Fun in Acapulco (1963)

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writer:

Allan Weiss (writer)

Release Date:

27 November 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

Come With Elvis to Fabulous Acapulco!

Plot:

Mike works on a boat in Acapulco. When the bratty daughter of the boat owner gets him fired, Mike must find new work...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Acapulco Mexico | Elvis Presley

Cast

Elvis Presley	...	Mike Windgren
Ursula Andress	...	Marguerita Dauphin
Elsa Cárdenas	...	Dolores Gomez
Paul Lukas	...	Maximillian Dauphin
Larry Domasin	...	Raoul Almeido
Alejandro Rey	...	Moreno
Robert Carricart	...	Jose Garcia
Teri Hope	...	Janie Harkins
Marco López	...	Bullfighter (as Marco Antonio)

Also Known As:

Vacation in Acapulco (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Hal Wallis Productions

Trivia:

Teri Garr makes her uncredited movie debut as an extra in this film. She would go on to appear as an uncredited extra in several more Elvis Presley movies before becoming a full-fledged actress.

Goofs:

Continuity: Immediately after Mike's high dive his hair is wet in the water, but moments later after climbing up to the landing his hair is perfectly combed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mike Windgren: Hold it down. Everyone's asleep. Siesta.
Armando: It's too early for siesta.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Into the Night (1985/I)

Soundtrack:

The Bullfighter Was A Lady

Elvis Looks Good and the Girls Are Pretty

This time Elvis Presley (as Mike Windgren) plays a trapeze artist who has lost his nerve, after high-wire mishap. He leaves his circus family act, "The Flying Windgren", and becomes a drifting sailor. When his boat docks in Acapulco, Mr. Presley gets a job as lifeguard at the local hotel. There are plenty of fit bathing-suited bodies around the pool, including rival lifeguard Alejandro Rey (as Moreno, before "The Flying Nun"), and object of their affection Ursula Andress (as Marguerita, after "Dr. No"). Presley sings, fights, swims, and struggles to overcome his fear of heights. And, Elvis still looks trim in his own bathing trunks.

Supposedly, one of the men carrying Presley, after his stuntman's triumphant cliff-side dive, got fresh, and groped the King; if so, it doesn't show on camera. As was sometimes the case, many of the soundtrack songs sounded better on record, with stronger studio instrumentation. This is the case with "Bossa Nova Baby", which was destined to be the film's lead hit single, peaking at #8. Of the film songs, "Mexico" was given short shrift; a pop delight, the studio version did well when released its own, peaking at #4 on worldwide charts. The title song reached #28 in Australia, and the lush soundtrack was a million-seller.

**** Fun in Acapulco (11/27/63) Richard Thorpe ~ Elvis Presley, Ursula Andress, Alejandro Rey, Paul Lukas