West Texas in the years after the Civil War is an uneasy meeting ground of two cultures, one white. The other native American. Elvis portrays Pacer Burton. The son of a white rancher (John McIntire) and his beatiful Kiowa Indian wife (Dolores DelRio). When fighting breaks out between the settlers and natives, Pacer tries to act as a peace maker, but the “flaming star of death” pulls him irrevocably into the deadly violence.Definitely a contender for the underwhelming title of Best Elvis Movie, this handsomely shot Western actually makes Elvis act, rather than coast on his personality. (As though to underscore the point, the two obligatory songs are dispensed with under the opening credits and in the first scene.) Don Siegel was probably the best director the King ever worked with, and he draws a quietly smoldering performance from Elvis, who was still undeniably raw. Even better, Siegel captures an existential starkness to homestead and town, and calmly makes a pro-Native American case without preaching (Elvis plays a half-breed caught between sides in an Indian vs. settlers dustup). Yes, this was 30 years before Dances with Wolves–there were actually quite a few such movies during this era. All in all, a decent picture, and an indication of where Elvis’s career might have gone if he hadn’t given himself over to fluff. –Robert Horton
Rating: 
(out of 35 reviews)
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October 20, 2010
#1
Review by Ryan Harvey
Rating:
This is definitely the best film Elvis Presley ever starred in; he shed his celebrity persona and delivered a great, dramatic performance in a superb action story with teriffic characterizations. No doubt about it, in “Flaming Star,” Preseley is an ACTOR. And a damned good one too. (He only sings two songs, and they are presented right at the beginning so the film can then get down to the heavy business.)Originally, the material was written to star Marlon Brando, but was re-written to accomodate Elvis. He plays a half Kiowa man named Pacer who finds himself jammed in the middle of growing war between the settlers and the Kiowa. In trying not to take sides, he finds his world swirls down into violence and chaos. It is refreshingly devoid of “can’t we all get along” cliches and really digs deep into the near-impossibility of life when you are split in two, like Pacer. Elvis really nails the character down.Director Siegel is at his usual great level of achievement: tight-lipped, boiling drama between the characters, and blasts of sometimes surprising violence. He doesn’t let anybody off easily. This isn’t a lightweight oater: Siegel took his craft seriously. Helping out are great performances from the superb cast, especially Delores Del Rio as Pacer’s Kiowa mother.If you’re looking for an Elvis musical, with the rock star persona in full blast, go for “Jailhouse Rock,” his second best film. If you want a fun and silly Elvis movie, go for the endearingly wacky “Via Las Vegas.” If you want to see a plain great film with Elvis Preseley showing his potential as a serious actor — go for FLAMING STAR. You won’t regret it.
October 20, 2010
#2
Review by Linda Tremonti
Rating:
i’ve seen all Elvis’s movies, but Flaming Star is the one film whereby his talent as an actor in a dramatic role comes forth highly convincing on the screen. John McIntyre and Delores Del Rio; superbly cast as parents of two brothers who through racial conflict pull apart, then rejoin to save the life of the other. A classic western with Steve Forrest at his best and Barbara Eden in a role you can’t easily forget. Too many great actors to mention here. This movie, which I do hope will be on DVD, is not shown enough on t.v. movie networks and i believe has never received the recognition it so deserves. Elvis should have won an academy award for his portrayal as Pacer. to me, there is no other Elvis movie but Flaming Star. Get your hankies out girls; toward the end of the film, when Pacer (Elvis) rides into the hills in search of the “Flaming Star”.
October 20, 2010
#3
Review by Scott T. Rivers
Rating:
“Flaming Star” (1960) proves that Elvis Presley could handle a straight dramatic role. This is a downbeat, yet provocative Western – sensitively directed by Don Siegel with an excellent cast. Elvis sings only a brief song during the first 10 minutes, which probably accounts for the film’s weak showing at the box office. Nevertheless, Presley delivers a strong, affecting performance as a half-breed Indian forced to take sides in a deadly conflict. The final scene is particularly memorable. Beautifully filmed in Cinemascope, this “widescreen” DVD release has been a long time coming.
October 20, 2010
#4
Review by
Rating:
For the star to end all stars, Elvis, this movie is greatness among a movie career that’s, well, not so great. Finally on DVD, with beautiful picture quality, I adore this movie. There is no cheese here.
This is not chock full of songs, this is not a musical, and the few musical numbers here are well-done and in context. You don’t get a cheesy 1960′s sounding song in this 19th century western, the songs actually sound like they belong. Again I must stress, there are only a few songs and they don’t take anything away from, rather they add TO the film. That man could sing, but surprise surprise, he could also act.
He is a halfbreed. Part white, part Native American. Constantly he is torn between loyalties, but moreso from this deep desire to remain fair to all in his life. The scenes of tenderness are of the utmost affection, and the scenes of violence express the real anguish of such a life. I’m not exaggerating when I say that sometimes when I watch this movie I feel as if I’m spying on a 19th century scene, it’s that convincing, friends.
There is such a magical quality about this movie. It’s so different from anything Elvis had done before or since that it almost seems like he would have done the film for free…he loves what he’s doing and puts his soul into it.
Note that Col. Parker scoffed at the idea of “his boy” Elvis doing a “political” film like this. The Colonel was not one who liked to stir the pot too much when he felt the mixture was just right. This is one of few occasions where Elvis went ahead and did what he thought was the right project. If anyone is curious, check into the numerous films that were offered to Elvis and refused by the Colonel. Least of which was the now legendary 1968 ‘Comeback’ Special in which Elvis both re-invents and re-establishes his throne as the King of Rock and Roll. The Colonel wanted the 1968 special to be a cheesy xmas show with Elvis in a tuxedo singing to snowmen and Santa (which would have probably been the colonel in a red suit). What a disaster and a loss that would have been.
Anyway – Elvis shines like the bright star he is in Flaming Star. Absolutely terrific, wonderful movie that I can’t say enough good things about. I have not one complaint except that there weren’t more cast from this dye.
October 20, 2010
#5
Review by Michael A. Quebec
Rating:
This was Elvis’ first attempt at a dramatic non-singing role. (He had done dramas before he went into the army. Both “Jailhouse Rock” & “King Creole”, though having music in them, were dramatic roles, albeit tailor-made to fit his persona.)This movie is a decent western with an important & relevant message on race relations (especially when you consider that it was made during the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement.) Basically, the story takes place in Texas after the Civil War. Elvis’ character, Pacer Burton, is the son of a Texas Rancher & a woman of the Kiowa-Indian Tribe. When the whites & Native Americans go to war (is this supposed to be the Red River War of the 1870′s?), he & his family are caught in the middle. It’s a powerful movie with a simple (and that’s the beauty of it) plot that unfortunately, was all too plausible during the settling of the Old West. (Both Quannah Parker & the Bent Brothers were half-caste children of white/Indian parents & they eventually had to choose sides when the U.S. settlers/militia & Southern Plains Tribes went to war.)That’s not to say that this film doesn’t have flaws. Some of the dialogue is laughable at times. (Example: “I shall return again when the sun has killed the stars!” Also, “If Earth round, why men on bottom not fall off?”) And the scene at the opening birthday party has Elvis singing “A Cane & A High-Starched Collar” to awkward square-dancing! (It’s the only on-screen song that Elvis sings in the movie. The title tune is over the credits. Well, at least it’s not as bad as Frankie Avalon singing “Gee Whizz, Golly Gee” in “The Tall Men” or Fabian singing “This Wonderful World” in “North To Alaska!”) Also, from a historian’s standpoint, it would have been nice if the film-makers had tied in the real-events of that time & place to this (fictional) story. (I mention the Red River War, which actually took place in 1874 in Texas between white buffalo hunters/the U.S. Army & an alliance of Kiowas, Commanches, Southern Cheyennes, Southern Arapahos, & Plains Apaches. If they had tied that real event to this story, it would have made the movie much more interesting.)Keep in mind, however, that any flaws in the script & direction do not take away from the power of the message in this film. Most of the dialogue, as well as the incidental film-music is very good.Another customer reviewer (who, out of respect, I won’t name!) criticized this movie because it wasn’t a musical. That’s the real-life tragedy of this movie & Elvis’ film-career. Elvis was a great singer, a true pioneer of rock n’ roll. To be sure, there were MANY others (Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis, LaVern Baker, Jackie Wilson, The Everly Brothers, Wanda Jackson, Red Prysock, Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley, JoAnn Campbell, Sam “The Man” Taylor, Brenda Lee, Larry & Lorrie Collins, Bill Haley, etc. Did I name enough?!) But in the popular mind, he (rightfully) is ranked above them all, at the top, “The King”, if you will. He also wanted to be (and I believe was capable of being) a great dramatic actor in the same vein as Marlon Brando (who was originally offered the part of “Pacer” in this film) & James Dean. Unfortunatelly, SOME of his fans (like the afformentioned “critic”) couldn’t accept him in anything other than a musical! (And BAD musicals at that! Movies like “Easy Come, Easy Go” & “Kissing Cousins” are examples of this & Elvis himself eventually became frustrated & depressed over having to act in junk like that!) The Colonel has been blamed for forcing bad scripts on Elvis, but the sad fact is that he was a business man & “Flaming Star”, along with “Wild In The Country” failed to make significant profits at the box-office. “Blue Hawaii”, however, did make a huge profit. It was THE FANS who dictated the Colonel’s policy (and in no way am I implying that Parker was an honest businessman, but that’s another story), & in the end, it’s the fans who have to share in the blame for contributing to Elvis’ decline as a successful (& serious) film-actor (and in a way contributing to his death, since it was this frustration, along with many other factors, which fueled his drug-dependency.)Frank Sinatra became a successful actor. Likewise, Kris Kristofferson, Kenny Rogers, Barbara Streisand, Beth Midler, & Diana Ross have found success as actors. The fans accepted these talented singers IN NON-MUSICAL ROLES. It’s a shame that WE (yes, I’m a big Elvis fan) couldn’t do the same for Elvis.It’s tempting to speculate what would have happened if this movie, instead of “Love Me Tender” (which also takes place after the Civil War) had been Elvis’ first film. Perhaps the fans would have been more inclined to accept him as an actor. Oh well, we’ll never know for sure. One thing is certain, however. “Flaming Star” is a good example of what (sadly) might & should have been.P.S. A word on the “violence” in the movie. The afformentioned “critic” also took exception to the level of “violence” in the film. (Apparently, he showed it to his kids, assuming that just because it’s an “Elvis-film”, it’s appropriate for family viewing. He was shocked by the serious tone & offended by the action sequences.) With respect to this person (and he is entitled to his opinion), “Flaming Star” is a WESTERN, one with social-commentary. The action sequences are there to illustrate the tragedy of the story & are no means excessive. Elvis & the people behind him DID NOT intended this movie to be marketed towards children & as such, it’s a good idea to limit viewing of this movie towards viewers over the age of 12! (Hey, it was made in 1960, for God’s sakes! They didn’t have ratings back then!)