Kid Galahad

Elvis movies are a genre unto themselves. But unlike, say, the 007 franchise which gives each actor a breather when the formula grows stale (or they age out of the role), Elvis was never allowed to leave the building. This "lather-rinse-repeat" cycle produced 31 films of varying degrees of quality, most designed around a complement of hit singles shoehorned into the story. The King's interest waned from project to project and his few attempts at real acting (like 1960's Flaming Star) never seemed to click with his loyal fanbase. So it's a real treat to see him actually enjoying himself in Kid Galahad (1962), a fresh, fun change-of-venue set in the world of boxing that makes the most of Elvis' musical talent and challenges him as an actor too.

Fresh out of the service and desperate for work, Walter (Presley) wanders back to his hometown of Cream Valley, New York, hoping to land a job as a mechanic. Instead, he's paid a quick five-bucks to serve as a sparring partner at the local fight club run by Willy Grogan (Gig Young), a slick businessman in hock up to his neck. But when Walter knocks out their best man, Willy sees a golden opportunity.

Rechristened as Kid Galahad (because of his chivalrous treatment of the ladies), Walter is thrown into a series of hastily arranged boxing matches, hoping to save up enough money to buy his own garage and marry Grogan's sister, Rose (Joan Blackman). But his inexperience in the ring takes its toll, leading up to the final match against Ramon "Sugar Boy" Romero in which he's told to take a dive in order to get Willie out of debt once and for all.

At first glance, Kid Galahad is nothing more than a rehash of prior Presley misadventures, including a few catchy songs ("King of the Whole Wide World" and "I Got Lucky" are both keepers), a fashionable love interest and pleasant atmosphere of small-town Americana. But the boxing element seems to pique Elvis' interest more than usual, inspiring a gleam in his eye and some pep in his step. The fight scenes have an authentic edge with handheld camera work and close-ups of the King taking what looks to be quite a beating (trainer Mushy Callahan complimented Presley's skills by saying, "He never blinked his eyes when I hit him!").

Charles Bronson adds some tough guy credibility as trainer Lew Nyack, who sees Walter's potential but resents Willie's greedy exploitation of his naive young drifter. And Presley steps up to the plate in key scenes, curling his lip and delivering some convincing dialogue when the opportunity arises. There's real heart in his performance as an ex-soldier who'd rather be a lover than a fighter and it carries over into nearly every scene, even the predictable sing-alongs. Kid Galahad still presents Elvis as a product, but the packaging is much more inventively enjoyable.

Twilight Time's 3000-copy limited edition Blu-ray is another bright and colorful hi-def transfer, maybe with a touch more wear and tear than usual in the first reel. Extras include an isolated music & effects track, original theatrical trailer and liner notes.