Great music, big stars, and fast cars are all featured in the rock and roll musical movie “Viva Las Vegas.” Elvis Presley and Ann-Margaret are the big stars here, where Elvis plays a race car driver competing for her affections with another driver. The sparks really fly helped by tight direction by George Sidney (“Bye Bye Birdie” 1963) and an at least passable screenplay by Sally Benson.
Co-stars include Cesar Danova, William Demarest, Nicky Blair, Jack Carter, George Cisar, and Teri Garr as a showgirl. The big draws of the film are the ten musical song-and-dance scenes choreographed by David Winters. Ann-Margaret more than holds her own with Presley here. The song “Viva Las Vegas,” written by Doc Pomus and Mort Schuman, was a huge hit on the record charts for Elvis, and is considered by the city of Las Vegas as their unofficial theme song.
While not changing world history, the very watchable “Viva Las Vegas” is great escapist entertainment and was a big hit at the box office for producers Jack Cummings and George Sidney, Jack Cummings Productions, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
cinema
My Review
Great music, big stars, and fast cars are all featured in the rock and roll musical movie “Viva Las Vegas.” Elvis Presley and Ann-Margaret are the big stars here, where Elvis plays a race car driver competing for her affections with another driver. The sparks really fly helped by tight direction by George Sidney (“Bye Bye Birdie” 1963) and an at least passable screenplay by Sally Benson.
Co-stars include Cesar Danova, William Demarest, Nicky Blair, Jack Carter, George Cisar, and Teri Garr as a showgirl. The big draws of the film are the ten musical song-and-dance scenes choreographed by David Winters. Ann-Margaret more than holds her own with Presley here. The song “Viva Las Vegas,” written by Doc Pomus and Mort Schuman, was a huge hit on the record charts for Elvis, and is considered by the city of Las Vegas as their unofficial theme song.
While not changing world history, the very watchable “Viva Las Vegas” is great escapist entertainment and was a big hit at the box office for producers Jack Cummings and George Sidney, Jack Cummings Productions, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.