Viva Las Vegas (1964)

Race car driver Lucky Jackson goes to Las Vegas to earn money to pay for a new engine for his motor car. Working as a waiter, he still finds the time to court young Rusty Martin.

Director:

George Sidney

Writer:

Sally Benson

Stars:

Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova

3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elvis Presley	...	Lucky Jackson
Ann-Margret	...	Rusty Martin
Cesare Danova	...	Count Elmo Mancini
William Demarest	...	Mr. Martin
Nicky Blair	...	Shorty Fansworth

Storyline

Lucky Jackson arrives in town with his car literally in tow ready for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix - once he has the money to buy an engine. He gets the cash easily enough but mislays it when the pretty swimming pool manageress takes his mind off things. It seems he will lose both race and girl, problems made more difficult by rivalry from Elmo Mancini, fellow racer and womaniser. Perhaps some singing will help.

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Plot Keywords:

las vegas nevada | psychotronic film | rivalry | waiter | racer | 

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Taglines:

Elvis is at the wheel but Ann-Margret drives him wild!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Only Girl in Town

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Jack Cummings Productions, Winters Hollywood Entertainment Holdings Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some theatres chose to bill Ann-Margret above Elvis due to her popularity at the time.

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Goofs

The continuity of the big race is completely jumbled. For example the black #49 Jaguar XK 120 is the first car to crash (through the barrier in a left hand turn), yet it is plainly visible a few moments later bumping other cars off course. Lucky manages to weave his way through the whole pack to catch the race leader's Ferrari 250 GT and then they swap leads a few times. The Count's Ferrari blows a tire and crashes, then suddenly Lucky is once again passing the cars he just passed to catch the Count and take the lead.

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Quotes

Lucky Jackson: Well that's a coincidence, that you were born in Las Vegas and after all that travelling I met you in Las Vegas.

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Connections

Referenced in Big Love: Rock and a Hard Place (2007)

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Soundtracks

Night Life
(uncredited)
(recorded for the film but not used)
Performed by Elvis Presley

User Reviews

Elvis at his best!!

Okay, I've seen enough Elvis movies to last the rest of my life. I've seen the westerns, the post army movies, the musicals, the documentaries. But this movie stands alone because of the performances of Elvis Presley and the beautiful Ann Margaret. If you ever wanted to see Elvis at his peak ( still young at 29, in shape, confident in his every move ) this is the movie for you. The dance numbers are some of the best I've seen from the era. Elvis was truly at the top of his game filming this movie. I only wish some of the later movies were as good. Sure, this movie has its cheesy parts, but what Elvis movie doesn't. My four year old son likes to watch the ending race sequence over and over again. I wonder who wins the Las Vegas Grand Prix?? I can't say enough about the vivacious Ann Margaret. Elvis himself was smitten for her in real life and I can't blame him. She matches Elvis song for song and dance for dance. At the time of filming, she was referred to as the "female Elvis". Deservingly so, I might add. If only Elvis and Ann had made some more movies together.