Kid Galahad / It Happened At The Worlds Fair

KID GALAHAD

When he completes his military service Walter Gulick (Elvis) returns to his birthplace, Cream Valley, New York. He was orphaned as an infant and grew up elsewhere but always wanted to return to where he was from. He hopes to be a mechanic but soon after his arrival finds himself working as a sparring partner at a boxing camp. Having lost all of his money in a crap game, Walter is happy to take any kind of work but a devastating right hook sends him down a different path. Willy Grogan (Gig Young) thinks he has a winner in Walter who, after helping a lady out, is dubbed Kid Galahad. Willy (Charles Bronson) is a likable man but gambles too much and may have been a witness to a mobster's conversation that would best be forgotten. As Walter gains more success, and falls in love with Willy's sister Rose, Willy Grogan finds himself coming under pressure from mobsters to make Walter takes a dive at his next big fight.

My Take: I like this one. Sure, it helps that Charles Bronson is in it, but he's not exactly playing a tough guy that he would later get the reputation of being in his "Death Wish" franchise. And yes, Gig Young is in it too.  Still, this is Elvis all the way. It's not half bad and has it moments. While E gets to sing and strut his stuff, it's not as much in your face as in many other of his films. My favorite song in this one is probably "I Got Lucky". 

I give this film an 8 out of ten stars. For an Elvis flick, it's in my top ten. I think you'll enjoy it too, provided of course you could ever imagine Elvis being a heavyweight champion of the world in boxing. LOL I know, it's a stretch, but hey, it's still Elvis. . 

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IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLDS FAIR

Mike (Elvis) and Danny fly a crop duster, but because of Danny's gambling debts, a local sheriff seizes it. Trying to earn money, they hitch-hike to the World's Fair in Seattle, Washington. While Danny tries to earn money playing poker, Mike takes care of a small girl, Sue-Lin, whose Uncle Walter has disappeared. Being a ladies' man, he also finds the time to court a young nurse, Diane.

My Take: This was one of the films by Elvis I never got to see until about a couple years ago when I finally found the DVD. Many of his films I saw on Turner Classic Movies, then got to watch them on DVD. Most of which are easily available. However, I searched and searched for this one for the longest time. Once I finally found it, I couldn't wait to finally watch it. I think I hyped myself up a little too much. While it was good, it just didn't meet my lofty expectations. I still give it a 7 stars.