It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Si Rose (written by) and
Seaman Jacobs (written by)

Release Date:

3 April 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Musical

Tagline:

Swinging higher than the space needle with the gals and the songs at the famous Worlds Fair!

Plot:

Mike and Danny fly a cropduster, but because of Danny's gambling debts, a local sheriff takes custody of it...

Plot Keywords:

World's Fair | Fair | Gambling | Nurse | Trailer

Cast

Elvis Presley	...	Mike Edwards
Joan O'Brien	...	Diane Warren
Gary Lockwood	...	Danny Burke
Vicky Tiu	...	Sue-Lin
H.M. Wynant	...	Vince Bradley
Edith Atwater	...	Miss Steuben
Guy Raymond	...	Barney Thatcher
Dorothy Green	...	Miss Ettinger
Kam Tong	...	Uncle Walter Ling
Yvonne Craig	...	Dorothy Johnson

Also Known As:

Mister, Will You Marry Me? (USA) (working title)
Take Me Out to the Fair (USA) (working title)
Take Me to the Fair (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S (cut) (1963) | Iceland:L | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Hallweg Monorail, Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

One of three films that Elvis Presley and Kurt Russell have in common. Russell appeared in the Elvis movie "It Happened At The World's Fair" (1963), he portrayed Presley in the TV movie "Elvis" (1979), and he played an Elvis impersonator in "3000 Miles to Graceland" (2001). In "It Happened at the World's Fair," Russell (who was a young boy at the time), ran on screen and kicked Elvis in the shin. In "3000 Miles to Graceland," this scene is parodied when a young boy runs on screen and kicks Russell (in full Elvis attire) in the shin.

Quotes:

Sue Lin: Ohhhh! Ohhhh! I don't feel good, Mr. Mike. I don't feel good!
Mike Edwards: I wonder why!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr. (1996)

Soundtrack:

Beyond the Bend

Okay Elvis fare

As someone else mentioned, 1963 is still early enough that Elvis Presley looks like he's enjoying himself in "It Happened at the World's Fair," which also stars Gary Lockwood, Joan O'Brien and Vicky Tiu. Pilots Mike (Elvis) and Danny (Lockwood) find themselves without a plane after it's confiscated for debts due to Lockwood's addiction to gambling. They hitch a ride to Seattle with a man and his 7-year-old niece Sue-Lin (Tiu), and Mike ends up taking the little girl to the 1962 World's Fair. When she eats too much junk, he takes her to the clinic, where he meets Diane Warren (Joan O'Brien), a nurse. He comes on a little strong - so strong, I'm surprised she didn't call security. In order to see her again, he gives a little boy (Kurt Russell) a quarter to kick him in the shins.

After he return Sue-Lin to her uncle, she finds Mike again when her uncle doesn't come home from making a delivery. Mike now has to cope with a not very helpful partner, trying to think of a way to get his plane back, romancing Diane and taking care of a 7-year-old girl.

This is the usual Elvis travelogue, but more interesting than others because it's shot on the grounds of the Seattle World's Fair and has that iconic moment when future brilliant Elvis impersonator Russell lets him have it in the shins. Elvis looks great and as usual sings beautifully. The music is pretty good. This wasn't the film career Elvis wanted but unfortunately for his ambitions, these films made money. Enjoyable.