Cast
- Elvis Presley as Vince Everett, a prisoner who, after being released, becomes a star for his singing talent. Producer Pandro S. Berman was convinced by his wife to make a film starring Presley in the leading role. Berman contacted Presley's manager, Colonel Parker. He asked him if he could send the script to Presley or to him to read it, but uninterested, Parker denied the request. Berman asked Parker under which conditions would he take the project, to which Presley's manager replied that he was only interested in the music score of the movie and owning the rights for record sales and publishing royalties. Presley's payment was settled in US$250,000 and the earning of 50% of the royalties for the distribution of the movie.
- Judy Tyler as Peggy Van Alden, a music promoter who helps Vince build his career, eventually becoming his love interest. Tyler was previously known for her participation in the television show Howdy Doody, as Princess Summerfall Winterspring, and her role on the Broadway musical Pipe Dream, as Suzy. She took a three-month leave of absence from the show to shoot the movie. Tyler and her husband died in a car crash days after production of the movie completed and before the movie was premiered, on July 4.
- Mickey Shaughnessy as Hunk Houghton, Vince's cellmate and former country & western singer. He teaches Vince to improve his guitar skills, and after being released, becomes his assistant. Shaughnessy was known for his role as Leva in From Here to Eternity. He was also a comedian, Variety reported previous to the production of the film that during one of his shows in Omaha, Nebraska, Shaughnessy did a forty-five minute routine centered on deriding Presley. Elaine Dundy, author of the book Elvis and Gladys considered that his casting was an "odd choice", and a product of the disinterest of the producer, and his decision to delegate the casting of the actors.
- Vaughn Taylor as Mr. Shores, an attorney whom Vince and Peggy hire to manage Vince's financial portion of his career.
- Jennifer Holden as Sherry Wilson, a starlet of Climax studios and Vince's co-star. The movie was Holden's debut, she auditioned for the role at MGM, in May 1956, and was selected immediately over the other actresses for the role. She studied drama with Lillian Roth and participated in a small role in a play at the Palace Theatre in New York City.
- Dean Jones as Teddy Talbot, a disc jockey who plays Vince's debut record as a favor to Peggy. Jones was known for his participation in Disney movies, and he was also formerly a blues singer. He was coached for the role by disc jockeys Ira Cooke and Dewey Phillips.
Mike Stoller, as well as Presley's regular band during that period--Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana--are used as the band for Vince Everett throughout the film, but they were uncredited.
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