Frog-Legs There 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 timeNow 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.

jusjunx Having watched all of Elvis's movies, towards the end you tend to know the quality of what you're getting into. For the most part, even the bad ones tend to fall into the 'So bad they're good' category. However, I didn't feel that way about 'Double Trouble', and then got an even worse dose of bad with Stay Away Joe.This film is, frankly, god awful. This is a film that should only be shared on movie night with your worst enemy. The first 40 minutes seem to be full of people told to 'project' how much fun their having by screaming and shouting extra loudly as much as they can, especially during the never-ending party scene, which drags on and on. If you appreciate your hearing, turn to movie down for the first half of the movie, you won't be missing much, but your ears will thank you.I'm not even going to get into Burgress Meredith in dark makeup grinning creepily as one of the supposed American Indians. I get that this is a product of it's time, but it's all done in an incredibly awkward and cringe inducing way. If you happen to be Native American, don't watch this, it's offensive on at least 546 levels.By all means watch most of Elvis's films. Some are really good, with classic songs. Some are so bad, they're good. Stay Away Joe is sadly, quite possibly one of the worst films made...ever.

bkoganbing Not 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.

Bjorn (ODDBear) As 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.