FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

ThrillMessage There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

kz917-1 Elvis portrays the son of an Indian and a White Settler that is torn when the townsfolk and the local Indian Tribe look to war with each other.Sad subject matter and lots of the characters die through the course of the film.Worth a view if you are an Elvis fan.

Gary R. Peterson Hollywood had by 1960 honed the Western to a fine edge and FLAMING STAR is a testimony to that. It's a polished product with a compelling story, beautiful color and Cinemascope showing wide open vistas.There are biblical allusions a'plenty in this film. First is an underscoring of the injunction against marrying outside one's own people. The tragic lives of Esau, Samson, and Solomon testify to the whirlwind that is reaped when one marries strange women with strange gods. Sam Burton married the Indian squaw Neddy and, while appearing to be assimilated, she still clung to her Kiowa superstitions, such as the flaming star of the title. These superstitions she passed onto her half-breed son Pacer, sowing seeds of dissent.Over Neddy's grave Sam recites Genesis 3:20 about Eve being the mother of all living. That sets up the Cain and Abel conflict between Clint and Pacer, which fortunately isn't followed through to the bloodshed. Their eventual reconciliation stirs up memories of Jacob and Esau and the younger brother saving the older evokes Joseph and his brothers.The story enjoys added heft due these parallels to age-old stories, whether or not author Cliff Huffaker ever drew upon them intentionally.Joining Elvis were three actors on the cusp of small screen fame. John McIntire was in a lot of films but arguably it would be his replacing the late Ward Bond on WAGON TRAIN soon after FLAMING STAR was released that made him a household name. Steve Forrest was a few years shy of starring in THE BARON and later S.W.A.T. where his handle "Hondo" was a nod to the great Western. Barbara Eden, in a smaller role than her billing led me to anticipate, would five years later co-star on I DREAM OF JEANNIE.Rodolfo Acosta, fondly remembered as Vaquero on THE HIGH CHAPARRAL, was excellent as Kiowa chief Buffalo Horn. Dolores Del Rio played Neddy with dignity, at least until the scene where she runs out into the night like a woman possessed. Both Acosta and Del Rio were Hispanic, yet each played American Indians with such aplomb to silence the P.C. police who feel compelled to cry "red face" about cross-ethnic casting.Rounding out the cast are familiar faces like Karl Swenson, Richard Jaeckel, Ford Rainey, and an especially loathsome Tom Reese as an uncouth Indian-hating trapper. L.Q. Jones is also on hand. Jones had a bigger role in LOVE ME TENDER but went uncredited. He's credited here, but he hardly earns it before a tomahawk is buried in his forehead.Elvis right out of the gate in LOVE ME TENDER had proved his acting abilities. In FLAMING STAR he sings only the opening theme song and a forgettable, high-spirited song at the birthday party. He played his character so well it was easy to forget this was Elvis.The story does some light philosophizing on prejudice, reflecting the era in which it was released, which was just before Christmas 1960, with John F. Kennedy the president-elect and the civil rights movement underway. As Pacer storms out to join the Kiowa, Clint reminds him he's civilized. But Pacer points to the hateful bigots in town who see all Indians as murdering savages. If that's civilization, he wants no part of it. And who can blame him? But Buffalo Horn is guilty of painting with the same broad brush, seeing all whites--men, women, and children--as intruders to be eradicated from his land.The story doesn't delve deep into these issues, but raises the questions. The solution appears to lie with a remnant of reasonable people, like Sam, Clint, and Roslyn, who judge each person individually. The doctor's daughter has no fear of Pacer, knowing him as a family friend and not a threat. In bringing about racial harmony, the children will lead.The ending felt rushed and was unsatisfactory; for example, the climactic battle with the Kiowa occurs off screen. Since he lived to ride into town, did Pacer defeat the whole tribe single-handedly? On the city limits of civilization, Pacer reverts to paganism, turns and rides off to the hills to die a Kiowa's death. Suddenly the film closes with Steve Forrest's embarrassing parody of SHANE.A good film even if a flawed one, and a muddled one in its philosophizing that came across more as grasping for relevance circa 1960. McIntire and Forrest add weight to the movie, and Elvis elevates it above average. Worth seeking out.

boomerchinde Line Elvis Presley up with a good script, great direction, and a plausible plot and you get "Flaming Star". Although the film could've done without his singing, at least it comes across as a natural part of the birthday party sequence and isn't overwhelming and stupid. Don Siegel, of Clint Eastwood fame, was always a good director, and much underrated. He holds this film together well, with Elvis as a half white, half Kiowa young man who must decide where his allegiance lies when the Indians have finally had enough of the whites. Addresses well the issues of prejudice in an era when that was mostly taboo. A couple of chilling moments, and a gritty performance by the always competent John McIntyre as Elvis' father. Barbara Eden is subdued as the love interest, and Delores Del Rio is simply wonderful as his long suffering mother. The skirmishes are well handled, and the ending is not trite, but realistic. Many claim Elvis did better work in his earlier films, but I disagree, this is his best effort, and a solid one at that. Tune in just to watch Elvis handle the two baddies who try to take advantage of his mother -- you NEVER mess with Elvis' mother!

Christopher Mercurio For a movie that was originally planned for Brando, Elvis sure does a good job. According to the trivia, it was planned for Sinatra too. I'm assuming Sinatra would've played Clint, while Brando played Pacer.While some might find the movie to be too depressing, I say, it calls for it. A movie like this, with a story like this, can't have a happy ending. So if you're expecting the usual Presley picture with singing and all, look somewhere else. If you want a movie with a great script and many memorable lines and scenes, see Flaming Star. If you are a fan of Elvis, see this movie for sure. Elvis shows what a natural actor he is in this movie. He also proves that he could star in a serious movie with a serious role.If you are looking for a movie with action, look no further. Flaming Star has plenty of action. If you just want to see a good Western, see Flaming Star. Once you start watching Flaming Star you won't be able to stop. The movie had me watching up until the powerful ending. Everyone did their job well when they made this movie. Steve Forrest was great as Clint, Pacer's brother. Dolores del Rio was great as Neddy, Pacer's mother. John McIntire was great as Sam Burton, Pacer's father. Even the other supporting actors were great. Everyone was great. The actor that portrayed Buffalo Horn, Rudolph Acosta, was very memorable. Elvis was of course, great as Pacer. When you start watching the movie, in the beginning, it seems like the movie isn't really about Pacer. But later on in the movie when he has to make a choice of whether he will fight with the white man, his father's people, or the Kiowas, his mother's people, the movie gets very interesting. Elvis is put in many situations in the movie when he has to fight for his family and for his life. Pacer becomes the film's hero once the fighting starts. The whole movie is very powerful and unforgettable, so don't miss this one. You are in for a pleasant surprise. Elvis Presley fans will be pleased. Even people that aren't really fans of Elvis will be pleased. See this great movie and you won't be disappointed.