Flaming Star (1960)

90% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(4,900 ratings)

Tensely directed by Don Siegel, Flaming Star is the grittiest of Elvis Presley's post-Army films. Elvis plays Pacer Burton, a half-breed youth in the old West, torn between loyalty to the whites, as represented by his father (John McIntyre), and the Indians, represented by his mother (Dolores Del… More Tensely directed by Don Siegel, Flaming Star is the grittiest of Elvis Presley's post-Army films. Elvis plays Pacer Burton, a half-breed youth in the old West, torn between loyalty to the whites, as represented by his father (John McIntyre), and the Indians, represented by his mother (Dolores Del Rio). A series of brutal Kiowa raids, and the subsequent reprisals by the white settlers, sorely test Pacer's fortitude. Though offered moral support from his loved ones, Pacer is forced to work things out himself. The film was based on a novel by Clair Huffaker. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Don Siegel
Written By: Clair Huffaker
Genres: Western, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1960 Wide
On DVD: Feb 28, 2006

Critic Reviews

Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
The filmmaking may be a little ramshackle, but it's sensitive, and the performances are soulful.
Blake French, Filmcritic.com
...proves that Elvis didn't just get lucky with his first performance; the boy could actually act.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Famed action director Don Siegel saw an element of raw danger in Elvis and gave him his very best role in this excellent quasi-Western.
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
Less an "Elvis film" than a western starring young Presley in a surprisingly well cast role, this lean frontier drama... offers one of his most impressive performances.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Elvis' best performance, in a solid Don Siegel Western
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An emotionally charged liberal themed Western that keeps things rocking.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Among the best Presley features; directed by Don Siegel.
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
If only the King had been paired more frequently with directors like Don Siegel and Michael Curtiz, he'd have given more terrific performances like the one here.
Rachel Sanders, Apollo Guide
Although the sight of a shirtless Elvis wrestling a native warrior is fascinating enough, there are few surprises in the sequence of events.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Pretty good Elvis vehicle; the young man could act.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Only okay as westerns go and actually very dark at the end but miles ahead of most of the tripe that Elvis was thrown into by the Colonel.

Cast

            Elvis Presley as Pacer Burton

            Steve Forrest as Clint Burton

            Barbara Eden as Roslyn Pierce

            Rodopho (Rudy) Acosta as Buffalo Horn

            Dolores Del Rio as Neddy Burton

            John McIntire as Sam Burton

            Karl Swenson as Dred Pierce

            Richard Jaeckel as Angus Pierce

            Ford Rainey as Doc Phillips

            Anne Benton as Dorothy Howard

            L.Q. Jones as Tom Howard

            Douglas Dick as Will Howard

            Tom Reese as Jute

            Marian Goldina as Ph' Sha Knay

            Monte Burkhart as Ben Ford

            Ted Jacques as Hornsby

            Perry Lopez as Two Moons

            Henry Amargo as Brave (uncredited)

            Barbara Beaird as Dottie Phillips

            Joe Brooks
            
            Virginia Christine as Mrs. Phillips

            Rodd Redwing as Indian Brave

            The Jordanaires as Vocal Accompaniment

            Ray Beltram as Indian

            Guy Way
            
            Tom Allen
            
            Rodolfo Acosta
            
See full cast

Flaming Star (1960)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Cast