Viva Las Vegas (1964)

I love this movie so much

Absolutely Fantastic

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.'Viva Las Vegas' is proof that most of his earlier films were pretty good ('Kissin' Cousins' and 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' were the closest the period came to misfires but neither among his worst), some close to great even. Not only is 'Viva Las Vegas' Elvis' best 60s film along with 'Flaming Star' and the best since, but it's also one of his best films overall with 'King Creole', 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Flaming Star' and 'Loving You'.Its weak links are a story that's narratively minimal but also rushed and disjointed and a simplistic and corny script. Then again these two elements rarely were strengths in Elvis' films, far from it. A couple of the travelogue-like scenes drag the film down tad slightly too.Otherwise, there is not much in 'Viva Las Vegas' that's wrong. Elvis is at his most confident, enthusiastic and charismatic in a few years, and he has a more than worthy partner in Ann-Margret, whose vivacious and snappy turn is one of his best leading lady performances and actually comes close to stealing the show under him. Their chemistry is superb, and there's little to fault the solid supporting cast that includes William Demarest.Further strengths are the wonderful Panavision cinematography, adroit direction by George Sidney, boundless energy and charm, scenery that never looks cheap and impeccable choreography that has so much kinetic energy and grace.It isn't an Elvis film without a soundtrack, preferably a good one and 'Viva Las Vegas' has more than a good one. It's one of the best of any of his films, while a few are more memorable than others they're well-used, well-placed and not forgettable and there isn't a disposable song in the lot. Along with the iconic title song, standouts are the gentle "The Lady Loves Me", the witty "Come On Everybody" and the Ray Charles classic "What'd I Say".All in all, very good and one of the best from the King of Rock and Roll. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Released in 1964, "Viva Las Vegas" stars Elvis Presley as a race car driver, Lucky, who wants to compete in the Las Vegas Gran Prix, but he needs an engine for his vehicle. Ann-Margret plays a dancer/singer and Lucky's romantic interest while Cesare Danova plays his competition. William Demarest is on hand as the girl's father while Nicky Blair plays Lucky's buddy. I prefer the more serious and dramatic Presley flicks (e.g. 1964's "Roustabout") as opposed to the farces (e.g. 1966's "Spinout"). While "Viva Las Vegas" veers closer to the latter, it compensates with Margret's charismatic performance and her chemistry with Elvis, which paved the way for a dynamic and fun musical (not to mention an affair). Ann truly shines and never looked better. In addition, the race in the last act is actually thrilling with some quality stunts. The film runs 85 minutes and was shot in the Las Vegas area.GRADE: B+

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.

As an Elvis movie it only scores an "8", but Ann-Margret runs away with this film. Directed by George Sidney, who also directed, "Bye-Bye Birdie", with her as well. For my money, she outshines Elvis at many turns and she even sings better than him! Her dancing and skin-tight outfits are very seductive! The two have great "chemistry" on-screen and probably off-screen as well, as we all know Elvis was a real "hound-dog". Lots of process shots and continuity errors, which were spotted by others. The worst is that a very similar, but not the same, red race car crashes. If you have been to Vegas, then the scenery filmed here is quite enjoyable and nostalgic. Today's Flamingo Hotel looks nothing like this and neither does the rest of Vegas. Ironically, Elvis never played at the Flamingo. He played "The International", now called the LVH. Several good songs, including "I Need Somebody" and the iconic "Viva" title tune. A very tight movie. It moves fast and ends abruptly. One of the most ambitiously filmed races, it shows Hoover Dam and a bit of the desert. Don't watch the Grand Prix race too closely, as the editing is really bad. Cars that crash or swerve reappear again. Elvis and The Count are siting still in their prop race cars, and only the "rear-projection" background is moving! The same with the helicopter shots! A good musical, but, as usual, a silly screenplay. The worst song has to be "The Eyes of Texas" medley, which should have been cut. The 2007 Warner Bros. restoration is quite good.