During the 1960s Elvis Presley made a lot of forgettable movies. That said, one of Presley’s most memorable films was the 1964 classic musical Viva Las Vegas, co-starring Ann-Margret. Cinema Scholars celebrates this iconic film’s 60th anniversary with a deep dive retrospective into its production, filming, and legacy.
‘Bye Bye Birdie’ Sets the Stage
When Columbia Pictures decided to turn the 1960 stage play Bye Bye Birdie into a movie in 1962, they wanted Elvis Presley to play the lead role of teen idol Conrad Birdie. A character based on Elvis. However, Colonel Tom Parker stepped in and blocked Elvis from taking the role. This was because he didn’t want Elvis to play a parody of himself.
Presley’s Viva Las Vegas co-star Ann-Margret did appear in Bye Bye Birdie. The actress was cast in the film after being noticed by its director, George Sidney, while she was dancing at the Sands Casino in Las Vegas. Ann-Margret was no stranger to Vegas at this point. The young actress had been performing with her mentor George Burns all over town.
“George Burns has a gold mine in Ann-Margret… she has a definite style of her own, which can easily guide her to star status.”
– Variety
Unlike George Burns and Variety, her co-star in Bye Bye Birdie, Janet Leigh (who had top billing), was no fan of Ann-Margret, or George Sidney. Sidney went out of his way to make sure that Ann-Margret had the best possible lighting and angles for every single shot that she was in.
Another star in the movie, Dick Van Dyke, said a more fitting title for the film would have been “The Ann-Margret Story.” Sidney’s preferential treatment of Ann-Margret coupled with her naturally magnetic charisma, helped make her the breakout star of the film. Bye Bye Birdie was released on April 4, 1963.
Producing Viva Las Vegas
Sidney was brought on board by MGM to direct the next Elvis movie shortly after Bye Bye Birdie had wrapped, but before it was released in theatres. In March 1963, MGM president Robert O’Brien announced Viva Las Vegas would be one of twenty films released by the studio that year. Ann-Margret was hired mere weeks after Bye Bye Birdie hit theatres.
“(Viva Las Vegas) that was one of those cases where we had no script and we had a commitment. Originally it was something about an Arabian or something… But we turned it around and we wrote the script in about eleven days… We changed the whole thing and decided to do it in Las Vegas.”
– George Sidney
Prior to the commencement of principal photography on Viva Las Vegas, Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret were contractually required to record their songs for the soundtrack. This was the initial meeting between the two stars, with the recording sessions taking place over two days – July 9th and 10th, 1963.
Elvis and Ann-Margret
Except for a piano, the MGM soundstage where Elvis and Ann-Margret met was empty. In the background, a few crew members hung around, observing their boss. Under the watchful gaze of director George Sidney, a studio photographer snapped shots of what the film company executives figured would be a historic moment.
“Elvis Presley, I’d like you to meet a wonderful young lady, Ann-Margret,’ said George Sidney. ‘Ann-Margret, this is Elvis Presley.’ The significance was lost on Elvis and me. I reached out my hand and he shook it gently. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you,’ we said at the same time, which made us laugh and broke the ice”
– Ann-Margret
Principal photography commenced on Viva Las Vegas on July 15, 1963, and lasted until July 26, 1963. The production took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the cast and crew staying at the Sahara Hotel. After the location shooting was complete, the production moved back to Los Angeles, and filming was completed on September 11, 1963.
Some of the real-world locations that were used in the making of Viva Las Vegas included the parking lot of the Sahara Hotel, Lake Mead Marina, a skeet shooting range at the Tropicana Hotel, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas gymnasium, McCarran Airport, and the swimming pool at the Flamingo Hotel.
Trouble In Paradise
Things got off to a rocky start during the early days of the production when Elvis noticed that Sidney favored Ann-Margret. She was receiving better lighting and camera angles, which was similar to what he had done on Bye Bye Birdie.
“We made this picture, no problem. The only problem was (Elvis) didn’t want the girl (Ann-Margret) to have any close-ups. He wanted all the close-ups…and he didn’t want her to have any numbers. I said…I’m directing the picture. I’ll do it my way”
– George Sidney
One of the things that set Sidney’s direction apart from other movies starring Elvis was that this was the only movie to feature an Elvis performance in a single, unedited shot. The song this technique was utilized in was the fantastic title track, “Viva Las Vegas.”
Actress Teri Garr began her career as a go-go dancer in moves choreographed by David Winters, her friend and mentor. She would appear in six of Elvis’ movies in this role. Winters got the job on the movie because Ann-Margret was one of his students at the time, and she recommended him for the job.
“One of the dancers in the road show of West Side Story (David Winters) started to choreograph movies, and whatever job he got, I was one of the girls he’d hire. So he was chosen to do Viva Las Vegas. That was my first movie”
– Teri Garr
Romance
Sidney’s favoritism of Ann-Margret didn’t affect the relationship she had with Elvis and the pair soon began a romance. Besides the obvious sexual chemistry, the pair also had a lot of things in common. This included music, riding motorcycles, a love of family, as well as a desire for privacy, and Christian beliefs.
“We experienced music in the same visceral way. Music ignited a fiery pent-up passion inside Elvis and inside me. It was an odd, embarrassing, funny, inspiring, and wonderful sensation. We looked at each other move and saw virtual mirror images. When Elvis thrust his pelvis, mine slammed forward too. When his shoulder dropped, I was down there with him. And when he whirled, I was already on my heel.”
– Ann-Margret
The relationship between the pair lasted well beyond the production of the movie, ending officially when Elvis got married to Priscilla Beaulieu on May 1, 1967. Ann-Margret married television and film actor, producer, and screenwriter Roger Smith a week later. Both marriage ceremonies took place in Las Vegas.
Reception and Legacy
Viva Las Vegas was the 14th highest-grossing movie of 1964. The film earned over $9 million ($80 million when adjusted for inflation). It has remained popular over the decades, and counts director Steven Spielberg as a member of its fanbase. Spielberg considers it as one of his all-time favorite movies.
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