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Fun in Acapulco, 1 - 2
Elvis' thirteenth film was 1963's "Fun In Acapulco" for Paramount. The
movie premiered nationally on November 27, 1963. It reached #5 on the
Variety weekly chart and #33 overall for the year. Paramount promoted
the movie with special souvenir "passports" they created.
The Beatles went to see this movie at a drive-in theatre in Miami while
on their first U.S. tour. It would be August 27, 1965 before the Beatles
would actually get to meet Elvis. On that occasion, according to "The
Beatles Anthology", John Lennon said, "At first we couldn't make him
out.
I asked him if he was preparing new ideas for his next film and he
drawled,
'Ah sure am. Ah play a country boy with a guitar who meets a few gals
along the way, and ah sing a few songs.'
We all looked at one another.
Finally Presley and Colonel Parker laughed and explained that the only
time they departed from that formula - for "Wild In The Country"- they
lost money."
In "Fun in Acapulco", Elvis plays a former trapeze artist named Mike
Windgren, who had developed a fear of heights after the accidental death
of a member of his family's trapeze act, The Flying Windgrens. He ends
up working as a nightclub singer and a part-time lifeguard while trying
to regain his courage and overcome his fear. He eventually dives off the
cliffs in Acapulco.
Elvis filmed the movie in Hollywood and did not travel to Mexico where
some location shots were filmed.
Production began on January 21, 1963 with soundtrack recording.
As Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass were currently popular, the brass
sections of the songs echoed their style.
Principal photography began on January 25, 1963.
Elvis was very uncomfortable in his costume used during the filming of
the song "Marguerita" as he said the untucked, short sleeved shirt was
something he would never wear in real life. Because of a previously
filmed shot of his double wearing the same costume, it was too late to
change the costume for continuity. Later, he put in a request to
producer Hal Wallis to be allowed to keep two of the black silk shirts
and the flamenco outfit that he wore in the film. After filming was
finished he returned home to Memphis on March 22, 1963. Priscilla
Beaulieu, his future wife, had just moved to Memphis from Germany and
she was there waiting for him. (They had met in late 1959. Her father
had taken her and the whole family along when he was stationed in
Germany with the U.S. Air Force.
Elvis was stationed there with the U.S. Army.)
"Fun in Acapulco" was written by Allan Weiss, who also wrote the scripts
for the Elvis movies "Blue Hawaii", "Girls! Girls! Girls!",
"Roustabout", "Paradise Hawaiian Style", and "Easy Come, Easy Go". He
was nominated in 1965 for a Writer's Guild of America Award for
"Roustabout" as the Best Written American Musical.
"Fun in Acapulco" was produced by Hal Wallis, who produced nine Elvis
movies. The others were: "Loving You", "King Creole", "G.I. Blues",
"Blue Hawaii", "Girls! Girls! Girls!", "Roustabout", "Paradise Hawaiian
Style", and "Easy Come, Easy Go". Mr. Wallis was nominated 15 times for
an Academy Award. Among them were nominations for "Becket", "Yankee
Doodle Dandy" and "The Maltese Falcon". He won for "Casablanca".
The executive producer was Joseph Hazen, who would go on the do the same
for the Elvis movies "Roustabout", "Paradise Hawaiian Style", and "Easy
Come, Easy Go".
The associate producer was Paul Nathan, who also worked on the Elvis
films "King Creole", "G.I. Blues", "Blue Hawaii", "Girls! Girls!
Girls!", "Roustabout", "Paradise Hawaiian Style", and "Easy Come, Easy
Go".
The director was Richard Thorpe, who had previously directed Elvis in
"Jailhouse Rock".
Swiss-born actress, Ursula Andress played Elvis' love interest
Marguerita Dauphin. Ms. Andress went to Rome as a teen and appeared in
several Italian films. In 1962, she appeared in the British Bond film
"Dr. No". "Fun In Acapulco" was her first American film, after which she
continued to star in international films such as "What's New Pussycat?",
"The Blue Max", "Casino Royale", and "The Fifth Musketeer". In 1964, she
won a Golden Globe Award as Most Promising Newcomer Female.
Elsa Cardenas played Elvis' other love interest - the fiery lady
bullfighter, Delores Gomez. Ms. Cardenas, born in Baja, Mexico, has had
roles in many Spanish productions both film and TV. You might also
recognize her from her role as Juana Benedict in the epic film "Giant".
The most endearing character of the film (but for Elvis, of course)
might well be that of Raoul Almeido, played by then eight-year-old Larry
Domasin. Raoul is a waif shoeshine boy who seems to be a junior Colonel
Tom Parker. He knows a "cousin" in every important position in town and,
as Mike Windgren's more or less self-appointed manager, pits the cousins
against each other for the best deal for his client. His wheeling and
dealing is a joy to watch. Mr. Domasin played in a number of films in
the 1960's, including "Island of the Blue Dolphins", "Ride Beyond
Vengeance" and "The Rare Breed".
Alejandro Rey played Moreno, a lifeguard who was Mike Windgren's
nemesis. He taunts him as being a "gallina" (chicken) for being afraid
of heights and the two are rivals for the love of the leading lady. Mr.
Rey has worked in the films such as "Solomon & Sheba", "Mr. Majestiyk",
and "Grace Kelly". The Argentinean-born actor began his career in South
America. He is probably best known for his roles on American TV in such
series as "Dallas" and "The Flying Nun".
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