Celebrating its 53rd birthday this year on May 20th, Viva Las Vegas is one of the most iconic films ever created that celebrates the city of Las Vegas and showcases not just the glitz and glamour, but also the family-friendly side of the valley. Las Vegas created a nice backdrop for the film’s two stars, Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret, whose on-screen chemistry drew the attention of fans worldwide.
Viva Las Vegas is about a race car driver named Lucky Jackson who travels to Las Vegas to race the city’s first grand prix. While working as a waiter to earn money to pay for a new engine for his car, he still finds time to pursue a local swim instructor named Rusty Martin. The film features ten musical song-and-dance scenes choreographed by David Winters and became Elvis’ highest grossing film ever.
Watch the official trailer below:
“Viva Las Vegas Official Trailer #1 – Elvis Presley Movie (1964) HD” by Movieclips Trailer Vault
Nevada Filming Locations
Filming took place all over Las Vegas and nearby cities. Filming locations included:
- Parking lot of the Sahara Hotel
- Drag strip in the suburb of Henderson
- Frontier Hotel
- Skeet shooting range at the Tropicana Hotel
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas gymnasium
- McCarran Airport
- Swimming pool at the Flamingo Hotel
- Little Church of the West (listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as the oldest existing structure on the Las Vegas Strip)
- Downtown Las Vegas / Fremont Street (opening aerial shots)
- Sands Hotel and Casino
- Mount Charleston
- Hoover Dam
- Lake Mead Marina
Sources: “Viva Las Vegas: MGM 1964” (ElvisPresley.com), “Many ‘Viva Las Vegas’ filming sites remain unchanged” (ReviewJournal.com), “Picture Perfect” (ReviewJournal.com), “Viva Las Vegas film credits” (LasVegasSun.com), “Viva Las Vegas – A Complete History” (VegasNowandThen.blogspot.com)
Gloria Reible of the Las Vegas Sun wrote a great article during the time of filming in 1963, giving insight as to what it was like shooting the movie on-location: Las Vegas the scene of new Elvis film
In 2014, F. Andrew Taylor also wrote a terrific article for the Las Vegas Review-Journal discussing the largely unchanged filming locations of Viva Las Vegas: Many ‘Viva Las Vegas’ filming sites remain unchanged
Behind-the-Scenes Footage
Here is a short clip of the filming of Viva Las Vegas at the Flamingo Hotel:
“Elvis – Viva Las Vegas, Behind-the-Scenes” by ewjvideo
Elvis Presley filming a racing scene with rear-projection in “Viva Las Vegas”, 1964.
For more behind-the-scenes pictures, visit UNLV Libraries’ Special Collection – Exhibit Highlight: The Movies that Made Las Vegas, Las Vegas Makes Movies.
Song Fun Facts
Presley recorded the song “Viva Las Vegas” on July 10, 1963 for the film and it is commonly known as the unofficial theme song of the city of Las Vegas. In the film’s scene where Presley sings “Viva Las Vegas,” it was performed in a single unedited shot.
Watch the scene from the movie below:
“Elvis Presley Singing Viva Las Vegas” by Miss Rockabetty
Known for their satire, the Dead Kennedys are a punk-rock band that re-recorded the “Viva Las Vegas” song in 1980 for their debut album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. They were the first music group to record their own cover of the song, although several covers from other bands and singers have since been released. The Dead Kennedys’ version of “Viva Las Vegas” was used in the 1998 film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Listen to the cover:
“Dead Kennedys – Viva Las Vegas (Elvis Presley cover)” by Spencer Vik
Watch the official trailer for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas:
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Official Trailer #1 – Gary Busey Movie (1998) HD” by Movieclips Trailer Vault