Viva Las Vegas (1964)

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.

Movie Review: Viva Las Vegas — The Sports Chief

Text © 2023 – EricReports