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
Editing by	John McSweeney Jr.
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	May 20, 1964 (USA)
Running time	85 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Viva Las Vegas (1964) is an American romantic musical motion picture co-starring American singers Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret. The movie is regarded as one of Presley's best and is noted for the on-screen chemistry between Presley and Ann-Margret. Image File history File links VivaLasVegasElvis. ... Geoge Sidney ( October 4, 1916 - May 5, 2002) was a prolific American film director, who directed many notable films, mostly for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio. ... The nephew of mogul Louis B. Mayer, film producer Jack Cummings (1900 - 1989) spent most of his career at Mayers own MGM. But while Mayer was not averse to nepotism, he also believed in the up-by-the-bootstraps work ethic; Cummings was started out as a lowly MGM... Geoge Sidney ( October 4, 1916 - May 5, 2002) was a prolific American film director, who directed many notable films, mostly for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio. ... Sally Benson (September 3, 1897 - July 19, 1972) was a St. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Ann-Margret Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish-born actress and singer. ... Joseph F. Biroc (February 12, 1903-September 7, 1996) was a highly successful film and television cinematographer. ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (141st in leap years). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... In Australia there is a fabulous Beauty Clinic called VIVA. Her owner and the person who established the business is none other than an Italian - living in Australia. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... The musical film is a film genre in which several songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative. ... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Ann-Margret Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish-born actress and singer. ...

The chemistry was apparently real during the filming. Presley and Ann-Margret began an affair that received considerable attention from gossip columnists and led to a showdown with a worried Priscilla Presley. 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. A gossip columnist is someone who writes a gossip column in a newspaper or magazine, especially a gossip magazine, that prints gossip stories, spreading news of a personal, private nature, and/or rumors and lies, usually about show business, the motion picture and television industries, celebrities, movie stars, superstars, people... Priscilla Presley Priscilla Beaulieu Presley (born Priscilla Ann Wagner on May 24, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American model, author and actress and the only wife of rock n roll singer Elvis Presley. ... See also: 1984 in literature, other events of 1985, 1986 in literature, list of years in literature. ... Ħãħá ĻاΣŘŞ Ĺøł§á Ĺυv fŔØΜ Ψ łΗ€ ĽíţŤĻ€ Ď£v|ξ Ψ ...

In addition, the filming produced unusually-heated exchanges between Colonel Tom Parker, Presley's manager, and the movie's director, the highly experienced George Sydney, 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. Colonel Tom Parker (b. ... A cinematographer (from cinema photographer) is one photographing with a motion picture camera (the art and science of which is known as cinematography). ...

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, or anyone else's, film career, to depict the star of a major movie musical performing an entire song, in one, uncut take, shot by the lens of a single camera.

Primary cast:

• Elvis Presley  : Lucky Jackson
• Ann-Margret  : Rusty Martin
• Cesare Danova  : Count Elmo Mancini
• William Demarest  : Mr. Martin
• Nicky Blair  : Shorty Fansworth
• Jack Carter  : Himself
• Teri Garr  : Showgirl

Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Ann-Margret Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish-born actress and singer. ... William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 28, 1983) was an American character actor. ... Jack Carter (born 24 June 1923) is a standup comedian, actor and host. ... Teri Garr (born December 11, 1944 in Lakewood, Ohio) is an American actress and comedienne. ...

Plot summary

Lucky Jackson (Elvis Presley) goes to Las Vegas, Nevada to participate in the city's first annual Grand Prix. However, his race car is in need of a new engine in order to compete. Jackson raises the money but mislays it when distracted by Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret). Soon, Jackson's main competition, Count Elmo Mancini (Cesare Danova), enters the picture to steal both the race and Rusty. For other uses around the city, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... Georges Boillot winning the 1912 French Grand Prix in Dieppe, France Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organized automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. ...

Soundtrack

The soundtrack songs were recorded in July of 1963 at Radio Recorders Studios in Hollywood, California and are regarded by some as among Presley's best. In addition to Presley's vocals, Ann-Margret performs two solos in the film. Three songs, "Night Life", "Do The Vega" and "You're The Boss", were recorded for the film but never used. "You're The Boss" is a duet by Elvis and Ann-Margret. Soundtrack refers to the recorded sound accompanying a visual medium such as a motion picture, television show, or video game. ... Greetings from Hollywood Hollywood is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., that extends from Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the west; the north to south boundary east of La Brea Avenue...

RCA Records has been heavily criticized (in Elvis: The Illustrated Record and other retrospectives) for mishandling what was considered by critics to be the best set of songs recorded for an Elvis film for years. None of the vocals involving Ann-Margret was released at the time, although she was a successful RCA recording artist in her own right and had performed two solo numbers in the film ("Appreciation" and "My Rival"). The only recordings released simultaneously with the film were the theme song; a cover version of "What'd I Say?" on a single; and a few additional songs on an EP. Additional songs recorded for the film would appear scattered about later album compilations, while the Ann-Margret duets with Presley - "The Lady Loves Me" and the deleted "You're the Boss" - would not be officially released until after Presley's death. RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony BMG Music Entertainment. ... In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ... Whatd I Say is a popular two-part recording that was released in 1959 by R&B/soul singer-songwriter Ray Charles. ... Extended play (EP) is the name typically given to vinyl records or CDs which contain more than one single, but are too short to qualify as albums. ...

Although bootleg LP's began to appear in the 1970s, purporting to contain the complete soundtrack, RCA did not officially release anything approaching a full soundtrack until the late 1990s, when it reissued Presley's film soundtracks on a series of "Double Feature" CDs that paired the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack with that of Roustabout. These CDs do not include the solo Ann-Margret performances or "The Climb" by the Forte Four. An almost complete soundtrack from the film was released on Follow That Dream Records (the Danish division of BMG) in 2003. It includes all master takes plus alternate versions. "The Climb" is also included, but the Ann-Margret solo tracks are not. At present, the Ann-Margret solos are available only on the 5-CD box set: Ann Margret 1961-1966 from Bear Family Records in Germany. For other uses, see Bootleg. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... Roustabout is a 1964 musical movie starring Elvis Presley. ... BMG (Bertelsmann Music Group) is one of the six divisions of Bertelsmann. ... Bear Family Records is a Germany-based record label that specializes in reissues of archival material ranging from country music to 1950s rock and roll. ...

Recording musicians

Ann-Margret & Elvis in a promotional image for the movie

• Elvis Presley (vocals)
• The Jordanaires (background vocals)
• The Jubilee Quartet (background vocals)
• The Carol Lombard Quartet (background vocals)
• Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Billy Strange, Glen Campbell, Alton Hendrickson (guitar)
• Bob Moore, Ray Siegal (bass)
• Floyd Cramer, Artie Cane, Calvin Jackson (piano)
• Oliver Mitchell, James Zito (trumpets)
• Boots Randolph, William Green, Steve Douglas (sax)
• Randall Miller, Herb Taylor (trombones)
• D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman, Frank Carlson (drums)
• Roy Hart (percussion)
• Ann-Margret - co-lead vocals on "Lady Loves Me", "You're the Boss"; lead vocals on "Appreciation", "My Rival". She also sings backing vocals on "C'Mon Everybody" (film version only). In addition, a version of "Today, Tomorrow and Forever" was recorded as a duet as well.

Publicity photo for Viva Las Vegas, considered fair use. ... Publicity photo for Viva Las Vegas, considered fair use. ... The Jordanaires are an American singing group formed in 1948 in Springfield, Missouri. ... Winfield Scott Scotty Moore III (born December 27, 1931 near Gadsden, Tennessee) is a legendary American guitarist and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ... Hilmer J. Timbrell (born January 15, 1917 – May 7, 1992) was a Canadian-born session musician and master guitarist. ... William E. Strange (born 1930 in Long Beach, California) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor. ... Glen Campbell, December 2004 This article is about the singer. ... Bob Moore Bob Loyce Moore (born November 30, 1932 in Nashville, Tennessee), is an American session musician, orchestra leader, and legendary bassist. ... Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 - December 31, 1997) was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the Nashville Sound. ... Boots Randolph (born Homer Louis Randolph III on June 3, 1927 in Paducah, Kentucky) is an American saxophonist and renowned session musician. ... Steve Douglas is an artist who has worked as a comic book illustator and editor. ... Dominic Joseph Fontana (born March 15, 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is an American musician best known as the drummer for Elvis Presley. ... Ann-Margret Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish-born actress and singer. ...

Tracks (songwriter)

• Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas - (Fred Wise & Randy Starr)
• The Lady Loves Me - (Sid Tepper & Roy C. Bennett)
• What'd I Say - (Ray Charles)
• Viva Las Vegas - (Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman)
• I Need Somebody To Lean On - (Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman)
• C'mon Everybody - (Joy Byers)
• Today, Tomorrow and Forever - (Bill Giant, Bernie Baum, Florence Kaye)
• Santa Lucia - (Arrangement Elvis Presley)
• If You Think I Don't Need You - (Red West & Joe Cooper)
• Appreciation - (performed by Ann-Margret)
• My Rival - (performed by Ann-Margret)
• The Climb - (performed by The Forte Four)
• Do The Vega (not in film) - (Giant, Bernie Baum & Florence Kaye)
• Night Life (not in film) - (Giant, Baum, Kaye)
• You're The Boss (not in film) - (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)

Fred Wise was the co-writer of the lyrics to the 1948 song A — Youre Adorable with Buddy Kaye. ... Sid Tepper was an American songwriter, best known for his collaborations with Roy C. Bennett, which spanwed several hits for Elvis Presley. ... Bennett & Tepper Roy C. Bennett (born August 12, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American songwriter. ... Whatd I Say is a popular two-part recording that was released in 1959 by R&B/soul singer-songwriter Ray Charles. ... Ray Charles was the stage name of Raymond Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004). ... Doc Pomus (January 27, 1925 - March 14, 1991) was an American blues singer and songwriter, active throughout the 20th century. ... Mort Shuman (November 12, 1936 _ November 2, 1991) was an American singer and songwriter. ... Bob Johnston (born 1933 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a noted record producer, best known for his work with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and many Nashville recording artists, as well as Simon and Garfunkel. ... Bernie Baum is a song writer who impacted the 1950s with some force. ... Florence Kaye was a member of a song-writing trio that also included Bill Grant and Bernie Baum. ... Red West (born 1936 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American actor, film stuntman and songwriter. ... Joe Cooper (born 18 Sept 1888 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania – 7 Aug 1915 in Valley Junction, Iowa) was an American racecar driver. ... Ann-Margret Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish-born actress and singer. ... Ann-Margret Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish-born actress and singer. ... Florence Kaye was a member of a song-writing trio that also included Bill Grant and Bernie Baum. ... Jerry Leiber (born April 25, 1933) and Mike Stoller (born March 13, 1933) are among the most important songwriters and music producers in post-World War II popular music. ... Jerry Leiber (born April 25, 1933) and Mike Stoller (born March 13, 1933) are among the most important songwriters and music producers in post-World War II popular music. ...

Cover versions of "Viva Las Vegas", the song

• Influential punk band Dead Kennedys recorded a version of "Viva Las Vegas" on their debut album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. The song had been a part of their live set almost since the band's inception. Their version strips the musical arrangement down to guitar, bass, and drums, and uses a slightly faster tempo, yet maintains the song's melodic structure. It also features satirical lyric changes by lead singer Jello Biafra in the second and third verses, referencing a gambler using speed and cocaine in order not to "sleep a minute away". This version can also be found in Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (film) .
• ZZ Top recorded a version of "Viva Las Vegas" in their own inimitable blues-rock-meets-techno style, as one of two new tracks on their 1992 Greatest Hits CD. (This remake can also be heard on the compilations that succeeded it, the box set Chrome, Smoke & BBQ (2003) and the double-CD anthology Rancho Texicano (2004))
• Ann-Margaret recut a version of the song for the live action movie The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) under the pseudonym of her animated alter-ego Ann-Margrock and with the song's title changed to, of course, "Viva Rock Vegas".
• The bluegrass novelty act The Grascals did a version of the song on their debut album in 2005.
• The Chilean Punk Band Fiskales Ad-Hok covered the song (in Spanish) and changing it to "Viva Santiago".
• The song is featured twice in the film, The Big Lebowski. Shawn Colvin performs it as a folk ballad during the closing credits. A rock version in the film is credited to a band called Big Johnson.
• The song is a part of Bruce Springsteen´s live act, and was included in "The Gospel according to Elvis", a commemorative album of renditions by singers, and rock groups, of songs made famous by Presley.
• In the last ten years, the song has been mentioned in countless movies, TV sitcoms, either as a reference to the city of Las Vegas, or simply as an expression of joy, or bewilderement in related comedic situations.
• In 2002, the city of Las Vegas requested EPE, the company who handles a portion of Elvis´s musical legacy, and all Elvis-related music rights, to allow it to be the official song of the city but negotiations, to this date, have been stalled cver the price requested by EPE.

Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... The Dead Kennedys (often known by their initials DK, as in decay) are a hardcore punk band from San Francisco, California. ... Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is the debut album by the Dead Kennedys, released initially on Cherry Red Records in the UK in 1980 and eventually through Faulty Products in the US (later by the DKs own Alternative Tentacles label). ... Eric Reed Boucher (born June 17, 1958), better known by the stage name Jello Biafra, is an American punk rock musician and political activist best known as the former lead singer and song writer of the Dead Kennedys. ... Methamphetamine (sometimes referred to as methylamphetamine or desoxyephedrine) is a psychostimulant drug used primarily for recreational purposes (under the street-names crystal meth, tina, krank, tweak, and ice), but sometimes prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or narcolepsy under the brand name Desoxyn. ... Cocaine (or crack in its impure freebase form) is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ... Terry Gilliam at Karlovy Vary 2006. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... ZZ Top, affectionately known by their American fans as That little ol band from Texas,[1] is an American blues rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. ... Blues Rock or Blues-rock is a fusion genre of music which combines elements of the blues with rock and roll. ... Techno is a form of electronic dance music that became prominent in Detroit, Michigan during the mid-1980s with influences from electro, New Wave, Funk and futuristic fiction themes that were prevalent and relative to modern culture during the end of the Cold War in industrial America at that time. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... ZZ Tops Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by American blues-rock band ZZ Top, released in 1992 (see 1992 in music). ... A boxed set (often erroneously referred to as a box set) is one or more musical recordings, films, or television programs that are contained in a box. ... Chrome, Smoke & BBQ is a box set by American blues-rock band ZZ Top, released in 2003 (see 2003 in music). ... Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top is a greatest hits album by American blues-rock band ZZ Top, released in 2004 (see 2004 in music). ... In film and video, live action refers to works that are acted out by flesh-and-blood actors, as opposed to animation. ... The Flintstones is a 1994 Universal Studios live-action movie based on the animated television series The Flintstones. ... Bluegrass music is considered a form of American roots music with its own roots in English, Irish and Scottish traditional music. ... The Big Lebowski, a 1998 comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, chronicles a few days in the life of an unemployed California slacker and recreational bowler after he is mistaken for a millionaire with the same name. ... Shawn Colvin. ... It has been suggested that Johnson (disambiguation) be merged into this article or section. ...

See also

• List of Elvis Presley films
• Elvis Presley discography

[edit] Other works 89724-445-1 Categories: | ... Elvis Presley released 67 albums between his first in 1956, after he had signed with RCA, and 1977, when he died. ...

External links

• Comprehensive review by Chad Plambeck at 3-B Theater