Elvis Presley is one of those American icons you just can’t replicate.
His electrifying chemistry with Ann-Margret lit up the screen in the 1964 film Viva Las Vegas, especially in their playful and perfect duet, “The Lady Loves Me.”
Elvis and Ann-Margret made movie and musical history together in Viva Las Vegas, which became the highest-grossing Elvis Presley film. Elvis Presley stars as Lucky Jackson, a determined race car driver aiming to win big in Las Vegas. Ann-Margret plays Rusty Martin, a vibrant dancer who captures Lucky’s heart.
Aside from the captivating performances, it also offers a rare glimpse of old Vegas landmarks that are now long gone.
The on-screen chemistry between Elvis and Ann-Margret was undeniable, and their off-screen connection was just as electric. But beyond the glitz and glamour, there are some hilarious goofs, little-known mistakes, and funny moments that even the biggest fans might have missed.
Elvis’ box office crown jewel
I always thought the legendary Blue Hawaii was the big money maker among Elvis’ 31 theatrical films. If someone had asked me in a quiz, I would’ve confidently guessed 10 out of 10 times that it was the top grosser.
But surprise, surprise — Viva Las Vegas actually took the crown, out-earning Blue Hawaii by a whopping $450,000. Despite receiving mixed reviews, it went on to become the highest-grossing Elvis Presley film.
At just 1 hour and 25 minutes, Viva Las Vegas also holds the title of being the shortest film in Elvis Presley’s career.
Ann-Margret above Elvis Presley
It’s hard to imagine today, given how much of an icon Elvis was — and still is. But did you know that some theaters actually billed Ann-Margret above Elvis Presley due to her popularity at the time?
That says a lot about how huge and in-demand the stunning Swedish-born Ann-Margret was in the mid-1960s.
Too much emphasis on female physical assets
Ann-Margret, 22 at the time, didn’t escape some critique when the film was released. Variety’s reviewer, identified only as “Tube,” had this to say about the film’s focus on her physical assets:
“Any excuse to stare at a derriere in motion seems good enough for director George Sidney and cameraman Joseph Biroc. The provocative pulchritude of Ann-Margret and assorted other chicks and chorines makes the sexy scrutiny downright pleasurable to the male eye, but there is a certain lack of tastefulness or subtlety about the film’s obsession with peeping at anatomical contours and epidermis simply for the sake of peeping.”
Quite the critique, right? Even with such a focus, Ann-Margret’s star power still shone through.
The casinos that survived the neon glow
Viva Las Vegas played a key role in shaping the city’s image as a global tourism hotspot. But as I mentioned earlier, out of all the casinos featured in the 1964 opening sequence of Viva Las Vegas, only six are still around today. It’s a fun little fact that shows just how much Las Vegas has changed over the years.
The filming locations were scattered all over Las Vegas, happening before Elvis’ marriage to Priscilla at the Aladdin and his famous residency at the International Hotel (now the Wingate).
Why was Vivas Las Vegas so popular?
The popularity of Viva Las Vegas can be attributed to a mix of factors: the undeniable chemistry between Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret, the catchy and energetic soundtrack, and the film’s dazzling technicolor visuals that showcased both the stars’ magnetic performances and the vibrant, neon-lit allure of Las Vegas.
The moment Elvis and Ann-Margret met
Aside from his family, Ann-Margret held a special place as one of the most significant women in Elvis Presley’s life.
The Swedish immigrant first crossed paths with Elvis Presley in early July 1963 at Radio Recorders studios in Hollywood. It was there, on an empty MGM soundstage— save for a piano — that they were introduced to each other and the press as the stars of Viva Las Vegas. Ann-Margret recalled the moment:
“Except for a piano, the MGM soundstage where Elvis and I met was empty. In the background, a few of his guys hung around observing their boss, a ritual I would soon come to expect. 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.”
The passion between Ann-Margret and Elvis
Looking at stills and scenes from Viva Las Vegas today, it’s clear: the chemistry between Ann-Margret and Elvis was undeniable from the start.
Ann-Margret’s energy and charisma were so powerful that she had outshone her previous three male co-stars. But with Elvis, it was different—he matched her every move. Together, they created a dynamic on-screen partnership like no other, one that Ann-Margret would later describe as the best she ever had. And in many ways, Elvis seemed to feel the same.
To put it simple, their attraction was instant and electric.
“We both felt a current, an electricity that went straight through us,” Ann-Margret said. “It would become a force we couldn’t control.”
“I’m sure that the producers knew that the fast-paced, boy-meets-girl musical would certainly be improved if the chemistry between Lucky and Rusty were right. Initially, Elvis and I might’ve admitted that the only heat between us came from the hot desert sun. But others saw sparks from the start,” Ann-Margret later shared.
Elvis wanted to marry Ann-Margret
Though Ann-Margret has been quite restrictive in revealing what really happened between the two stars, she has detailed some very exciting details in her autobiography, My Story.
According to Ann-Margret, Elvis wanted them to get married. Their dates often consisted of driving up a hill, looking down at the city, and talking.
”We were truly soul mates, shy on the outside but unbridled within. We both lived on the edge and were self-destructive in our own ways… In many ways, if you put aside the celebrity and what we achieved so quickly, we both remained very childish and were emotionally insecure,” Ann-Margret writes in her book.
There was one problem, though – Elvis was in a relationship with Priscilla Presley. One year before the Viva Las Vegas premiere, Elvis had asked the 17-year-old Priscilla to move in with him in Memphis.
Motorcycles, family, faith, and late-night talks
While working together, Ann-Margret and Elvis quickly realized how much they had in common. Beyond their shared love for music, they both had a passion for motorcycles, a deep love for family, a strong desire for privacy, a devotion to God, and enjoyed long late-night conversations.
During the early days of filming, Elvis invited her to join him and his crew for a night out at a show in Las Vegas. Ann-Margret recalled, “It was an innocent, friendly date. I was used to having my parents accompany me on dates, so Elvis’ entourage wasn’t a problem. His guys always treated me wonderfully.”
In return, Elvis’ friends felt at ease around Ann-Margret. Elvis’ cousin, Billy Smith, shared, “She made his life a little easier because she understood him and didn’t make any demands on him. She even understood his need for us. Priscilla never understood that.”
Why didn’t Elvis marry Ann-Margret?
In the end, the energetic and charismatic Swede was too similar to Elvis. They were ”mirror images,” and that wasn’t a good thing, considering Elvis’ values.
He was traditional and conservative in his view of marriage. Priscilla Presley fitted the profile – Ann-Margret did not.
They continued to send each other love letters after Viva Las Vegas, but soon after that, Elvis knew he had to break it off with Ann-Margret.
”We knew that our relationship had to end, that Elvis needed to fulfill his commitment,” Ann-Margret wrote in My story.
Ann-Margret and Elvis remained lifelong friends, and when she didn’t receive any flowers after a show in 1977, she knew that The King was dead. Ann-Margret was the only female co-star of Elvis’s to attend his funeral.
The camera angle controversy
Some say Viva Las Vegas is the only Elvis movie where he actually looked like he was having fun and fully invested in the project. But is that the whole truth?
Because Elvis seemed to have a bone to pick with director George Sidney and the way Ann-Margret’s camera angles seemed to favor her — at his expense. According to Red West, one of Elvis’ closest confidants and bodyguards, the King wasn’t shy about his displeasure: “He would complain bitterly to us that the sonofabitch was trying to cut him out of the picture.”
It didn’t take long for Elvis’ complaints to reach Colonel Parker, who wasn’t about to let anyone steal the spotlight from his cash cow. The Colonel, ever the protector, reportedly gave Sidney a piece of his mind, reminding the producers in no uncertain terms that this was an “Elvis Presley picture.”
The hottest dance scene in Viva Las Vegas
When it came down to it, Elvis clearly got the lion’s share of the musical spotlight. He had six solo numbers, while Ann-Margret only had two.
One unforgettable and sizzling dance scene in Viva Las Vegas is when Elvis and Ann-Margret hit the floor for the song ”Viva Las Vegas.” Lookin at it now, 60 years later, Ann-Margret is the embodiment of the phrase “dance like no one’s watching.”
It’s almost impossible to take your eyes off her, she just explodes with talent and charisma. Some fans have even said it’s the only time Elvis truly shared the spotlight with someone whose dancing talent could match his.
While Elvis brought his signature energy to the scene, let’s be honest — Ann-Margret’s choreography is in a whole other league. Thank you to the choreographer (the brilliant David Winters), for bringing us a dance sequence so full of life, it’s still mind-blowing.
Bad lip-syncing
As some have pointed out, during the Viva Las Vegas dance/music sequence, it’s hard to ignore how badly Elvis Presley lip-syncs the lyrics — but honestly, with Ann-Margret’s high-energy performance stealing the spotlight, who’s really paying attention to Elvis anyway?
Future Oscar nominee in the background
During the iconic ”What’d I Say” number, you can spot a woman dancing to Ann-Margret’s right, wearing a white top with black trim, a black skirt, and black heels.
And in another number, she rocks a top with red, green, and blue horizontal stripes.
If you look closely, you’ll see her in the background behind Ann-Margret — proof that even before her Oscar nominations, Teri Garr was already making her mark on the big screen.
Familiar faces in the movie
And while we’re on the topic of familiar faces in Viva Las Vegas, here’s another fun tidbit: one of the guitar players on the soundtrack was none other than singer/actor Glen Campbell. He played guitar on both the ”What’d I Say” number and the title track.
Elvis Presley’s close friend, Red West, makes multiple appearances in Viva Las Vegas, playing several different uncredited characters. If you look closely, you might spot him throughout the film in various roles.
Quirky foof in the ‘What’d I Say’ dance scene
In the ”What’d I Say” dance number, there’s a fun goof to watch for — white tape or something similar appears and disappears on Lucky’s right hand fingers during the performance.
Can you see it?
Elvis’ rivals’ unlikely survival
Here’s another funny little trivia nugget from the movie — one of the more puzzling moments comes during the race sequence.Elvis’ rival, Count Mancini (played by Cesare Danova), gets into a horrific crash near the end of the race, but Elvis barely bats an eye.
He just shrugs it off with a casual “that’s a shame” before zooming off to victory. The best part? Somehow, the Count walks away unscathed and even shows up at the wedding scene at the end — totally fine! Talk about a crash course in movie magic…
Ann-Margret’s honest confession about Elvis
Ann-Margret, now 83, continues to captivate fans with her timeless energy and charm. Recently, the actress was inducted into the UNLV College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame.
And even after all these years, she still reveals fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about Viva Las Vegas, keeping the magic of the film alive for new generations.
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Ann-Margret revealed more details about her relationship with Elvis, offering a refreshing and new perspective on the couple.
This sounds weird, but I had never seen him perform before I did the movie. I know that’s hard to believe. We just found out we were very much alike. We were both very shy, but then you become this other person when you are performing. I loved my parents so much, and he loved his mother so much.”
So, whether you’re revisiting it for the music, the mesmerizing performances, or just for a taste of old-school charm, Viva Las Vegas will always hold a special place in cinematic history.
Take a moment to appreciate the movie that made us all fall in love with the neon lights of Vegas — and the unforgettable duo who brought it to life. Share the fun and nostalgia with friends, and keep the legend alive!
