Viva Las Vegas
| Viva Las Vegas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | George Sidney Milton Feldman (Ass't) Otto Lang (2nd unit) |
| Produced by | Jack Cummings & George Sidney |
| Written by | Sally Benson |
| Starring | Elvis Presley Ann-Margret |
| Music by | George E. Stoll |
| Cinematography | Joseph F. Biroc, ASC |
| Editing by | John McSweeney Jr. |
| Distributed by | MGM |
| Release date(s) | May 20, 1964 (USA) |
| Running time | 85 min. |
| Language | English |
Viva Las Vegas (1964) is an American romantic musical motion picture co-starring American singers Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret. The movie is regarded by fans as one of Presley's best and is noted for the on-screen chemistry between Presley and Ann-Margret. However, according to a contemporary review in the New York Times, "Viva Las Vegas the new Elvis Presley vehicle, is about as pleasant and unimportant as a banana split." Notwithstanding, "Viva Las Vegas" has become one of Presley's most iconic phrases.
The chemistry between the two stars was apparently real during the filming. Presley and Ann-Margret allegedly began an affair which received considerable attention from gossip columnists and led to a showdown with a worried Priscilla Beaulieu. In her 1985 book, Elvis and Me, Priscilla described the difficulties she experienced when the press announced that Ann-Marget and Elvis were engaged to be married. However, there may have been other reasons for the great publicity campaign about the romance between Elvis and Ann-Margret during the filming of Viva Las Vegas and the following weeks. It primarily helped to increase the popularity of the young Hollywood beauty. In her memoir, Ann-Margret only refers to Presley as her "soulmate", but very little is revealed about their long-rumored romance. In his critical study on the "dream machine" that publicists, tabloid newspapers, journalists, and TV interviewers use to create semi-fictional icons, often playing with inauthenticity, Joshua Gamson cites a press agent "saying that his client, Ann-Margret, could initially have been "sold ... as anything"; "She was a new product. We felt there was a need in The Industry for a female Elvis Presley."
In addition, the filming produced unusually-heated exchanges between Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker (who is not shown as "Technical Advisor" in the opening credits for this film) and the movie's director, the highly experienced George Sidney, concerning the time and effort allotted by the cinematographer, ostensibly on Sidney's orders, to the musical scenes involving Ann Margret, which included views from many different angles, re-takes and the use of several cameras for each shot.
Presley's screen charisma was nevertheless there for anyone to see. The scene in which he delivers the title song remains the only one in his career to depict him performing an entire song, in one uncut take, and as shot by the lens of a single camera.
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Viva Las Vegas" is a 1964 song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and recorded by Elvis Presley for his Viva Las Vegas film vehicle of that year.