Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Really Surprised!

Purely Joyful Movie!

Fantastic!

Songs: "Viva Las Vegas", "I Need Somebody To Lean On" (Doc Pomus), "The Lady Loves Me" (Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett), "Come On, Everybody" (Stanley Chianese), "Today, Tomorrow, and Forever" (Bill Giant, Bernie Baum, Florence Kaye), "If You Think I Don't Need You" (Bob "Red" West), "Appreciation", "My Rival" (Marvin More, Bernie Wayne). All the above sung by Elvis Presley, except "My Rival" (Ann- Margret) and "Lady Loves Me" (duet Presley and Ann-Margret). Additional songs and performers: "Yellow Rose of Texas" (Presley), "What'd I Say" (Presley), "The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You" (Presley and chorus), "You're the Boss" (Presley), "The Climb" (quartet). Deleted song: "Do the Vega" (Presley). Music scored and directed by George Stoll. Choreography: David Winters. "Folies Bergere" sequence filmed by arrangement with the Hotel Tropicana, Las Vegas.Copyright 20 December 1963 by Jack Cummings Productions. Released through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. New York opening at the Forum: 20 May 1964. U.S. release: 20 December 1963. U.K. release: 22 March 1964. 7,437 feet. 83 minutes. U.K. and Australian release title: LOVE IN LAS VEGAS.SYNOPSIS: Arriving in Nevada City, Lucky Jackson (Elvis Presley) a racing driver, meets Count Elmo Mancini (Cesare Danova), who is preparing his Farrari for the Grand Prix. Trim, lovely Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret) asks them to fix her sports car. Lucky tries to delay her, but the Count fixes the car and Rusty is on her way before Lucky can learn her name. Guessing she is a show girl, the pair begin a fabulous tour of Las Vegas, but to no avail. Rusty just vanished. The next morning, Lucky finds her at the same hotel where he is staying. She is the swimming instructor. Their reunion goes off with a splash when Lucky falls into the swimming pool, losing all his money that was to buy a new engine for his car. To pay the hotel bill he takes a job as a waiter. This also enables him to enter the Staff Talent Contest with $2,500 in prizes.NOTES: Locations in Las Vegas. Presley's most popular M-G-M movie.COMMENT: Well the title tune is certainly a great number (we get it three times) and it's most inventively staged too and very vigorously performed by Elvis Presley. Just as well because Ann- Margret runs him very close in the singing stakes and outstrips him with her dancing numbers, one of which is very cleverly staged against flashing lights. In fact, Ann-Margret has never looked better, been more attractively photographed or costumed or been in better voice or had such wild dance numbers as here. Sidney's direction is at its best in the dances, often filmed in long single takes with lots of camera movement matching the movement of the performers. He also makes good use of his Vegas locations and though the script is often routine it does offer opportunities for both Ann-Margret and Presley. There are some amusing moments too in the rivalry between Presley and Danova for Ann-Margret's affections, particularly a hotel-room rendezvous which Elvis disrupts. Demarest is okay too and is in the film just long enough not to outstay his welcome. In all, one of Elvis Presley's better vehicles and a definite must for Ann-Margret fans! Sound recording is great, photography and other technical credits first-class.

Perhaps his best musical comedy, in Viva Las Vegas Elvis was finally teamed with a co- star whose talent matched the intensity of his own style.Viva Las Vegas" has it all. A kinetic, frenetic look at Las Vegas at its hippest. Ann-Margret, the only leading lady who ever could match Elvis' charisma and smoldering sensuality on screen. A score that spawned a song that everybody knows, every band covers and nobody can get out of their heads once they hear it. Elvis plays a mechanic who is actually a race car driver, if he can only get the money to buy a new engine for his car. Margret plays a swimming instructor (lots of bathing suit scenes). They meet, sing, dance and fall in love.Elvis and Ann-Margret sizzle together like two steaks on a barbecue grill. Elvis always dominated his films. He was always the only reason to watch them. Margret's sexuality balances Elvis well. It makes me wonder just how good some of his other movies might have been if the studios could have paired him with better costars.This is one of Elvis's most iconic films. The title song is a classic and still used today whenever a movie or TV show takes place in Vegas. Viva Las Vegas is a great musical showcase for two of the most electrifying performers of their day as well as an entertaining look back at a far more innocent time.

To enjoy Elvis films the trick is to watch the better ones and forget about the inferior ones where the film studios almost treated his films like production line fodder.Viva Las Vegas is fun and undemanding entertainment showing a Vegas outside of downtown that no longer exists.Elvis plays talented race car driver Lucky Jackson trying to earn enough money in Vegas to pay for a new engine so he can take part in a race whilst sparring with aristocratic Count Mancini an ace racer himself. Both also try to court Rusty Martin (Ann Margret) also working at at the same hotel as Lucky.Its a smart, light story with plenty of joshing between Mancini, Lucky and Rusty and the songs are more consistent thanks to the ageless title song. It helps that the rivalry with Mancini is friendly rather than malicious and there is good racing sequence at the end of the film.The selling point is the chemistry between Elvis and Ann Margret, both lift each other and Ann in one of her earlier roles shows that she was a rising star.Its a well filmed Elvis musical, a good introduction for anyone who wants to watch a good Elvis movie.

Weak story, but works (just). Another one of those movies that were meant solely to make the most of Elvis Presley's fame and music. However, in this case, Elvis is upstaged...by Ann-Margret. She absolutely sizzles and is the best reason to watch the movie.Plot is fairly basic and weak. Music is hit-and-miss: some songs are pretty lame, but then there are some pretty good ones, including the title track, which is great. However, the movie is fast-paced and this makes up for the weak story. It never drags for a moment.As mentioned, Ann-Margret is the ultimate star of the show, and not necessarily for her acting. Stunningly beautiful. Elvis puts in a decent performance. He wasn't just there for his singing.