A squashy slapstick mess posing as a comedy. Elvis Presley plays an Indian bull-riding champ who leaves the rodeo for a stay at home on his folks' desert-spread in Arizona, where government suits have just invested in the family's herd of cattle (which is in dire need of a stud). What director Peter Tewksbury is in dire need of is some narrative skills, though what he lacks in assessment he makes up for in sloppy comedic montages (his social commentary isn't exactly pointed, but Tewksbury does have a satiric bend to his outlandishness and there are some funny scenes). Despite colorful supporting turns by Katy Jurado and Joan Blondell, the general wackiness gets way out of hand, and there's too much hoopin' and hollerin' to sustain much interest. As for Elvis, he's loose and frisky throughout--and while it's nice to see him having fun on-screen, one has to wonder if he had just given up on movies at this point. This shambles of a picture has a distinct what-the-hell feel to it, and though spirits are high, the returns are mostly low. *1/2 from ****
Add a Review
-
JoeKarlosi9 January 2009It's been a looooonnnggg time since I saw this comedy, and I'd forgotten just how idiotic it is. I'd place this easily in the lower two or three of Elvis Presley's very worst movies. Presley plays Joe Whitecloud, a half-breed Indian bull rider who returns home to Arizona and the broken-down shack where his family lives, and where his friends love to party all night long. His parents are played by Burgess Meredith and Katy Jurado, and his old Indian grandpa is Thomas Gomez. None of the three offer anything of substance , comically or otherwise. The government has invested in the family's cattle, but they're lacking a bull. Elvis gets to sing just a few utterly worthless songs, and is pursued by a young boy-crazy gal and her gun-toting mother. This is just a real slapdash of a mess, and the dilapidated surroundings practically stink of manure and don't make this much easier. The one thing that puzzles me, however, is that Elvis actually seems to be having a good time in the film. Hard to believe, considering he got so upset about being stuck making so many mediocre movies. *1/2 out of ****
-
state4023 August 2000This movie is not very good.In fact, it is the worst Elvis movie I have seen.It has very little plot,mostly partying,beer drinking and fighting. Burgess Meredith and Thomas Gomez are wasted. I don't know why they did this movie.You could say Elvis was wasted as well,he is much,much better in "Follow That Dream."
-
kwbucsfan20 August 2001After such smellaroos like "Clambake", "Kissin' Cousins" and "Paradise Hawaiian Style" this movie is a breath of fresh air. At this juncture of his movie career, his films didn't engender much confidence. With the exception of "Speeedway" which was actually filmed before this one, his films were at least decent again. Elvis plays a half breed named Joe Lightclould who is always getting himself in trouble. Strong supporting cast, with the late Burgess Merideth who was one of many. And the music was a big improvement over what he had been doing lately. Perhaps being married gave him back his drive, perhaps being a father gave him back his drive. And perhaps he just got fed up with the crap the he had been given and demanded better rolls. I give this movie three and a half stars.
-
wes-connors17 August 2007Elvis Presley plays a "half-breed" Native American ("Indian") who has to defend his reservation from nasty business tycoons. Everyone likes to get drunk, fight, and make children. Fighting, wrestling, and "punching out" each other replace the stereotypical hand-raised expression "How"?
Although he does have make-up on, it's obvious Elvis is healthier than he appeared in prior films; possibly, he was getting ready for his famous "comeback". It couldn't have been because this movie's script was anything to get excited about. Joan Blondell trying to seduce Elvis, and Burgess Meredith in "war paint", should be ashamed.
The best song is "Stay Away" (actually, "Green Sleeves" with different lyrics). The most embarrassing song is Elvis' love song to the bull "Dominic". There are some surreal scenes, but it never becomes trippy enough to succeed in that genre; though, "Stay Away, Joe" might provide some laughs if you're in the right "mood".
Otherwise, stay away.
** Stay Away, Joe (3/8/68) Peter Tewksbury ~ Elvis Presley, Burgess Meredith, Joan Blondell -
medfly-221 February 1999Without question, the worst ELVIS film ever made. The movie portrays all Indians as drunk, stupid, and lazy. Watch ELVIS's skin change color throughout the film.
-
mark.waltz25 November 2012When movie makers film a comedy, it is imperative that the audience is laughing at the jokes, not at the movie. That is what happens here in this outlandish farce where the performers of a rodeo unwittingly slaughter and barbecue their prize bull at a drunken fiesta. If you can swallow that, then try the bull of Elvis Presley as a Native American. Burgess Meredith adds another bizarre performance to his many, especially those directed by Otto Preminger. Katy Jurado takes Bette Davis's wig from "Beyond the Forest", and includes some of her mannerisms as well (with a Mexican accent), but there are some generally amusing moments with Joan Blondell as a gun-toting diner owner intent on keeping Elvis's pelvis off of her daughter unless a wedding ring is included. A bizarre musical number chooses a chicken coop as its location, and comedy montages seem straight off of Saturday morning cartoons. This tries to have a hip feeling to it (minus the LSD) but this hip needs some cortisone.
-
SanteeFats8 January 2014Wow what an uneven movie. A congressman gives an Indian twenty heifers and a bull. If they can raise cattle successfully then more Indians will get some. The Indian given the cattle is played by Burgess Meredith. Why he took this role is beyond me. He is made up to look like an idiot and acts like one too. Elvis is his son and he shows up just in time to get everything messed up. Almost every Indian is a white man in bad make up. There are several wild parties with lots of booze, women and fighting. Sure makes the Indians look good. At the first party they have a BBQ with, did you guess?, the bull. Elvis then borrows another bull who just sleeps, until someone tries to ride that is. Now this bull is a Hereford. I have never seen one of those in the bull ring. Setting up a rodeo with the never ridden bull Joe takes on all comers, is the only one to ride the bull and wins a ton of money. Meanwhile Meredith's wife has sold off all the rest of the stock to fix their hovel of a shack up for the visiting mother of her daughter's fiancée. This turns out soooo well!! A fight breaks out, the fiancée's mother faints, the house ends up trashed, a mother shows up with a shotgun to force Elvis to marry her daughter, plus they are repoing his cars. So no cows, no bull, no future. Wait Elvis takes his winnings and shows up with about a hundred head to appease the congressman and keep papa out of jail. This movie is kind of uneven and not that well written, in other words a typical Elvis movie. Though titled a musical there is not very much music.
-
jayraskin110 August 2010Any film with Katy Jurado is worth seeing and she's on screen for about twenty minutes here. This is better than Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid where she's on-screen for two minutes and even makes that film worth seeing.
This is a silly comedy, with a few effective gags and lots of slapstick. I think the movie is hated because 1)many of the Native American characters are played in brown make-up by Euro-American actors and they seem to childishly enjoy getting drunk and getting into fights. 2)Presley has a bed scene with Quentin Dean (who won a Golden Globe the year before for "In the Heat of the Night"). Dean is supposed to be a Lolita type nymphet. Her age isn't mentioned, but she appears to be about 16 years old, at most.
If you can get over these two offensive points, the movie is fun in a three stooges type of way. Presley seems to be enjoying himself and his performance is pretty smooth and easy going. This was one of his last films and he seems totally comfortable playing rodeo rider Joe Lightcloud.
It is always nice to see Joan Blondell. She had become a big star again in 1968 with her role on the hit television show,"Here Comes the Brides." Still, her role is pretty pedestrian as the bootlegger mother of Quentin Dean, who first tries to keep Elvis away from her, but then decides to use a gun to make him marry her.
Still, its Katy Jurado's delightful small performance that made the film worth watching for me. We even get to see her taking a bath. That is worth two of the six stars I gave the film. -
Frog-Legs2 February 2018There are some bad Elvis films and then there is Stay Away, Joe- a bomb at a much lower level. Filmed as if there were only 2 pages of dialogue and the actors were told to just mug in front of the camera to pad it for 100 minutes. I'll give it 2 stars just because it's in color and it has a nice opening montage of the Grand Canyon.
Burgess Meredith wears the worst Native American makeup I have seen in many a decade. There is also some guy with orange hair who is Elvis' sister's boyfriend. Joan Blondell was obviously just happy to get a paycheck and otherwise a waste of her time
Now that the Cleveland Indians have decided to retire the Chief Wahoo logo that was the center of so much controversy, Native American pressure groups can now focus their attention to this piece of cinematic travesty which portrays their culture as folks who just want to drink and brawl. -
iNeedaTimeMachine2121 June 2008Pretty much everybody who ever talks about this film says it's horrible and stupid. I could not disagree more. This is a light-hearted and funny movie that left me with a smile on my face. Sure, it's silly...but it's supposed to be. And Katy Jurado and Burgess Meredith both give hilarious performances. The 4 songs in the film are fun and catchy, and as always...Elvis's voice is top-notch. Three of his friends (Charlie Hodge, Joe Esposito, and Sonny West) join him on this movie, and it only adds to the fun.
Say what you want about this movie, but as an Elvis fan...I was just happy to get to spend over an hour laughing with the King.
How can you stay away? -
ejayeff6 October 2006I have to disagree with a previous comment that this is Elvis' worst film. OK, it's not a comedy classic but surely, at least in my opinion, "Harum Scarum", "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" and "Easy Come, Easy Go" are much more inferior to this rather enjoyable yarn. I for one always enjoy watching it whenever it's screened on Cable TV and it's a pity it has not been released on DVD yet. Besides a very good-looking Elvis, the supporting cast Burgess Meredith, Katy Jurado & the wise-cracking Thomas Gomez (as grandpa) are a joy to watch. And the opening title sequence with the camera flying over the Grand Canyon while the lovely "Stay Away" (a re-working of "Greensleeves") plays on the soundtrack must rank as one of the most beautiful openings in all of Elvis' movies.
-
Bunuel19766 September 2007After a few lean years, 1968 was a pretty swell time for Elvis: not only did he make that celebrated "Comeback" TV Special but he also became a father and starred in two pretty decent movies as well SPEEDWAY and LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE. Therefore, personally I can forgive him for the misstep that was STAY AWAY, JOE which, at best, emerges as an interesting misfire and is not all that bad considering. Sure, Burgess Meredith and Joan Blondell are indeed embarrassing as, respectively, a dopey Indian father to Elvis' character and a bawdy bartender who has her eye on Mr. Presley too - but one is glad to see Elvis surrounded by top veteran Hollywood talent like Katy Jurado (as Meredith's Mexican wife), the two Jones Henry and L.Q. - and Thomas Gomez who is particularly amusing as sarcastic Chief Thundercloud who is Meredith's stubborn father still donning his old chieftain clothes in the present day!
While there is a surprising (if not unwelcome given their usual blandness) lack of songs, there seems to be no shortage of free-for-all parties were the male Indians hit the bottle steadily while Presley practices his womanizing skills behind their backs! As can be expected, the typically 'Western' Arizona scenery is a major asset here and the sleepy, snoring bull gag is not only a good one but a major plot point. On the other hand, the climactic 'destruction of the house' episode is one we've seen too often since and doesn't work too well here... -
Michael_Elliott27 February 2008Stay Away, Joe (1968)
* (out of 4)
Incredibly bad film has Elvis playing an Indian who also just happens to be a rodeo champion. He decides to return to the reservation so that he can help his father (Burgess Meredith) raise cows but soon he gets into trouble with various women and some government men. I'm really curious if Marlon Brando watched this movie and that's what set him off about how Indians were being treated in film because this movie is so outrageous that even D.W. Griffith and John Ford would blush. For starters, all of the white cast members are wearing tan paint to make them look like Indians and the first time we see Meredith he's an ignorant drunk. In fact, all of the Indians do nothing more than get drunk, fall down and start fights. The stereotypes here are outrageous but the film is so poorly done that you can't even get any politically incorrect laughs at of it. I'm really not sure what in the hell was going on with the story but it was incredibly stupid and full of large plot holes. The songs were equally as bad including one scene where Elvis sings to a bull. The supporting cast are all pretty bad but Meredith comes off the worse with the most embarrassing performance and part I've ever seen him do. He was such a great character actor that it was rather sad seeing him in something like this. Elvis, on the other hand, actually manages to be the only decent thing here but that's still not saying too much. -
RealBlast329 April 2006Some here have commented that this is the WORST Elvis movie ever made. Well, they are only partly right. For me, this IS THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE PERIOD! I have never seen anything so basely crude, and insulting, and vile, and against human nature as this film. A true embarrassment to the Motion Picture Industry, this isn't even so Bad, its good. There is no campy trashy fun to be had here like in some of Elvis' other bad movies like Clambake. This one is so rotten to sit through its painful. Pure Garbage. Native Americans should sue for their poor clichéd and stereotypical treatment here. Actually, perhaps ALL Human Beings should sue for the crime and disservice this movie does to the species as a whole 0 Stars, seriously. Grade: F
-
ODDBear17 November 2010As a devoted fan of The King I'm a bit more tolerable than the average non-Presley fan when it comes to his films. I tend to take away the positives from the likes of "Double Trouble" and "Speedway" (admittedly two of his lesser films) and the bad kinda' gets forgotten...or willed away.
I mention those other two flicks 'cause I just recently downed 3 Presley flicks in a row. I started with "Stay Away, Joe" and I nearly packed it in. I'm being extremely generous rewarding the film with 3 stars. There's hardly anything to recommend it...even to hardcore Elvis fans.
Elvis doesn't even attempt to act here and yet he fares better than old pro Burgess Meredith who gives a shamefully bad performance as Elvis's father. Depictions of Native-Americans here consist of excessive drinking at all times, low IQ's and laziness beyond belief. The comedy here is so over the top and badly performed that the only laughs stem from the likes of "Oh god - how bad can it get?". The script-if there ever was one-is chock full of stupid lines and one ridiculous scenario after another. And the songs; apart from the opening song they're silly and forgettable.
Now I've laid out why the flick is bad and probably Elvis's worst. But The King looks absolutely smashing here and has probably never looked fitter. This film came at about the time of his Comeback Special and Elvis worked real hard at getting in physical shape...and it shows. Although he doesn't act here at all his presence is welcomed and he looks like he's enjoying himself and it's somewhat infectious...not much but a bit.
It's a stretch but I'm awarding another star to the beautiful scenery in the flick. During the entire ordeal the viewer at least is treated to pleasant images of beautiful country and that (at least) pleases the eye. The third and final star goes to the gorgeous opening song "Stay Away" that plays out over beautiful images. In fact; the first three minutes of the film are very pleasant...too bad the rest isn't. -
HK20012 July 2002As a true Elvis fan, this movie is a total embarrasment and the script is a disaster. The movie opens with the beautiful son "Stay Away" and the scenery of the Grand Canyon gives the viewer hope of something special. Elvis gets in the picture and his talent is wasted big time, especially on the rest of the featured songs. I sat through this movie twice, just to make sure it is a piece of junk!!! 1 out of 10!!!
-
etihw_wons30 September 2022I am a huge fan of Elvis. I've been going through all of his movies in an effort to see them all. This was #30 on my list. Now, with all the Elvis movies I've seen, I've really loved some of them, and liked a lot of others. Even the silly ones. Even some of the ones others say are no good. But there are 3 of them I've absolutely hated. This is one of those 3. This one is one of the craziest, weirdest, most horrible movies I've ever seen, period, Elvis or no Elvis. And his character in the movie does very, very little to make it worth it. In fact, I think it's the worst character Elvis ever played. And the songs (what few there are) also do very...very little to make it worth it. I deeply regret the $3 I spent to rent it so I could add it to the list of seen Elvis movies. Some may enjoy its own peculiar breed of charm. I did not. At all.
Now, all that being said, there was one scene that really tickled me, and which made me laugh really, really hard. (In-laws, tea.) For that scene, and because, well, because it's Elvis, I give this 3 stars. But I think I'd rather be water-boarded than watch it again. -
bkoganbing17 October 2011Not even the normally astute management of Colonel Tom Parker who as usual got a cast of top flight players to support Elvis Presley could save a stinker like Stay Away Joe. I had heard for years at how the American Indians were upset at this film and I've finally seen why.
As usual a bunch of white actors with a little olive oil makeup including the King are playing Navajo Indians. Elvis is a rodeo performer and a bull rider to be precise who has come home to the reservation bringing a herd of cattle that the government has given his parents Burgess Meredith and Katy Jurado to tend and raise. About two dozen cows and a bull which the Navajos slaughter and barbecue at a wild party to welcome Elvis home.
The rest of the film deals with various escapades romantic and otherwise the King gets himself in. A running joke is Joan Blondell trying to affect a shotgun wedding between Elvis and her daughter Quentin Dean, a girl whom the facts of life haven't been sufficiently explained, but who has some real lively hormones.
The Navajos here were portrayed as a bunch of partying drunken louts whom the white man isn't sure can deal with such responsibility as government cattle. No wonder they were all upset, not to mention the fact that white actors were portraying them as such. It's the Amos and Andy syndrome working here.
A young man named Ryan Dirteater who is one of the rising stars of the Professional Bull Riders came to mind when I watched Elvis riding home, making a grandstanding gesture on the original bull. Bucking bull or not I think the riders of the PBR would have been hooting at this one, knowing how hard it is to make that 8 seconds. I single out Dirteater because he is from Oklahoma of Cherokee Indian background.
Worst of all there are no good songs for Elvis coming out of the score. Isn't that what we really see a Presley movie for?
Just Stay Away Joe, and you viewers stay too. -
darmodejka30 March 2018I found this movie entertaining and funny. I smiled from the beginning to the end. Much better than some others with betters rating. It is for people with sense of humour. Surely Elvis enjoyed it and also others coostaring actors.
-
stalzz648 January 2008OK, the portrayal of the stereotyped 'indians' in this story is just plain WRONG. I do agree that Elvis looks rather good here, but yeah, his skin color does seem to change during the movie. I was thinking, OK,...he was never THAT tan in real life. It's some of the most obvious brown 'indian' makeup that I have ever seen. It's as bad as the 'indians' on 'F-Troop' and the old Hollywood westerns who were played by Jewish and Italian American actors and not real Native Americans!
This movie is o.k., but typically lame story and mediocre songs, like in all of Elvis' later films. He just did them because Colonel Parker had him tied down to long term movie contacts to squeeze as much money out of Elvis as possible! I keep thinking 'thank God' that Elvis stopped making movies forever not long after this movie came out. It is cool to see character actors Joan Blondell, Katy Jurado, L.Q. Jones, Henry Jones and Burgess Meredith in this movie, though.
Burgess Meredith's 'indian' makeup is absolutely AWFUL. It's The worst of the bunch for sure. What were the filmmakers thinking? Was Mr. Meredith doing this one just for the money or what? I do love certain Elvis movies, though. For example: 'Love Me Tender', 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Viva Las Vegas'. I can even stand to watch his movie with future TV co-stars Mary Tyler Moore and Ed Asner,'Change Of Habit' in which Elvis plays an inner-city doctor.
Oh well, at least Elvis made a FEW good films, but the mediocre and bad ones overwhelm the decent and good ones.
I'll always love ELVIS! Thank you, Thank you very much! -
Frank-874 January 1999"Stay away, Joe" is one hilarious comedy movie. It's got a fine supporting cast, an Elvis who was extremely comfortable with his role and there are at least half a million laughs. One has to admit, that once or twice one gets the impression, the script wasn't quite finished when they started shooting (like in the overlong party sequence near the beginning) and the director wasn't as talented as Burt Kennedy, but we still get some 100 min. of fast paced entertainment. As a fan of western movies I have seen all the Peckinpahs, Hawks' and Fords and I find it interesting that "Stay away, Joe" tells a similar story like "Junior Bonner" which was made several years later; rodeo champion returns home, wants to support his folks, encounters all sorts of problems. Even in some details "Junior Bonner" seems to be inspired by this movie; e.g. in both movies there is a big fight scene during which the hero takes his girl by the hand and, crawling on all fours, tries to find a quiet spot outside. Anyone who liked "Support your local gunfighter" will most likely enjoy "Stay away, Joe", too. I give it 8 out of 10.
-
michaelRokeefe20 November 1999Joe Lightcloud (Elvis Presley) returns home after a successful run on the rodeo circuit. He intends to raise cattle for the U.S. government with his father (Burgess Meredith). Beer chugging, brawling and girl chasing are colorful parts of a welcome home barbecue. Elvis is slim, tanned; happy and charming. He sings "All I Needed Was The Rain" and the title tune. Try to forget the scene in which he sings to the bull!!! This fun romp of a movie also stars Joan Blondell, Thomas Gomez, Katy Jurado and L.Q. Jones. Quentin Dean is superb as the dim witted sexpot that is starving for Joe.
-
TheLittleSongbird2 April 2017Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.
His twenty-sixth film 'Stay Away Joe' has often been cited as one of his worst, something that is agreed with by me. Before anybody asks, this is coming from somebody from enjoyed a good deal of Elvis' earlier parts pre-'Kissin' Cousins' (as well as a couple of his mid-later films like his last very good film 'Viva Las Vegas') and who considers Elvis a very capable actor when his material allowed it like his earlier films did and his later and particularly formulaic films didn't.
'Stay Away, Joe' isn't completely unwatchable. The production values generally are improved over many of Elvis' later films, the scenery is colourful and not artificial-looking and it's nicely shot mostly though in need of a more sweeping style. Most of the rather spare soundtrack does not fare well, but "Stay Away" is lovely.
Regarding Elvis himself, he is the best he's looked in any of his films since the mid-1960s, and gives an enthusiastic performance that actually saw him trying after seeing many post 'Viva Las Vegas' films where his performances were at best perfunctory and like he had lost interest. Faring best in support are an amusingly deadpan Thomas Gomez and charming Katy Jurado.
Unfortunately, for all Elvis' valiant efforts, his role is pretty wasted, one that is underwritten and severely underutilised in favour of the veteran actors. As much as it pains me to say it, Burgess Meredith is made to look, sound and act foolish and odd and it's in a way that's pretty embarrassing for a character actor of considerable calibre like Meredith. Joan Blondell is saddled with repetitive bawdy physical comedy that's not particularly funny first time and outstays its welcome quickly, another waste of talent. Quentin Dean's character is basically a typecast stereotype and her scenes with Elvis have an unintentional creepiness, but Dean does her best.
"Stay Away" aside, the songs are too few and none of them are any good or do anything for Elvis' talents. "Dominic" in fact is nearly as rock bottom as the likes of "Yoga is as Yoga Does", "Old MacDonald Had a Farm", "Confidence", "Hello Little Girl", "Petunia the Gardener's Daughter" and "Smorgasbord".
Being more familiar with quainter and more wholesome material, director Peter Tewkesbury seems ill suited for 'Stay Away, Joe's' more broad and bawdy approach, a large part as to why the comedy perhaps fell so flat. Generally the writing needed to be much sharper, with almost everything being overplayed and sloppy. The story is paper thin and at times somewhat chauvinistic, complete with the overlong beginning and drawn-out and unexciting ending being only two examples of a film that drags quite badly as a result, while the outrageously patronising and shamefully childish portrayal of Native Americans is not for the easily offended. Oh and the makeup is amateur hour.
All in all, pretty poor and nothing to get wild about. Even hard-core fans and completests may find 'Stay Away, Joe' hard to watch. 3/10 Bethany Cox