| Viva Las Vegas | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | George Sidney |
| Produced by | Jack Cummings
George Sidney |
| Written by | Sally Benson |
| Starring | Elvis Presley
Ann-Margret |
| Music by | George E. Stoll |
| Cinematography | Joseph F. Biroc |
| Editing by | John McSweeney, Jr. |
| Release date(s) | 1964 |
| Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
Viva Las Vegas was the 15th motion picture in which Elvis Presley starred. In the movie, Presley plays Lucky Jackson, a race-car driver.
The film was released on DVD in 2000, from Warner Home Video.
Plot[]
All musically gifted race-driver Lucky Jackson wants in Las Vegas is to score enough money for a new car motor so he can win the Grand Prix. When he encounters sexy swimming instructor Rusty, he considers staying around longer. After Lucky loses his winnings in the hotel pool, he's forced to remain in Vegas long enough to win back his dough -- but now he also wants to win the Rusty's heart. Unfortunately, so does his slick racing enemy, Elmo.
Trivia[]
- The film's "The Lady Loves Me" number, which saw Lucky Jackson get eventually pushed into a pool and Martin expressing dislike of him while trying to win her over with song, appeared to contradict the suggestion which was previously made through the 1937 Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves' "One Song" number, which was that women could be won over easily with song. Unlike the relationship between Lucky and Rusty, which took more time to develop, the Prince in the 1937 film version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves would in fact win Snow White over by simply singing "One Song" just after meeting her in the beginning of the film.[1] Like the pool Lucky was pushed into, the well which Snow White used to wish for her true love contained water as well, but was used more positively rather than to push someone trying to make an advance towards her into.[1]
- Despite the film's popularity and the pairing of Elvis with Ann-Margret, RCA chose not to release a proper soundtrack album, instead distributing the songs across a single and EP and compilation albums, with some tracks (particularly three duets with Ann-Margret, two of which were cut from the film) not seeing release until many years after Presley's death. As of 2026 a complete soundtrack (with the Elvis and Ann-Margaret numbers - she also performed two solos - and "The Climb" by George McFadden, which featured Elvis on backing vocals) has yet to be released.