FRANKIE AND JOHNNY

Harry Morgan, Elvis, Nancy Kovacks

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY (1966). Director: Frederick De Cordova. 

Frankie (Donna Douglas) and Johnny (Elvis Presley) are entertainers on the riverboat-casino S. S. Mississippi Queen. Frankie's jealousy is ignited when a gypsy fortune teller tells Johnny that a redhead will bring him good fortune, so he zeroes in on Nellie Bly (Nancy Kovak of Jason and the Argonauts). All he wants from Nellie is for her to accompany him when he gambles, but both Frankie, and Nellie's boyfriend -- also Johnny's boss -- Braden (Anthony Eisley), get the wrong idea. Things come to a head when Frankie, Nellie, and showgirl Mitzi (Sue Ane Langdon) all dress up as Madame Pompadour for a masquerade ball, and Braden's associate Blackie (Robert Strauss) comes up with a criminal way of eliminating Johnny as a rival during a rendition of the title tune. 

Sue Ane Langdon and Donna Douglas

Frankie and Johnny could have been a really interesting look at the riverboat scene of the 19th century as well as a trenchant observation of what unruly passions can lead to, but instead it's just an Elvis Presley Picture, although on that level it's fun and entertaining. Elvis doesn't so much act as exude personality, and Donna Douglas -- who just can't eliminate that Elly Mae Beverly Hillbillies accent entirely -- while adequate, pretty much shows why she made no further theatrical movies after this one. On the other hand Nancy Kovack is classy and sexy as Nellie, Langdon is a lot of fun as Mitzi, who also loves Braden, and Harry Morgan [All My Sons] and Audrey Christie [Splendor in the Grass] score as Cully and Peg, a married couple who are friends and co-workers of the title duo. Anthony Eisley of Hawaiian Eye is also very good as boss Braden, and Joyce Jameson has an excellent turn as a drunken redhead whom Johnny thinks might temporarily substitute for Nellie. 

Douglas with Nancy Kovack

Frankie and Johnny comes pretty close to being a bona fide musical -- as opposed to just an Elvis Presley Musical -- because its score has quite a variety of music. The classic title tune is reinterpreted and there's a fine version of When the Saints Go Marching In. Elvis does a superlative job delivering such memorable ballads as Please Don't Stop Loving Me and Angel at My Side. He also has a charming number with a harmonica-playing shoeshine boy, Hard Luck, and a bouncy piece called Look Out, Broadway. (Jerome Cowan appears uncredited as a Broadway producer who likes F and J's act.) Except for Elvis, everyone's singing voice seems to be dubbed. Forget the gorgeous gowns of the ladies, Elvis himself wears one striking and beautiful ensemble after another! 

Verdict: The plot gets a bit bogged down and slightly tiresome, but it's hard to dislike the flick and even harder to dislike Elvis. ***.