Kiowa Star: Flaming Star

FLAMING STAR (US, 1960)

Original title: Flaming Star

Filming date:

July - September 1960

Released:

December 20, 1960

Running time:

101min

Production company:

20th Century Fox

Budget:

US$ 1,7 million

Box office:

US$ 2 million

Main cast:

Elvis Presley

Barbara Eden
Steve Forrest

Dolores Del Río
Rodolfo Acosta

Soundtrack:

"It's Now or Never"

[b/w "A Mess of Blues"]

(July 5, 1960)

"Are You Lonesome Tonight"

[b/w "I Gotta Know"]

(November 1, 1960)

"Elvis By Request - Flaming Star" (EP)
(April 21, 1961)
"Elvis Sings Flaming Star" (LP)
(March 28, 1969)
"Flaming Star" (CD)
(FTD - 2014)

Flaming Star is Elvis' fifth film and his second after returning from the Army. The production is one of his best, with a classic story, a renowned cast and the recognition of the Kiowa tribe.

In 1958, with the success of his first films, 20th Century Fox decided to buy the script for Flaming Star and put Elvis as the main star. However, the mandatory military service got in the way of the producer's plans, which only had the opportunity to present the script to the singer again in 1960.

Elvis and veteran actress Dolores del Río

The success of the "G.I. Blues" soundtrack had proved the Colonel's point that Elvis should make comedic films with lots of music, but the King of Rock disobeyed Parker and went for a more serious film, with the kind of role he always had wanted to interpret, and without much singing.

For this purpose Elvis forced the producers to remove two of the four songs that would appear in the film, leaving only the necessary ones. To help with seriousness, big stars like Dolores Del Río (Journey Into Fear, 1943), Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie, 1965 - 1970) and Steve Forrest (Gunsmoke, 1955 - 1975) were called in.

Elvis and Barbara Eden

Flaming Star was released less than a month after "G.I. Blues", but it didn't have the same success, ranking only 12th among the most watched of the year. As his next film, "Wild in the Country", would also fail to please audiences and critics, this production marks Elvis' final days as a serious actor.

Elvis and Rodolfo Acosta

Elvis' participation in the film earned him a tribute from the Kiowa tribe, which presented him with a commemorative headdress for his collaboration in maintaining Native American culture.

Elvis receives a commemorative headdress from the Kiowa tribe during the filming of Flaming Star

SOUNDTRACK

Flaming Star never received an LP, as its soundtrack consisted of only two songs, "Flaming Star" and "A Cane and a High Storched Collar". As a result, both were released on an EP that had two singles on its B-side, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and "It's Now or Never". "Flaming Star" was again sold by RCA Camden on the 1969 "Elvis Sings Flaming Star" budget LP.

The other two songs, "Summer Kisses, Winter Tears" and "Britches", did not appear until later, in 1965 and 1979, respectively. An alternate version of the title song, called "Black Star", was only released in 1997. All were recorded in two sessions on Radio Recorders.

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SUPPORTING CAST

BARBARA EDEN

Barbara Jean Morehead was born on August 23, 1931 in Tucson, Arizona. Eden has made many films and television series, but without a doubt she is best known as the sensual genie in the lamp in the series "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965 - 1970).

Flaming Star was only her fifth film, but then came hundreds of appearances in other vehicles such as series, soap operas, talk shows and more than 20 films, including "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" (1962), "Chatanooga Choo Choo" (1984) and "Carolina" (2003).

Eden received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 17, 1988 and an honorary law degree from the University of West Los Angeles in 1990. The actress published her memoir in 2011 in the book "Jeannie Out of the Bottle". At 91, Barbara is still productive in TV, theater and film.

STEVE FORREST

Born on September 29, 1925 in Huntsville, Texas, he began his film career by chance when he was discovered by famous actor Gregory Peck while working as a stagehand at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California.

Taken to MGM by Peck, the actor won most of the awards he was nominated for for films like "So Big" (1953), "The Longest Day" (1962) and "Mommy Dearest" (1981). On TV, he starred in "Gunsmoke" (1955-1975), "The Twilight Zone" (1959-1964), "S.W.A.T." (1975-1976) and "Dallas" (1978-1991).

Forrest married his only wife in 1948, with whom he had three children and lived with to his last days. His brother, Dana Andrews, was one of Hollywood's biggest stars during the 1940s.

The actor retired in 2003 and passed away on May 18, 2013, aged 87, of undisclosed causes.

DOLORES DEL RÍO

Born in Victoria de Durango, in the state of Durango, Mexico, on October 3, 1904, María de los Dolores Asúnsolo y López Negrete is one of the best-known Mexican actresses in history. During the 1920s and 1930s, she was considered one of the most beautiful actresses in the world. Her career began in silent film and spanned nearly sixty years.

After Flaming Star, the actress alternated between American and Mexican productions, finding in her homeland the perfect opportunity to do social work that would help her people.

The actress had osteomyelitis since 1978. In 1981 she was diagnosed with hepatitis B, which led to a serious case of cirrhosis.

Dolores died on April 11, 1983, at the age of 78, due to complications caused by the diseases she had.

RODOLFO ACOSTA

Born on July 20, 1929 in El Paso, Texas, the Spanish-American actor studied drama at the University of Los Angeles, receiving a scholarship to study at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico.

His film and TV roles, from 1947 onwards, consisted of bandits or indigenous people, with Vaquero, from the series "The High Chaparral" (1967-1971), being the best known. His career lasted until 1973, when he found out he had cancer.

Acosta died as a result of the disease on November 7, 1974, at the age of 54.

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