Kid Galahad

For other uses, see Kid Galahad (disambiguation).
Kid Galahad

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Phil Karlson
Produced by David Weisbart
Screenplay by William Fay
Story by Francis Wallace
Starring
Music by Jeff Alexander
Cinematography Burnett Guffey
Edited by Stuart Gilmore
Production
company
Distributed by United Artists
Release dates
  • August 11, 1962 (1962-08-11) (USA)
Running time
 96 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Kid Galahad is a 1962 American musical film starring Elvis Presley as a boxer. It was released by United Artists. The film opened at #9 at the box office when released in the United States in August 1962. Variety ranked it #37 on the list of the top-grossing films of 1962.

Kid Galahad was shot on location in Idyllwild, California. Its supporting cast included Gig Young, Lola Albright and Charles Bronson. Some critics rate it as one of Elvis Presley's best performances.

The film is a remake of the 1937 original version starring Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart and directed by Michael Curtiz, who also directed the Presley 1958 film King Creole.

Plot

Willy Grogan is a small-time boxing promoter based in the Catskills resort region of Cream Valley, New York. He owns the Grogan's Gaelic Gardens inn. He is a contemptible man and is in debt and pays little attention to the woman who loves him, Dolly, a chain-smoking, love-starved woman residing at the camp. Into their midst comes Walter Gulick, a young man recently discharged from the Army who loves the peaceful setting almost as much as he loves working on old cars. Walter's simple goal is to go into business as a mechanic at a nearby garage.

Willy's younger sister, Rose, shows up unexpectedly. She and Walter immediately hit it off. The obsessively protective Willy doesn't want his kid sister falling for some "grease monkey" mechanic and two-bit boxer. Dolly is envious of the young couple's romance and resents Willy's interference.

One day, Walter, in need of work, accepts an offer of five dollars to be a sparring partner and decks one of Willy's top fighters. Willy is persuaded to let this "Galahad" take a shot in a legitimate ring. Both men are reluctant, but each has a need for the money. Walter begins working out under the watchful eye of Willy's top trainer, Lew.

After several successes in the ring, Walter is readied for his biggest fight. Gangsters want him to take a dive so that Willy can pay off his debts to them, but "Galahad" throws his muscle behind Willy and emerges victorious. He wins the big fight against Ramon "Sugar Boy" Romero as well as Willy's approval, retiring undefeated to his vintage car and his new love.

Cast

Background

For this role Presley was tutored in the arts of pugilism by former world junior welterweight champ Mushy Callahan, who appeared in the film.[1] Reigning welterweight champion Orlando De La Fuente also appeared as Ramon "Sugar Boy" Romero. Shooting began in early November 1961 in Hidden Lodge, Idyllwild, California, before a storm forced a move to Hollywood. Of the people who starred in this film, Gig Young made a dramatic appearance while doing other roles: later he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They?.

Soundtrack

Kid Galahad
EP by Elvis Presley
Released August 1962
Recorded October 1961
Genre Soundtrack
Length 14:03
Label RCA Records
Producer Jeff Alexander
Elvis Presley chronology
Follow That Dream
(1962)		 Kid Galahad
(1962)		 Viva Las Vegas
(1964)

Recording sessions took place ten months prior to the film's release on October 26 and 27, 1961, at Radio Recorders Studios in Hollywood, California. At this point in his career Presley had a proven sales track record, and up to 300 demos were often submitted for a single film, even given the requisite publishing arrangements favorable toward the companies owned by Elvis and the Colonel, Elvis Presley Music and Gladys Music.[2] As the plots for Presley films became interchangeable, songs rejected for a certain storyline could later be used for an entirely different film, as with "A Whistling Tune" which had been omitted from Presley's previous film Follow That Dream but found a place here instead.[2]

Six songs were recorded for the film and the soundtrack was issued as an extended play record in August 1962 to coincide with the film's premiere. The extended play record was certified Gold on 03/27/1992 by the RIAA. The featured song from the album, "King of the Whole Wide World," received Top 40 radio airplay and reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.The extended play record was the number-one EP in the UK for 17 weeks.[3]

Personnel

Track listing

Side one
No. TitleWriter(s)Recording date Length
1. "King of the Whole Wide World"  Bob Roberts and Ruth BachelorOctober 27, 1961 (1961-10-27) 2:44
2. "This Is Living"  Fred Wise and Ben WeismanOctober 27, 1961 (1961-10-27) 1:43
3. "Riding the Rainbow"  Fred Wise and Ben WeismanOctober 26, 1961 (1961-10-26) 1:37
Side two
No. TitleWriter(s)Recording date Length
1. "Home Is Where the Heart Is"  Sherman Edwards and Hal DavidOctober 26, 1961 (1961-10-26) 2:32
2. "I Got Lucky"  Fred Wise and Ben WeismanOctober 27, 1961 (1961-10-27) 2:10
3. "A Whistling Tune"  Sherman Edwards and Hal DavidOctober 26, 1961 (1961-10-26) 3:17

See also

References

  1. ↑ Victor, p.284
  2. 1 2 Jorgensen, Ernst. Elvis Presley A Life in Music: The Complete Recording Sessions. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998; p. 163.
  3. ↑ Jorgensen, Ernst. Elvis Presley A Life in Music: The Complete Recording Sessions. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998; p. 415.
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