Viva Las Vegas (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Characters / Performances	Good
Soundtrack	Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Fun, great music, easy to watch,great stars, good singing and dancing
Disadvantages:	Ridiculous plot

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This year my husband has begun working with someone who remains a huge fan of Elvis Presley. This guy must have every film and recording that Elvis ever did. Hubby has been borrowing a few and this is how I came to sit down and watch Viva Las Vegas last week.

I was never much of an Elvis fan when I was younger. As a teenager of the 1960's I was just a little out of his fan base's age group . For me he was too clean cut. Well it shows you how wrong you can be. However with age I find I can appreciate just how good his voice was and just how beautiful in appearance he was, at some stages of his life.

I have seen Viva Las Vegas many years ago but nothing much apart from the theme tune had stayed memorable. Having said that I do not remember the theme tune music being as fast as it is. So viewing this movie about 40 years on what did I make of it? It will come as no surprise to read that I found it dated. However some times, 40 years on, the fashions have gone full circle and things do not seem quite so dated. In Viva Las Vegas that was not the case and everything was dated. I suppose at the time it was filmed it was already a little out of fashion, apart from with die hard Elvis fans but it is one of his better movies.

Here is what I liked:

Some of the tracks are Elvis Classics. Apart from Viva Las Vegas there were a few I remembered .Among the songs are:"Come On, Everybody", "What'd I Say", "Appreciation", "The Lady Loves Me", "I Need Someone to Lean On", "Today, Tomorrow, and Forever", "My Rival", and "If You Think I Don't Need You".

His co-star Ann Margaret is a great dancer, not a bad singer and a very good looker. I imagine most men would find her extremely attractive in this film, even young men of today.

The chemistry between Elvis and Ann Margaret is plain for all to see. At one time I believe they were romantically linked and that seems obvious. They dance well together and she certainly gives Elvis a run for his money.

Elvis is not a really bad actor.

The film is fun, light and frothy providing easy to watch and relaxing entertainment. There are quite a few humorous moments but many of them seem a bit corny these days.

It includes a car race which was originally billed as the most exciting car race ever screened. Well It's not that but it is pretty good.

Elvis is at an age when he is not too boyish nor has he started to run to fat. Overall he looks pretty damn good.

Las Vegas seems more charming before it's over development.

There is a group of black singers is one scene but I am not sure who they are. They are really good though. I have not been able to discover who they are anyway but I am sure one of you readers will know. I thought maybe the Ink Spots or Mills Brothers but I think it is the wrong year for them.

There are, I think, 11 musical tracks in all and although they vary in quality they are all good in different ways.

The costumes and choreography are excellent. The bright 60's costumes were fun to watch and reminisce over.

Here is what I disliked.

The God awful plot. If you have seen one Elvis film you have almost seen them all. The plot as usual has Elvis as a singing and dancing 'hero' of sorts. This time he is a race car driver, a theme which appears in more than one of his films. It is basically a boy gets girl plot which has Elvis coming up trumps. Most of his films were in a similar vein and I know he was not always happy making these films. Still I wont put a spoiler in for the uninitiated.

So, do I recommend this film? Well it depends what you are looking for.

If you love Elvis and have not seen this film then go for it. It is not one of his poorest efforts. However if you are not a fan of Elvis at all, there is nothing to attract, apart from Ann Margaret for the boys.

For me, as I can appreciate Elvis a little more these days, I did enjoy it. After a hard day at work and a long walk home in grey and damp weather it was just what I needed. I found myself singing and dancing along. The film is partially based around a luxury Vegas Hotel complete with swimming pool and bags of sunshine. As pure nonsense it was an easy watch which took me back to my youth. Ahhh those were the days.

The Film is Rated U
It is recorded in Mono
The DVD is 81 minutes
There are a choice of subtitles in a few different languages
There is a choice of English or Italian for the spoken word. Presumably as Cesare Danova the co-star is Italian
It is widescreen and in colour
Co-Stars: Cesare Danova, William Demarest, Nicky Blair.
The DVD does not really have any extras . There is a scene selection option and there is a theatrical trailer. This is one of the originals and is interesting although it only lasts five or ten minutes.
Written by Sally Benson.
Directed George Sydney.
An MGM film.
Made in 1964.
You can pick up a new copy for peanuts.

Thanks for reading
Copyright Eiley2007