elvis Presley.

"Flaming Star" has been one of my favorite Elvis songs ever since it came out. But it took over 55 years (honest!

Flaming Star is directed by Don Siegel and adapted by Nunally Johnson and Clair Huffaker from Huffaker's own novel Flaming Lance. It stars Elvis Presley, Barbara Eden, Steve Forrest, John McIntire, Dolores del Rio and Rodolfo Acosta.