Even though "G.I. Blues" had been released just eight weeks earlier and still was going strong, 20th Century Fox put "Flaming Star" in the cinimas on December 20, 1960. In the US and Canada it generated rental fees of 2 million USD, so it can be estimated that the gross was approximately 4 million USD. Using our factor of 15 "Flaming Star" would have sold tickets of 60 million USD and made the studio 30 million USD today. Neither the studio nor the Presley camp must have been happy with a movie earning barely 50% of the previous one. In 2016 the Reel Cowboys honored "Love Me Tender" (1956), "Flaming Star" (1960) and "Charro!" (1969) with the Silver Spur Award.

This time the studio didn't make up a new name for the German audience, but simply translated the title to "Flammender Stern". Of course the Germans once again had to wait a little longer, the movie premiered on March 17, 1961.

Storyline

When the Kiowas are taking revenche on the colonists, Pacer Burton (Elvis), the son of the colonist Sam and the native Neddy, gets caught in the crossfire. Even though he refuses to fight for Buffalo Horn the settlers distrust him more and more. 

Production Staff

David Weisbart (producer), Don Siegel (director), Nunnally Johnson und Clair Huffaker (script, based on the novel "Flaming Lance" by Clair Huffaker), Cyril J. Mockridge (music), Charles G. Clarke (camera), Hugh S. Fowler (editing).

Principal Cast

Elvis Presley (Pacer Burton), Steve Forrest (Clint Burton), Barbara Eden (Roslyn Pierce), Dolores del Rio (Neddy Burton), John McIntire (Sam Burton) und Rodolfo Acosta (Buffalo Horn). Once again Elvis' voice was dubbed by Rainer Brandt.

Production

20th Century Fox had acquired the rights to the novel "Flaming Lance" in 1958 and planned a movie starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra as Pacer and Clint Burton. When no agreement could be reached Montgomery Clift and Rock Hudson were considered, but again no contracts were signed. So the studio turned to the lesser known Steve Forrest for the charakter of Clint Burton, but they couldn't agree who should portray Pacer. The script caused another delay, because Clair Huffaker and Nunnally Johnson needed 30 weeks until they were able to come up with a finalized and usable version. In search of a popular actor to portray Pacer Burton the producers remembered Elvis Presley, who had granted the studio an option for two more projects when he had signed for "Love Me Tender" back in 1956. So he was signed to play the part for $200,000 - according to our rough factor 15 it would be 3 million USD today. 

Just like "Love Me Tender" back in 1956, "Flaming Star" was an ensemble piece. But once again the studio had Elvis dominate the advertising poster and even showed him playing the guitar although the film was everything but a musical. To me the German poster is much more suitable and also looks better.

The movie was shot between August 16 and October 4, 1960. As locations the production used the cities of Delle, Lonerrock and Thousand Oaks, the Janss Conejo Ranch in Skull Valley and the 20th Century Fox Studios in Hollywood. The first cut included the title song, "A Cane And A High Starched Collar", "Britches" and "Summer Kisses, Winter Tears". The latter one was removed after a test audience had burst into laughter as the song came up. As far as I am concerned, 20th Century Fox should have removed every tune but the title song.

Soundtrack

Originally RCA Victor had not planned to release any music from the movie, but when some radio stations started to play a bootleg version of "Flaming Star" the label issued the song together with "Summer Kisses, Winter Tears" and the chartbreakes "It's Now Or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight" on an extended player named "Elvis By Request". "A Cane And A High Starched Collar" was released in 1976 on the album "Elvis - A Legendary Performer Volume 2", "Briches" followed two years later on the third installment of that series. By tapping on the cover you'll be forwarded to the accordant review.  

Home Entertainment

In 2014 20th Century Fox released a hd version of "Flaming Star". For a short review just tap on the cover.