Viva Las Vegas (1964)
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83% of critics liked it
(24 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(8,861 ratings)
Viva Las Vegas, one of Elvis Presley's most popular vehicles, adheres as rigidly to formula as a Kabuki dance. Elvis plays a race-car driver competing in the Las Vegas Grand Prix opposite his principal rival, Cesare Danova. To finance his entry, Elvis takes a job as a casino waiter. Naturally,… More Viva Las Vegas, one of Elvis Presley's most popular vehicles, adheres as rigidly to formula as a Kabuki dance. Elvis plays a race-car driver competing in the Las Vegas Grand Prix opposite his principal rival, Cesare Danova. To finance his entry, Elvis takes a job as a casino waiter. Naturally, he is occasionally prevailed upon to sing, making one wonder why he didn't choose this talent as a means of making some quick cash. As always, Elvis chases all the wrong girls, only to ignore the "right" one, portrayed by Ann-Margret in her considerable youthful prime (We're supposed to believe that A-M is the daughter of irascible William Demarest. So much for the reliability of gene pools). With a pre-fat Presley, an indescribably gorgeous Ann-Margret, and no fewer than 12 songs on the soundtrack, how could Viva Las Vegas help but reap a fortune at the box office? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- George Sidney II
- Written By
- Sally Benson
- Genres
- Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics
- In Theaters
- Dec 31, 1964 Wide
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
The sizzling combination of Elvis Presley and Ann-Margaret is enough to carry Viva Las Vegas over the top.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Vulgar, spirited, and neglected director George Sidney meets his match with this 1964 Elvis Presley vehicle.
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Tom Milne, Time Out
Thin even by Presley standards.
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Howard Thompson, New York Times
Coming on a balmy day, with no pretensions of art, Viva Las Vegas, the new Elvia Presley vehicle, is about as pleasant and unimportant as a banana split. And as fetching to look at, it might be added.
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Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
It's not magic, this movie, but it is alchemy of a kind...
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Elvis Presley
as Lucky Jackson
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Ann-Margret
as Rusty Martin
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Cesare Danova
as Count Elmo Mancini
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William Demarest
as Mr. Martin
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Nicky Blair
as Shorty Farnsworth
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Jack Carter
as Himself
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Larry Barton
as Son of Lone Star State
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John Burnside
as Son of Lone Star State
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George Cisar
as Manager at Swingers
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Howard Curtis
as Statler
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Ford Dunhill
as Driver
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Roy Engel
as Mr. Baker
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Henry Fleer
as Son of Lone Star State
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Alan Fordney
as Race Announcer
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Teri Garr
as Showgirl
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Barnaby Hale
as Mechanic
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Claude Hall
as Son of Lone Star State
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Pete Kellett
as Ad-Lib
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Lance Le Gault
as Son of Lone Star State
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Bob Nash
as Big Gus Olson
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Eddie Quillan
as Master of Ceremonies
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Mike Ragan
as Ad-Lib
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Ivan Triesault
as Head Captain
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Robert B. Williams
as Mr. Swanson
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Larry Kent
as Race Official
- Laura Lamb
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Rick Murray
as Delivery Boy
