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.

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+

It's hard to quibble with something that has so much goodwill, so let's just say that Elvis Presley and Ann-Margaret have obvious chemistry (and had it been in the hands of someone other than George Sidney, it could have exploded off the screen), and the set decoration by Harry Grace and George R. Nelson coupled with Joseph F. Biroc's lighting highlight the stars' classic features. Everyone else--from Cesare Danova to William Demarest--is wasted and the songs (the title tune notwithstanding) are hardly memorable. As a travelogue, there's not much old Vegas to look at. If you pine for the days when movies looked far too similar to sitcoms, check it out. Other than that, for fans only.

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.