Viva Las Vegas!
(1956)
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Viva Las Vegas!
(1956)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Dan Dailey | ... |
Chuck Rodwell
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| Cyd Charisse | ... |
Maria Corvier
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| Agnes Moorehead | ... |
Miss Hattie
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Lili Darvas | ... |
Sari Hatvany
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| Jim Backus | ... |
Tom Culdane
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Oskar Karlweis | ... |
Lotzi, Sands Blackjack Dealer
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Liliane Montevecchi | ... |
Lilli
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Cara Williams | ... |
Kelly Donavan
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| George Chakiris | ... |
Young Groom
(as George Kerris)
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| Betty Lynn | ... |
Young Bride
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Henry Slate | ... |
First Slate Brother
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Jack Slate | ... |
Second Slate Brother
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Sid Slate | ... |
Third Slate Brother
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Pete Rugolo | ... |
Conductor
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John Brascia | ... |
Specialty Dancer
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Chuck Redwell is a gambling cowboy who discovers that he's lucky at the roulette wheel if he holds hands with dancer Marie. However, Marie doesn't like to hold hands with him, at least not to begin with... Written by Mattias Thuresson
Modestly, very modestly, entertaining romance/musical is worth seeing only for Cyd ("Legs for Days") Charisse dancing at her best; and her acting is better than usually.
Plot has rancher Dan Dailey and ballet star Charisse fall for each other in Las Vegas. Charisse shows off her versatility in two dancing ballets, a burlesque bump and grind, an "Oklahoma"-esque cowboy dance, and in a "Frankie and Johnny" number as well-sung by Sammy Davis Jr.
The dance numbers were choreographed by one of Hollywood's all-time best choreographers, Hermes Pan, and they show off Charisse at her leggy best. The burleque number is a hoot and the second ballet is high camp.
Other musical numbers are by Jerry Calonna, Lena Horne and Frankie Lane. Dailey even does a song and dance with Japanese kid singer Mitsuko Sawamura (from "Tea House of the August Moon").
Watch carefully for brief cameos by Frank Sinatra, Pier Angeli, Debbie Reynolds and Peter Lorre (he's a blackjack player saying "Hit me"!). George Chakiris (credited as George Kerris) has a brief role too.
It looks like a lot of mid-50s casinos helped with the filming, so there are no Godfathers behind the scenes. Vegas appears positively plain compared to today's glitz.
If you're into this type of show you'll love it.