Elvis Presley is one of those American icons you simply 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 perfectly matched duet, “The Lady Loves Me.”
But not everything went as planned on set. There were bloopers and mistakes in the movie that slipped by unnoticed — until now. Ready to discover what you missed? Let’s take a closer look!
Elvis and Ann-Margret made movie and musical history together in Viva Las Vegas, which became the highest-grossing Elvis Presley film. Elvis stars as Lucky Jackson, a determined race car driver hoping to win big in Las Vegas. Ann-Margret plays Rusty Martin, a vibrant dancer who captures Lucky’s heart.
In my opinion, it’s one of the most underrated films of all time.
Beyond 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 behind 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 assumed the legendary Blue Hawaii was the top money maker among Elvis’ 31 theatrical films. If someone had asked me in a quiz, I would’ve confidently guessed it every time.
But surprise, surprise — Viva Las Vegas actually took the crown, out-earning Blue Hawaii by a whopping $450,000. Despite receiving mixed reviews, it became the highest-grossing Elvis Presley film.
At just 1 hour and 25 minutes, Viva Las Vegas is also the shortest film in Elvis Presley’s career.
Ann-Margret above Elvis Presley It’s hard to imagine today, given how iconic Elvis was — and still is. But did you know 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 criticism 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, only six remain today. It’s a fun reminder of how much Las Vegas has changed over the years.
The filming locations were scattered across the city, shot before Elvis’ marriage to Priscilla at the Aladdin and before his famous residency at the International Hotel (now the Wingate).
Why was Viva Las Vegas so popular? Its popularity can be attributed to several 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 in early July 1963 at Radio Recorders studios in Hollywood. On an empty MGM soundstage — save for a piano — 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 Ann-Margret would later describe as the best she ever had. And in many ways, Elvis seemed to feel the same.
Simply put, 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.” She later shared that while she and Elvis initially joked that the only heat between them came from the desert sun, others saw sparks from the start.
Elvis wanted to marry Ann-Margret Though Ann-Margret has been selective about what she reveals, she shared some striking details in her autobiography, My Story.
According to her, Elvis wanted them to get married. Their dates often involved 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,” she wrote.
There was one problem — Elvis was in a relationship with Priscilla Presley. A year before the film’s premiere, he 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 of music, they both adored motorcycles, valued family, craved privacy, were devoted to God, and enjoyed long late-night conversations.
During early filming, Elvis invited her to join him and his crew for a night out 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.”
Elvis’ friends felt at ease around her as well. His cousin, Billy Smith, said, “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 ideal given Elvis’ values.
He was traditional and conservative in his view of marriage. Priscilla Presley fit that profile — Ann-Margret did not.
They continued exchanging love letters after Viva Las Vegas, but soon after, Elvis knew he had to end the relationship.
“We knew that our relationship had to end, that Elvis needed to fulfill his commitment,” Ann-Margret wrote in My Story.
Although their romance ended, they stayed in contact after Elvis married Priscilla. “The King” sent her guitar-shaped floral bouquets every time she performed in Las Vegas.
Ann-Margret and Elvis remained lifelong friends, and when she didn’t receive flowers after a show in 1977, she knew Elvis had died. She was the only one of his female co-stars to attend his funeral.
The camera angle controversy Some say Viva Las Vegas is the only Elvis movie where he genuinely looked like he was having fun and fully invested. But is that the whole story?
Elvis reportedly had issues 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, the King wasn’t shy about his frustration: “He would complain bitterly to us that the sonofabitch was trying to cut him out of the picture.”
It didn’t take long for these complaints to reach Colonel Parker, who wasn’t about to let anyone overshadow his star. The Colonel, ever protective, reportedly confronted Sidney, reminding the producers that this was an “Elvis Presley picture.”
The hottest dance scene in Viva Las Vegas When it came down to it, Elvis still received the lion’s share of the musical spotlight. He had six solo numbers, while Ann-Margret had only 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.” Looking 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 giving 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 poorly 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 wears 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 goof 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.
Elvis’ rival’s 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 reacts.
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 shares fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about Viva Las Vegas, keeping the film’s magic 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 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 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!
