Viva Las Vegas

Viva the King and Annie.

Elvis Presley movies, by and large, aren't very good. Thirty one feature length pictures he made, of which arguably only half a dozen are jointly watchable and entertaining. But even the stinkers have fans, and not just fans of the King in general, also cinema fans happy to embrace the cheese and kind of just run with it. Yet to totally dismiss Presley's input into the world of cinema is doing a disservice to the small number of movies he made that actually hold up well under scrutiny. One such film is Viva Las Vegas. A film that is of course a frothy hip shaking colourful bonanza, but one that also shows that given a quality co-star to work off, Presley had it in him to move successfully away from the cash cow dirge that his manager Colonel Tom Parker was binding him to.

The plot sees Presley as race car driver "Lucky Jackson" who arrives in Vegas for the Grand Prix that is being held there. But his car is in need of engine repair and he just hasn't got the money to fix it. Taking a job as a waiter, things are further complicated when he meets sexy pool attendant/dance teacher Rusty Martin {Ann-Margret}. Not only is she spurning his advances, but he has a rival for Rusty's affection; Count Elmo Mancini (Cesare Danova), who is also a fellow race driver and is set on winning the Grand Prix himself.

That's really all there is to it, plot simplicity at its finest. Naturally the film is an excuse for Presley to chase the girl, sing some tunes and become a race car hero too. But Viva Las Vegas has a real fun quality that is so lacking in most of his other musicals, it's vibrant, savvy and, yes, sexy. Due in no small part to the chemistry between Presley and Margret. It's believed there was an affair between the two, but casting aside that fact, there was also to be a friendship between them both that lasted up until Presley's sad and untimely death. This film serves as a fitting testament to the birth of that friendship. Old professional...

Most Elvis movies were the product of a conveyor belt. Quickly written and produced and Elvis was not stretched as an actor or singer.

Viva Las Vegas does not stretch this formula but is fun, thanks in part due to the chemistry between Elvis and Ann Margret.

Elvis plays race car driver Lucky Jackson who is working as a waiter in Vegas so he can pay for a new engine.

He plans to take on aristocratic Count Mancini in the race and both are also competing for the affections of Rusty Martin (Ann Margret).

Jackson and Rusty take part in a talent contest as both aim for first prize. This is where Elvis sings Viva Las Vegas although his dancing moves look a bit weird.

Jackson's rivalry with Mancini is friendly which adds to the fun.

There is a thrilling racing sequence at the end with several competitors crashing or going off the road.

It is corny and undemanding movie.