Many are aware of and most of you have heard of this movie. Elvis teams up with Ann-Margret, reigniting his stagnating film career. The two of them would have an affair that nearly ended his engagement with teen-queen Priscilla Beaulieu.
“Viva Las Vegas” is part of the big four including Jailhouse Rock, King Creole and Blue Hawaii, the biggest of the thirty-one motion pictures (not including the two documentaries) Elvis made.
The AFTERMATH of VIVA LAS VEGAS – What Went Wrong?
Col. Tom Parker wasn’t happy about sex-pot Ann-Margret stealing the spotlight from “his boy”. From here on, Elvis would be teamed with unknowns, has-beens, B-movie and TV actors.
Additionally, Parker thought the movie cost too much money.  Following this, budgets would be cut. The movie that followed, “Kissin’ Cousins” was shot in a few weeks and looks like an episode of “Hee-Haw”.
Ann-Margret hinted in an interview that marriage with the King was a possibility. This set Elvis off. He believed a man decides when and if a marriage takes place. Also, Elvis thought marriage to another celebrity would end in divorce, not realizing that his future blushing bride would soon want to be a celebrity on her own.
“Viva Las Vegas” was a big hit. It also marked the end of what could have been.
Text © 2023 – EricReports
