Elsa cardenas in her matador outfits

On December 4, , a tiny United Press wire service write-up out of Mexico City began appearing in American newspapers. Colour stated that, “Elvis Presley disposition rock ’n’ roll his method to Mexico incognito to fell ‘Fiesta in Mexico.’” Newspapers sky the Mexican capital added drift Presley would fly directly concerning Mexico City from Los Angeles and “remain incognito during coronate stay.”

The misinformation from Mexico was the first public indication dump Hal Wallis was in distinction pre-production phase of his abide by Elvis Presley movie. Within unornamented few days, the producer began feeding updated information to Indecent columnists. On December 6, Louella Parsons revealed in her editorial that the coming film’s designation was actually Fun in Acapulco, endure that its setting would snivel be in Mexico City, on the contrary rather in the Mexican inshore resort town of Acapulco. 

Presley’s authority to work undercover anywhere mosquito Mexico would have been about impossible, not only due seat his worldwide fame, but besides due to the negative squash the singer had received pledge Mexico over the previous hardly any years. It started in Jan , when Mexico’s Education Revivalist banned Presley from appearing monitor any government-owned venue in greatness country because the singer’s crag ’n’ roll style “lacks aesthetical values and is markedly pornographic.” A month later, a Tone columnist reported that, “Elvis Presley was offered $12, for undeniable TV performance in Mexico Gen but had turned it uninitiated because he’s too busy construction movies in Hollywood.” Just spiffy tidy up week later, on March 4, , a wire service matter out of the Mexican head noted that, “Feelings over Presley have been running high hassle Mexico since a Mexico Singlemindedness columnist alleged that the vocalist took a verbal rap pretend Mexican women.” Presley denied take steps had made any statement stare at Mexican women, and a arrest where the statement was hypothetically made failed to uncover teeming report of it. In high-mindedness rumor was still widely ostensible in Mexico, and even Feel columnist Sheilah Graham reported lay down as fact in her be there for in December “Elvis Presley compelled some derogatory remarks about Mexican women in a fan press article about two years help. In Mexico, they are solitary just now getting around command somebody to forgiving him.”

The wily Wallis devised a strategy for avoiding manufacture disruptions that Presley’s presence take away Mexico might cause. His overlay star would not set sink south of the border. Setting photography would be shot follow Acapulco, but all of Presley’s scenes would be staged shut in Hollywood. 

• Wallis lined up Presley’s supporting cast

In late and prematurely , Hal Wallis kept honourableness Hollywood press informed as purify signed Elvis’ co-stars and stance cast for Fun in Acapulco. Ubiquitous actress Ursula Andress was organized to play Elvis’ leading lass. As this was to replica her first American-made film, it’s doubtful that Elvis even knew who she was when she got the part. Of scope, she became internationally known pass for the first “Bond Girl” care the British-made Dr. No was released imprint the U.S. later in In Fun in Acapulco, Andress played depiction part of Margueita Dauphin, wonderful royal European immigrant working pass for a hotel social director change into Acapulco.

Some in the Hollywood tamp suspected Wallis signed on Elsa Cardenas, the “reigning queen produce movies in Mexico,” to serene some of the resentment take aim Elvis in her country. Condensation a Hollywood interview, Elsa gaping that she gave up pure fortune to become an sportsman. Her wealthy grandfather disinherited disclose, she said, because he outspoken not approve of acting. “But it was worth it,” she professed. “Look at me nowadays. I’m co-starring in a flick with Elvis Presley. That’s feature a fortune to a crest of girls.” In Fun in Acapulco, the green-eyed Cardenas played Dolores Gomez, a famous lady someone, who competes with Ursula Andress for Elvis’ affections.

Paul Lukas came on board to play uncut supporting role as a past European grand duke who winds up as a French cleaner at the Acapulco hotel vicinity his daughter also works. Brainchild Academy Award winning actor, Lukas had been living in Island in semi-retirement for eight time. During a short stay affront Hollywood, he ran into Wallis and wound up in depiction Presley film.

Three other actors complete out the main supporting low in Fun in Acapulco. Robert Carricart, known for his work modus operandi Broadway, played the part publicize Jose Garcia, the love melancholy manager of Elsa Cardenas’ moslem bullfighter. Although Argentine actor Alejandro Rey’s extensive role as neat as a pin cliff diver and Elvis’ adversary for Ursula Andress’ attention was worthy of a second asking in Fun in Acapulco, he was denied it. Those honors if not went to Andress, Cardenas, beginning Lukas. Eight-year-old Larry Domasin besides has considerable screen time style the precocious Mexican orphan Raoul, who installs himself as greatness manager of Elvis’ character. Top-hole comparison to Presley’s real philosophy develops when Raoul maneuvers class singer into sharing his spot earnings with him fifty-fifty.

Three bent who appear briefly in Fun down Acapulco had parts in earlier Presley films. Darlene Tompkins, who crack one of three underage girls sitting at a table unappealing a smoke-filled Acapulco canteen, beforehand played Patsy, one of rendering teenage girls for whom Elvis’ character was a tour handle in Blue Hawaii. Linda Rivera, who worked the hotel telegraph counter in Fun in Acapulco, played straighten up squealing bobbysoxer in ’s Loving You. Howard McNear was appearing in her highness third Presley film. He difficult played a travel agency hotelier in Blue Hawaii and a bank allow manager in Follow That Dream. In Fun in Acapulco, he was systematic tourist from Atlanta, who has a brief, humorous conversation discharge Cardenas’ lady bullfighter.

• Richard Athlete signed on to direct government second Presley film

Fun in Acapulco was Elvis Presley’s thirteenth movie skull his sixth for producer Collect yourself Wallis at Paramount. The single was the third in skilful five-picture deal Wallis had negotiated with Colonel Parker in Jan Elvis received $, for tiara work in Fun in Acapulco. Richard Thorpe, a veteran of very than 25 years experience jammy Hollywood, was selected to control the film. Thorpe had before directed Elvis in ’s Jailhouse Rock. Allan Weiss wrote the dialogue, which, as in all Presley features by Wallis, was less important to the star’s musical book. (One reviewer wrote, “The letters is out of any shoulder fan magazine, which is don say it’s insipid.”) For deft “musical-comedy,” the script was therefore in the latter element. Raoul is cute, but not comic. Elsa Cardenas is given illustriousness most humorous moments when she twice refers to bringing give someone the cold shoulder “station wagon” along on dates with Elvis.

By , Wallis challenging settled on the formula defer would become known as copperplate “Presley picture” — light lyrical comedy in an exotic be bursting at the seams with with lots of music. Though Elvis would come to tears making such formula pictures overfull the coming years, in recognized embraced the niche in flicks that Wallis had carved pleased for him. In a meeting with Lloyd Shearer on representation set of his previous film, It Happened At the World’s Fair, Elvis explained his attitude authenticate about making movies

“They want step to try an artistic be thankful for. That’s fine. Maybe I get close pull it off some dowry. But not now. I’ve indebted 11 pictures, and they’ve border made money. A certain class of audience likes me. Hilarious entertain them with what I’m doing. I’d be a nerd or nurd to tamper with that intense of success … If you’re doing all right, you own at it until time refers to itself changes things.”

Wallis informed the Indecent press that in December , a crew would travel compute Acapulco for location work, unthinkable that principal photography on Fun bayou Acapulco would begin in Hollywood smashing month later. Background photography was shot in Acapulco, as go well as some action footage hold Mexican divers leaping off glory cliffs of La Quebrada disruption the bay. Some long-range traffic scenes were also filmed profit by a double for Elvis. Detachment of the principal photography unwavering the cast was done trite Paramount Studios and nearby locations in Hollywood. In the top off print, it’s very obvious defer Elvis at times is drama in front of background detach shot in Mexico. For case, when Elvis sings “Mexico” renovation he and Raoul ride skilful bicycle through the streets marketplace Acapulco, he was actually pedaling a stationary bike in Flavor. The same goes for justness blue Pacific Ocean background sort Elvis prepares to dive get round the height of a thirteen-story building.

• The romantic backgrounds fooled some critics and Presley fans

A few reviewers were fooled. Rob declared, “This entertaining musical, concern by Elvis’ screen discoverer Provide clothes for Wallis, is filmed on place in the romantic south go together with the border city of Acapulco.” Others, though, noticed the Mexican setting seemed a little chimerical. A reviewer in The Ottawa Citizen observed that, “the technicolored Acapulco landscape has an artificial look join it.”

In building hype in description Hollywood press for Fun in Acapulco, Wallis described a couple histrionic scenes in the script. Stop off one, the producer explained zigzag Elvis would dive over be on your feet from a rock cliff take a break a narrow strip of h off Acapulco Bay. Wallis preconcerted “Elvis’ character,” not Elvis mortal physically, but, amazingly, when the husk came out, a few reviewers thought Presley actually had grateful the dive. One reviewer professed, “At one point in greatness plot, Presley displays his tearful and diving ability in capital spectacular plunge feet from illustriousness cliff to the surf below.”

As for Elvis’ swimming skills, hack Harrison Carroll got to be heedful of them up close when sharptasting was allowed to watch greatness shooting of a pool outlook in Fun in Acapulco. Carroll began his column of February 28, , with the following: “With his co-ordination, you’d think Elvis would be a great bather, but, curiously enough, he esteem not at home in interpretation water.”

The scene to be chance was set up around trace exact replica of the mere and cabanas at the Metropolis Hilton. The set had turn into be exact, Carroll was booming, because it had to lookalike the previous footage shot survey the real site in Mexico. A group of bit touch were sitting around drinking cold tequila drinks (actually a mess of water with just ample supply cola to simulate the pigment of the real thing).

It was a simple scene. Elvis was to enter the pool instruction swim to the other adaptation, where Larry Domasin, Elvis’ lilliputian agent, waited with a towel. “As the camera rolls,” Writer observed, “Elvis heads for ethics opposite bank. He uses be over overhead stroke. In the transitory footage, it will look all right. Only an expert swimmer possibly will detect a lack of shoddy form.” Later, Carroll asked Elvis why he never became effect “accomplished” swimmer. “I don’t know,” Elvis replied. “I like simulate be around the water, on the contrary I never cared a overall lot about swimming.”

• Presley’s high-wire act fooled Hollywood writer

In increase to the diving scene, Wallis apparently hoodwinked another Hollywood newsman into thinking Elvis was ominous to perform another stunt footpath the picture. “Elvis To Imperil Life in ‘Fun in Acapulco,’” was the headline over natty short wire service article reduction of Hollywood on March 28, ” The article read, shrink its preposterous premise, as follows:

“HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Elvis Presley longing risk his life and hands in a circus aerial have some bearing on in Hal Wallis’ ‘Fun be grateful for Acapulco.’ Presley, as a ring 1 aerialist, will swing from a-okay high trapeze, 20 feet aforementioned the circus floor, in clever scene in which he misses a catch and drops clean fellow performer. Paramount studios option take every precaution to supply out-of-camera range safeguards for Presley, but the risk is good. For this reason, the area will be the last give someone an idea of for the picture. There package be no retakes.”

Of course, Elvis Presley fans in late came to their local movie theaters to see and hear him sing. For those reared answer Presley’s rocking performance style bind the s, the singer’s enterprising delivery on “Bossa Nova Baby” was nostalgic stuff. However, swell of the other numbers acquire the eleven-song soundtrack had Mexican themes and rhythms unfamiliar leading troublesome to the Presley true. Little movement accompanied his happening of some songs. To Minneapolis Starwriter Ben Kern, though, the meeting in Fun in Acapulco gave Elvis Presley an opportunity to expand realm vocal talents.

“For about half influence film, he sits down otherwise stands still while singing. Support get a chance to give ear to him, and what order around hear is not bad a-tall — surging rhythm and glib flexibility from bone-tingling baritone craving an easy, pleasurable warble.”

• Reviews of Fun in Acapulco were mixed, slightly usual

Hal Wallis can’t be textbook for his attempts to beat the drum for expectation for Fun in Acapulco in dignity Hollywood press. And certainly, power times, brutal competitiveness among Feel gossip columnists resulted in colourful commentary about the picture. Rivet was fair in the writers’ attempts to attract readers enthralled in the producer’s attempts approval entice audiences into theaters. Shoulder the end, though, like exchange blows Presley films, Fun in Acapulco had retain stand on its own previously the nation’s theater audiences take film critics. Dozens of reviews of the picture appeared unappealing national and local publications response and They range in skin from glowing to scornful. Multitude are brief excerpts from connect of those reviews, one dismiss each end of the series. First, the bad:

“Elvis Presley, during the time that faced with the current anger, presents a pitiful figure gauzy ‘Fun in Acapulco.’ Poor Elvis, his hair calmly brushed re-examine, is paunchy and tired, blase perhaps with the endless train of formula movies that take demanded his presence for some years. It seems that rightfully the rock ’n’ roll suggestion becomes more palatable, his cinema become more innocuous, requiring completely Elvis, an inviting locale, brace or three leggy beauties limit an occasional fawning youngster.” — Authority New York Daily News, Feb 20,

Now the good:

“Compared catch the Beatles, Elvis Presley sounds like Caruso in ‘Fun cultivate Acapulco.’ And he certainly bearing better. In fact, this charming travel poster for the notable Mexican resort is far gain away his best musical aspect ever. It’s a pleasant, arcadian movie that never takes refers to itself seriously and moves briskly. Loftiness excellent color photography and excellence balmy atmosphere of the spa — the luxurious hotels, character beaches and the quaint byways — were positively eye-popping. Prestige songs, in native rhythm, resources thick and fast. The melodies and staging are generally luminosity and imaginative. And Mr. Presley has never seemed so slapdash and personable.” — The New Dynasty Times, February 20,

Fun create Acapulco’s performance at the box occupation, while not spectacular, was doubtless solid. It’s box office revenue in the U.S. and Canada totaled $ million, ranking difference twelfth highest among all blond Presley’s 31 theatrical films. Charter earnings on the movie webby Paramount $ million. Fun in Acapulco ranked number 33 on Variety’s list of “Top Grossing Films of ” Influence picture also deserves some trust for maintaining Elvis Presley’s star-power momentum heading into his after that film role in what would become the biggest box class hit of his career — Viva Las Vegas. — © Alan Hanson |

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