Viva Las Vegas: Bloopers and mistakes you might missed
Elvis Presley is one of those American icons you just canât 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, âThe Lady Loves Me.â
But not everything went as planned on set. There were bloopers and mistakes in the movie that slipped by unnoticed â until now. Ready to discover what you missed? Letâs 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 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 Luckyâs heart.
In my opinion, itâs one of the most underrated films of all time.

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.
Elvisâ box office crown jewel
I always thought the legendary Blue Hawaii was the big money maker among Elvisâ 31 theatrical films. If someone had asked me in a quiz, I wouldâve confidently guessed 10 out of 10 times that it was the top grosser.
But surprise, surprise â 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 Presleyâs career.
Ann-Margret above Elvis Presley
Itâs hard to imagine today, given how much of an icon Elvis was â 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, didnât escape some critique when the film was released. Varietyâs reviewer, identified only as âTube,â had this to say about the filmâs focus on her physical assets:
âAny 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 filmâs obsession with peeping at anatomical contours and epidermis simply for the sake of peeping.â
Quite the critique, right? Even with such a focus, Ann-Margretâs star power still shone through.
The casinos that survived the neon glow
Viva Las Vegas played a key role in shaping the cityâs 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. Itâs 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 Elvisâ 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 filmâs dazzling technicolor visuals that showcased both the starsâ 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 Presleyâs 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 soundstageâ save for a piano â that they were introduced to each other and the press as the stars of Viva Las Vegas. Ann-Margret recalled the moment:
âExcept 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.
âElvis Presley, Iâd like you to meet a wonderful young lady, Ann-Margret,â said George Sidney. âAnn-Margret, this is Elvis Presley.â The significance was lost on Elvis and me. I reached out my hand and he shook it gently. âIâve heard a lot about you,â we said at the same time, which made us laugh and broke the ice.â
The passion between Ann-Margret and Elvis
Looking at stills and scenes from Viva Las Vegas today, itâs clear: the chemistry between Ann-Margret and Elvis was undeniable from the start.
Ann-Margretâs energy and charisma were so powerful that she had outshone her previous three male co-stars. But with Elvis, it was differentâhe 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.
âWe both felt a current, an electricity that went straight through us,â Ann-Margret said. âIt would become a force we couldnât control.â
âIâm 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 mightâve admitted that the only heat between us came from the hot desert sun. But others saw sparks from the start,â 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.
âWe 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,â Ann-Margret writes in her book.
There was one problem, though â 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, âIt was an innocent, friendly date. I was used to having my parents accompany me on dates, so Elvisâ entourage wasnât a problem. His guys always treated me wonderfully.â
In return, Elvisâ friends felt at ease around Ann-Margret. Elvisâ cousin, Billy Smith, shared, âShe made his life a little easier because she understood him and didnât make any demands on him. She even understood his need for us. Priscilla never understood that.â
Why didnât Elvis marry Ann-Margret?
In the end, the energetic and charismatic Swede was too similar to Elvis. They were âmirror images,â and that wasnât a good thing, considering Elvisâ values.
He was traditional and conservative in his view of marriage. Priscilla Presley fitted the profile â 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.
âWe knew that our relationship had to end, that Elvis needed to fulfill his commitment,â Ann-Margret wrote in My story.
Although their romantic relationship ended, the couple stayed in contact after Elvisâ marriage to Priscilla. âThe Kingâ used to send her guitar-shaped floral bouquets every time she performed in Las Vegas.
Ann-Margret and Elvis remained lifelong friends, and when she didnât receive any flowers after a show in 1977, she knew that The King was dead. Ann-Margret was the only female co-star of Elvisâs 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-Margretâs camera angles seemed to favor her â at his expense. According to Red West, one of Elvisâ closest confidants and bodyguards, the King wasnât shy about his displeasure: âHe would complain bitterly to us that the sonofabitch was trying to cut him out of the picture.â
It didnât take long for Elvisâ complaints to reach Colonel Parker, who wasnât 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 âElvis Presley picture.â
The hottest dance scene in Viva Las Vegas
When it came down to it, Elvis clearly got the lionâs 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 âViva Las Vegas.â Lookin at it now, 60 years later, Ann-Margret is the embodiment of the phrase âdance like no oneâs watching.â

Itâs almost impossible to take your eyes off her, she just explodes with talent and charisma. Some fans have even said itâs 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, letâs be honest â Ann-Margretâs 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, itâs still mind-blowing.
Bad lip-syncing
As some have pointed out, during the Viva Las Vegas dance/music sequence, itâs hard to ignore how badly Elvis Presley lip-syncs the lyrics â but honestly, with Ann-Margretâs high-energy performance stealing the spotlight, whoâs really paying attention to Elvis anyway?
Future Oscar nominee in the background
During the iconic âWhatâd I Sayâ number, you can spot a woman dancing to Ann-Margretâs 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, youâll see her in the background behind Ann-Margret â 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 weâre on the topic of familiar faces in Viva Las Vegas, hereâs 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 âWhatâd I Sayâ number and the title track.
Elvis Presleyâs 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 âWhatâd I Sayâ dance scene
In the âWhatâd I Sayâ dance number, thereâs a fun goof to watch for â white tape or something similar appears and disappears on Luckyâs right hand fingers during the performance.
Can you see it?
Elvisâ rivalsâ unlikely survival
Hereâs another funny little trivia nugget from the movie â one of the more puzzling moments comes during the race sequence.
Elvisâ 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 âthatâs a shameâ 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 â totally fine! Talk about a crash course in movie magicâŠ
Ann-Margretâs 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 thatâs 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.â

So, whether youâre 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 â and the unforgettable duo who brought itÂ