FLAMING STAR
- Flaming Star premiered in Los Angeles on December 20, 1960, and was released nationally the next day. It was double-billed with For the Love of Mike at many theatres. This movie, which starred Richard Basehart and Stu Erwin, also had an Indian theme.
- Production of Flaming Star began on August 16, 1960, and was completed on October 4. Much of the movie was photographed on three ranches in San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles, including the 8,000-acre Conejo Movie Ranch outside of Thousand Oaks, California. Interiors were shot on Stage 14 at 20th Century-Fox.
- On June 12, 1960, it was announced that Elvis Presley had been signed to star in Flaming Lance. Before the cameras rolled on August 16, 1960, the title was again changed, this time to Flaming Heart, and then to Black Star. During filming, the title became Black Heart. Finally, on September 2, 1960, Flaming Star was chosen as the film title.
- Tests were made with Elvis wearing brown-tinted contact lenses, but it was decided to discard the idea.
- Stuntman Tom Sweet was hired by the producers to double for Elvis in the tough fight scenes, but he was not needed because Elvis did such a good job.
- Flaming Star was banned in South Africa because of strict racial laws. The film depicted Elvis as the son of a white father and an Indian mother.
- During a fight with Elvis, Red West, playing an Indian, broke his arm.
- During filming, Elvis suffered a fall from a runaway horse, but was not injured.
- Rod Redwing, a Chickasaw Indian stuntman, who played a bit role in Flaming Star, taught Elvis to handle a pistol expertly. Redwing previously worked with Clayton Moore (the Lone Ranger on television) and Grail Davis (TV’s Annie Oakley).
- On November 23, 1960, Flaming Star was sneak-previewed at the Loyala Theatre in Westchester, California, with two songs. Two days later, in Inglewood, California, a four-song print was shown to an audience at the Academy Theatre. After the showing it was decided to release the two-song version of the film.
- Flaming Star reached #12 on Variety’s weekly list of top-grossing films.
- Dolores Del Rio called Elvis her “young black panther“, adding, “He is a good young man, with Latin looks, dark and elegant. And he moves like a cat. I think he is a very good actor and I even like his songs. Do you know something? I wouldn’t mind at all if he was indeed my son.”
- Barbara Eden remarked, “Elvis will really excite people with this acting role! I found it was thrilling to work with him, since he is always full of enthusiasm and ready for work. I think he will be a tremendous success as an actor. He doesn’t even need to sing anymore.”
- Elvis intensely acted out his scenes. In the scene he fights with his brother, the Director remarked to an element of the team, “Did you see that? Elvis was very emotional, he really felt that scene. This boy will be a fine actor.”
- According to Joe Esposito, Elvis’s horse is being held by the legs to keep it still during Elvis’s final scene!
- The soundtrack was recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, on August 8 and October 7 (Flaming Star only), 1960.
Info from: elvis100percent
Information provided by Linda Zabriskie Johnson
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