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| Viva Las Vegas (Deluxe Edition) | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 82 reviews) Sales Rank: 6618 Category: DVD
Actors: Elvis Presley, Ann-margret, Cesare Danova, William Demarest, Nicky Blair Director: George Sidney Publisher: Warner Home Video Studio: Warner Home Video Brand: Warner Brothers Label: Warner Home Video Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Original Recording Remastered, Restored, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled) Rating: NR (Not Rated) Media: DVD Running Time: 85 minutes Number Of Items: 1 Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Shipping Weight (lbs): 1 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: WARD79784D UPC: 012569797840 EAN: 0012569797840 ASIN: B000QUUD56
Release Date: August 7, 2007 Theatrical Release Date: May 20, 1964 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 08/07/2007 Run time: 85 minutes
Amazon.com essential video It's pretty tough to beat Jailhouse Rock in terms of sheer entertainment, but Elvis lovers are particularly fond of this 1964 hit. The Big E plays race-car driver Lucky Jackson, who arrives in Las Vegas for an upcoming Grand Prix race. Lucky's car needs a new engine, so he gets a waiter job at a casino and starts working his crooning charms on Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret). It's their on-screen chemistry that makes this flick a lot of fun; Presley never had a better costar than Ann-Margret, and their race-car romance is quintessential 1960s fluff. Then there are the songs, of course, including the snappy title tune, a rockin' rendition of Ray Charles's "What'd I Say?," and "The Yellow Rose of Texas." Viva Las Vegas is one of the Elvis movies that stands the test of time, when the legend was still at his peak. And if you're wondering if the King gets his car fixed in time to win the race, well, check out the movie to find out. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 77 more reviews...
  Blu-Ray Release Sept. 2007 October 23, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Most everyone is familiar with this movie so I don't have much in the way of comment except to say that it is a fun bit of Elvis fluff. The remastered and restored blu-ray transfer is outstanding. This, with a widescreed, HD TV very nearly duplicates the theater going experience.
  Still A Classic October 9, 2008 A classic movie, much better on DVD than VHS. A great addition to any Elvis fan's library!
  Was there a race in this film? September 26, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
When one thinks of fast cars, fun women, and flashy lights - one would probably scream out Las Vegas (and I promise this will be the last joke "I call it Lost Wages"), but not our current Las Vegas, but the Las Vegas of fast cars, fun women, and flashy lights. "Viva Las Vegas", the Elvis cinematic vehicle that serves more as a time capsule of a Las Vegas that has been nearly forgotten, was a dance riddled, climactically lacking, song powered journey that may have your toes tapping in overdrive, but the overall story allows your brain to remain in neutral. "Viva Las Vegas" was my first step into the world of Elvis cinema, and I cannot complain about his ability to sing or his chemistry with Ann-Margaret, but the film as a whole seemed like a hodgepodge of song, dance, and story (heavier on the song and dance, lacking with the missing-engine-needed-to-race storyline). Running at nearly an hour and a half, "Viva Las Vegas" did impress me with the bold colors, the wild songs, and, well, of course Elvis, but its inconsistency surrounding the central storyline was difficult to watch. Elvis did carry this film; Ann-Margaret did provide some eye-candy, but a first time viewer cannot help but laugh at the three minute race that provides both joy and shocking death right before the final credits roll across the screen.
Oh, the King of Rock and/or Roll can sing. There is no question about that. As a newbie to the world of Elvis, "Viva Las Vegas" was the perfect vehicle to introduce me to his whippy lyrics, his limber dance moves, and his abilities to impress the ladies. Elvis carried this film with ease. He was great to watch, never quite knowing when we were going to actually get to the plot, the songs he sang provided instant intermissions between points A to B to C. Coupled with his chemistry with Ann-Margaret, which was so great that even the tabloids were claiming the two were together and getting married, our characters overloaded the senses with charisma, the old-fashioned word pizzazz, and excitement - but was more needed? Elvis and Ann-Margaret were to two biggest assets to this film, but they were also the biggest liabilities. Due to the big song and dance numbers, less money/time was spent on the actual story of "Viva Las Vegas", thus we know very little about Elvis' character, Ann-Margaret's story, or the non-suspenseful, yet extremely violent, Vegas race that is supposed to be in our minds, but alas, is never on the screen (except for the final ten minutes). What crumbled this film a bit was the lack of balance, between characters and plot - like saying too much singing not enough dancing - where in the long run it is the viewers who suffer. I wanted the song and dance that I had, but I wanted more development into the race that was eventually brought Elvis and Ann-Margaret together.
It is this lack of development in our surrounding story that affects the surrounding smaller plot points. Due to knowing less about Elvis' character, it seems awkward that he suddenly looses his whole winnings in the pool. There was no prior history of "bumbling", so why would it sudden begin here? His race car was supposed to be one-of-a-kind, yet there were others like it running around Vegas, as well as in the race. Having no money didn't seem to stop Elvis from having the "Best Date Ever" with Ann-Margaret, which included dancing, boating, helicopter rides, and sightseeing. It was interesting to see Elvis' heart go towards this race that he needed to raise funds for a new engine, but between this and Ann-Margaret, it was obvious what was most important to him (as well as the director!). Then, as we wind closer to the finish line, our Pod-Racer-style Las Vegas race is wildly intense and disastrous, that it awkwardly just doesn't fit within the gambit of the film. Since the main plot point is getting to that race, we needed the race to happen, but what occurs to the other drivers of this race (one who looked like he was driving a convertible), just seemed to be sending the wrong connection to the rest of the film.
On a side note, while noting when this film was made, I did enjoy Ann-Margaret's anger towards not being able to help the pit crew get Elvis ready for his big race, but instead being forced to make sandwiches while her incapable father fit right in. Created a chuckle in a very liberal room, yet somehow fit in an oddly toned film. Elvis loved Ann-Margaret, but did he love racing? This was the ultimate question that never was answered. He wanted the engine, then he wanted the girl, and he settled on the girl by merely realizing that because he was Elvis, he was going to win the race. This was the hodgepodge I struggled with throughout this feature.
Overall, it was this sudden turn of events that changed my image of this film, while others (especially Elvis fans) will no doubtably argue with my feelings towards this film, this began as a poppy song-and-dance film about winning a race, which transformed into an over-exaggerated love story involving Ann-Margaret (at times the two were dueling), with no real placement in realism. On the other side of the gambit though, we have an image of Las Vegas that we will never experience again. This was a Las Vegas lost to my generation, and it was amazing to see the lights, panache, and glamour of this gambling city. Also, Elvis can sing. Ann-Margaret can dance, and again their chemistry could not have been a stronger Hollywood pairing. The two kept my eyes glued to the screen and tapping my toes during each of the numerous dance numbers. "Viva Las Vegas" was my first encounter with Elvis, the actor, and it will not be my last.
Grade: *** out of *****
  The "classic" Elvis movie July 20, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Elvis movies deserve to be considered a genre all of their own. Although not Hollywood masterpieces that was never the point. They were a fun way of showcasing the talents of Elvis, think of them as extended music videos.
"Via Las Vegas" is one of the best of the genre. Ann Margaret is stunningly beautiful and a great dancer. Unfortunately her singing isn't as good as her dancing, however watching the scene stealing Ann Margaret can never be thought of as a chore. One of the best dance numbers is set at the University of Nevada campus, film buffs might want to see if they can locate Teri Garr amongst the troupe.
The Vegas scenery from the 1964, including the neon "Strip" from the time, is fun to see. Even the desert car race, however improbable the action, has some great vistas too.
This audio and visual quality of this reproduction is excellent, and fans and soon-to-be fans won't be disappointed.
  Sexy little film. April 30, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Viva Las Vegas is definitely Elvis Presley's best movie. Ok so he wasn't a great and talented actor but his songs and sex appeal more than made up for it. Ann-Margret was one gorgeous gal, she steals every scene and that's almost impossible to do when the leading man is Elvis. They had natural chemistry, no wonder the couple dated off-set. Viva Las Vegas is pure fun, check it out sometimes!
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