It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)

Mike and Danny fly a crop duster, but because of Danny's gambling debts, a local sheriff seizes it. Trying to earn money, they hitch-hike to the World's Fair in Seattle. While Danny tries ... See full summary »

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Si Rose, Seaman Jacobs

Stars:

Elvis Presley, Joan O'Brien, Gary Lockwood

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

Mike and Danny fly a crop duster, but because of Danny's gambling debts, a local sheriff seizes it. Trying to earn money, they hitch-hike to the World's Fair in Seattle. While Danny tries to earn money playing poker, Mike takes care of a small girl, Sue-Lin, whose Uncle Walter has disappeared. Being a ladies' man, he also finds the time to court a young nurse, Diane.

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Plot Keywords:

ukulele | sheriff | debt | gambling | fair | 

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Taglines:

Swinging higher than the Space Needle with the gals and the songs at the famous World's Fair!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Chinese

Release Date:

3 April 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mister, Will You Marry Me?

Filming Locations:

Alweg Monorail, Seattle, Washington, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$2,250,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM),Ted Richmond Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Elvis` wardrobe for It Happened at the World's Fair cost almost $10,000.

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Goofs

On arrival at the World's Fair, Elvis stores his luggage and guitar. The guitar case is not shown being pushed into a locker, since it would actually be far too long to fit.

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Quotes

Mike Edwards: Diane, believe me, the kid is an absolute stranger!
Diane Warren: And you're an absolute liar!... As far as I'm concerned, you can go back up the Space Needle and jump off!

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Connections

Referenced in The Graham Norton Show: Kurt Russell/Tina Fey/Josh Widdicombe/Sia (2015)

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Soundtracks

Beyond the Bend
(uncredited)
Written by Ben Weisman, Fred Wise, Dolores Fuller
Performed by Elvis Presley

User Reviews

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.