Viva Las Vegas – Review

Viva Las Vegas

with Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova
Written by Sally Benson
Directed by George Sydney
(Turner, 1963)
by Mark Phinney

Of all the surreal surroundings the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was thrown into, of all the occupations you could possibly sing about, this was the icing on the peanut butter and banana sandwich. I mean, this was the pinnacle of all the Elvis vehicles. Viva Las Vegas will forever rate in history as the slickest, and possibly the trashiest, film ever made. We got the hair, the voice, the hip-shaking eathquake competitions between Elvis and that pied á derriére Ann-Margret. Here goes: Presley is a race-car driver with his eye on the Vegas Grand Prix, but damn, he doesn’t have a fast enough car, so he has to figure out a way to raise the cake… well, maybe he can sing!! Surprise! Hold on, that’s not all there is to this Felliniesque plot. Ann-Margret (as a sweet and tender swimming instructor) is the irresistible love interest in the King’s way, and boy, do the sparks fly. Viva Las Vegas is everything you could ever want from an Elvis flick – chicks, cars, and rockin’ tunes. (There are other things you can get from an Elvis flick? – Ed.)