Roustabout

(1964)

Film / Drama / Musical

Directed by John Rich

Cast: Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Freeman, Pat buttram and Leif Erickson
 
Musician Charlie Rogers (Elvis Presley) is a leather-jacketed biker who's fired from a singing gig after getting into a brawl with a group of college boys. After a night in jail, Charlie hits the road on his Honda 305 Superhawk and spots Cathy Lean (Joan Freeman) driving along with her father Joe (Leif Erickson) and their employer, Maggie Morgan (Barbara Stanwyck). When Charlie tries to become friendly with Cathy, Joe forces him off the road and the bike is wrecked.  Charlie is forced to hook up with a traveling carnival until his bike can be fixed. The carnival is run by a tough old broad, a broken-down drunk and his nubile daughter. Off stage, Charlie romances Cathy, which does not endear him to Joe and the two men repeatedly clash.  Charlie is accused of holding back a customer's wallet which Joe was accused of stealing, and eventually Charlie leaves to star in the much better financed show of rival carnival producer Harry Carver (Pat Buttram).  Along the way, Charlie learns about family values from this vaguely dysfunctional one. Once again, he is a great success. However, when Charlie learns that Maggie is facing bankruptcy, he decides to return to her carnival and he is happily reunited with Cathy.

Roustabout trailer