The official story is this was an attempt to allow Pat Boone to portray a grittier side in order to prepare him for meatier roles. However, watching it, I got the impression this was intended for Elvis Presley, but he, or rather Col. Parker, turned it down. This feeling was reinforced by the fact that the opening scene was practically duplicated, with minor variations, a few years later in Elvis' Roustabout. The film's failure is due to the fact that Boone doesn't have the acting talent to portray a less than savory character. This also affects the performances of the rest of the cast, all who have proved themselves elsewhere, because they have nothing, and no one, to play against. Only Kieron Moore, playing leading lady Nancy Kwan's brother-in-law, manages to accomplish a fully fleshed-out performance.
Review of The Main Attraction
