Viva Las Vegas (1964)

"Viva Las Vegas," written by Doc Pomus, is a classic song. written by Doc Pomus and Morton Shuman. It has become the de facto theme song for Las Vegas, and one of Elvis Presley's most identifiable tunes. There are scores of cover versions, from The Dead Kennedys to Shawn Colvin's, my particular favorite. However, the 1964 vehicle for which the song was written is a pretty bad movie.

Elvis stars as a race-car driver, Lucky Jackson, who is in town to drive in the Las Vegas grand prix. He wins a bundle at the crap table, enough to buy a motor he needs. But he loses the money in a hotel swimming pool. That pool is managed by Ann-Margret, who is pursued both by Elvis and a slick Italian race driver, Cesare Danova. She ends up falling for Elvis, though, and of course he wins the race.

I found the film horribly dated, unfunny, and boring. It's under 90 minutes but seems twice that length. The only time the film works are in a few of the musical numbers, notably Elvis singing the title tune and his rendition of Ray Charles "What'd I Say?" There is some sparkling choreography and Ann-Margret's dancing.

But the rest of the film is such a dud. Elvis was not much of an actor. His flat line readings and laziness are evident here, especially in a woeful supposedly comic scene in which he is the waiter for Ann-Margret and Danova's date. There are also some terrible plot inconsistencies, such as, at the beginning of the film it is imperative that Elvis buy the motor, because someone else wants to buy it. But what seems like weeks later it's still available. And how long do drivers show up before a race and then do nothing but lounge around the pool?

The race at the end, which goes through actual Vegas-area locations (how did they get permission to drive across the Hoover Dam, or downtown?) is well done, with some great stunt driving. But it's too little, too late. I understand that Elvis fanatics may love this picture, but not I.