‘Viva Las Vegas’ starring Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret’s romance ‘could not final lengthy’: 4 bangers because the movie turns 60

Norman Ray
Norman Ray

World Courant

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“Viva Las Vegas” celebrates its sixtieth anniversary.

In one in all his best-known roles, rock star Elvis Presley stars within the movie as Fortunate Jackson, a race automobile driver making ready for the Grand Prix, who alongside the way in which falls in love with the gorgeous Rusty Martin, performed by Ann-Margret. .

A love affair, a sultry deleted scene and friction between the 2 leads made the movie’s set as thrilling because the movie itself.

Listed here are a few of the juiciest tales from the set of the enduring movie.

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Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret starred collectively in “Viva Las Vegas” in 1964. (Picture by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives by way of Getty Photos)

ANN-MARGRET DESCRIBES HER CONNECTION WITH ELVIS PRESLEY, RECALLS HUGGING PAT BOONE’S SHOULDER

Romance on set

Ann-Margret wrote in her memoir that she and Elvis Presley had a quick romance through the filming of “Viva Las Vegas.” (Getty Photos)

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Though Elvis was relationship Priscilla Presley on the time, he had a dedicated romance with costar Ann-Margret.

The actress wrote about their transient romance in her 1994 memoir, “Ann-Margret: My Story,” explaining that it ended when Presley acquired the impression that Ann-Margret was promoting a narrative to the tabloids that they have been getting married .

“It in all probability could not final lengthy,” Turner Basic Films host Ben Mankiewicz advised Fox Information in August 2017 in regards to the relationship. “However that they had a really significant bond with one another. They understood one another, they each got here from small cities, they each liked bikes, and so they each felt uncomfortable within the Hollywood highlight… And I feel that is what made them linked at some stage in Elvis’ life.

“I assume what I perceive is that we must always all be so fortunate to have a friendship as significant because the one between Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley.”

Regardless of ending their romantic relationship, the 2 remained shut associates till the singer’s demise in 1977.

Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley remained shut associates till his demise in 1977. (Picture by Silver Display Assortment/Getty Photos)

Chatting with Fox Information Digital in Could 2023, Ann-Margret regarded again fondly on her time making the movie, saying: “It was a pleasure working with EP”

In a separate interview with Fox Information Digital in April 2021, Ann-Margret mentioned she will’t take into consideration “Viva Las Vegas” with out smiling, including “it was one of many happiest instances of my life.”

Along with her friendship with Presley, Ann-Margret additionally had a detailed relationship with director George Sidney, who, earlier than directing her in ‘Viva Las Vegas’, directed her within the movie musical ‘Bye Bye Birdie’.

Ann-Margret says she and Elvis Presley “moved” towards music in the identical means. (Picture by Sundown Boulevard/Corbis by way of Getty Photos)

ELVIS PRESLEY LEAVES A LASTING IMPACT ON ANN-MARGRET, SAYS TCM HOST BEN MANKIEWICZ

Deleted scene

In a deleted scene from the movie, Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret sing a duet. (Picture by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives by way of Getty Photos)

Though the movie contains a truthful variety of track and dance numbers, 10 in whole, it seems that the eleventh track has been left on the chopping block, in response to Rural life.

A deleted scene posted to YouTube begins with Presley enjoying the piano and singing “In the present day, Tomorrow and Perpetually” alone. Shortly afterwards, Ann-Margret enters the room and slowly begins to get nearer and nearer to Presley.

As they proceed to sing collectively, a montage begins to play displaying the 2 characters doing numerous actions, together with dancing, biking and water snowboarding. The clip ends with the 2 falling to the bottom laughing whereas messing up a dance transfer.

“We felt music the identical means. We listened to music, we checked out one another and questioned! We’d transfer the identical means,” Ann-Margret advised Fox Information Digital in Could 2023.

The track was initially written for the movie and was launched on the accompanying EP. It was then re-released as a part of the 2002 Elvis Presley compilation album, “Elvis: In the present day, Tomorrow, and Perpetually.”

‘The one drawback’

Elvis Presley was reportedly jealous of the eye that director George Sidney gave to Ann-Margret. (Picture by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives by way of Getty Photos)

Though Ann-Margret and Presley have been reportedly in love throughout filming, Sidney revealed that Presley was very jealous of the eye his co-star obtained on set.

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“We took this picture, no drawback. The one drawback was that Elvis did not need the lady Ann-Margret to get any close-ups,” Sidney as soon as advised the media. “He needed all of the close-ups. And he did not need her to have any numbers. Effectively, I mentioned, ‘No… I am going to direct the film. I am going to do it my means.'”

Categorical reported The explanation the ultimate scene within the movie was accomplished with break up display is as a result of Presley needed to maintain the highlight on himself and solely seem within the last scene. This reportedly prompted the director to movie Ann-Margret’s a part of the scene individually and merge the 2 clips throughout enhancing.

The movie in the end turned a field workplace success, boosting the careers of each Presley and Ann-Margret. Along with Elvis’ blossoming music profession with the discharge of his albums “Love Letters from Elvis” and “Promised Land”, he would go on to star in 17 extra characteristic movies.

Ann-Margret had a profitable performing profession and a collection of profitable residencies in Las Vegas. Her first look in Las Vegas was in July 1967, the place Presley was current. He additionally despatched her a bouquet of flowers earlier than every opening evening of a brand new residence.

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‘Viva Las Vegas’, the track

Elvis Presley wrote the track “Viva Las Vegas” for the movie. (Picture by Sundown Boulevard/Corbis by way of Getty Photos)

Presley wrote the track “Viva Las Vegas” for the movie, and it rapidly turned the theme track for Sin Metropolis, a metropolis that additionally turned synonymous with the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”.

The singer by no means carried out the hit stay, nevertheless it stays one in all his best-known songs. It was initially launched as a single on the EP that accompanied the movie, which additionally included three different songs from the movie.

Presley is alleged to have an extended historical past with town. He first carried out there in 1956 as a part of the closing act of a present on the New Frontier Lodge. In 1969 he started a residency on the Worldwide Lodge and continued to carry out reveals there till his final present in December 1976.

Though Presley died eight months later in August 1977, he stays an essential presence within the metropolis. All through Sin Metropolis, Elvis impersonators proceed to carry out reveals, function ministers in wedding ceremony chapels, and guests can hear his music performed in all places.

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‘Viva Las Vegas’ starring Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret’s romance ‘could not final lengthy’: 4 bangers because the movie turns 60

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