L'idolo di Acapulco

Fun in Acapulco is your standard, run of the mill Elvis flick. Unfortunately, it suffers from bargain basement production, but it is good enough to help you forget your troubles. It is obvious that some of the scenes filmed in "Mexico" were actually done in front of a blue screen. According to Priscilla Presley, the hotel scenes were filmed at a Mexican style hotel in California. Of course with every Elvis film, there is a few big names thrown in for good measure. In this case, the beautiful Ursula Andress, fresh from Dr. No and Alejandro Rey, who would find fame in The Flying Nun and Moscow on the Hudson. The cast is amicable, and most of the songs are passable (with the exception of the stupid 'No Room To Rumba In A Sportscar').

Elvis was still searching for that big role. While a few of the stars went on to meatier roles, Elvis was stuck doing the same thing. You could tell by the time he was finished with movies, he was just burned out. Still, you can see he has the knack for acting, even in a flick like this. I know it sounds like I am putting down this film, but I still find some charm in it. You can't say no to Elvis or Acapulco.

Richard Thorpe directed a previous Elvis movie, "Jailhouse Rock". Elvis plays Mike Windgren, who is running away from a family trapeze act accident. He is hired as a life guard and singer. Elsa Cardenas, a lady bullfighter, wants Mike's attention. The beautiful Ursula Andress plays hard to get. Mike gets over his fear of heights by diving off one of the local landmark cliffs. The eleven song soundtrack of Latin-beat ditties includes "You Can't Say No In Acapulco" and the million plus selling "Bossa Nova Baby". Better than average travelog.

I would probably have never watched this film if it were not for a little old lady who often calls to the film archive where I work and asks for movies starring French actor Maurice Ronet (who is her favorite star), and strange choices as Don Sharp's "Rasputin, the Mad Monk" or this Elvis Presley's vehicle. Surprisingly I enjoyed watching it as "zero degree style" as it is, and now I believe that this is one of Presley's best vehicles of the early sixties. It has a formulaic story that does not demand much from viewers, most of the songs are forgettable and corny, and back projection and sound stage decors do not match well with such a magnificently sunny location as Acapulco. But somehow it works: Presley, kid Larry Domasin and leading ladies Ursula Andress and Elsa Cárdenas all seem to enjoy what they are doing (and make fun of themselves, as in the musical number in which Presley finishes a ridiculous song with a matador cape wrapping his head) , and screenwriter Allan Weiss surely knows how to keep us viewers smiling at every new move by orphan Raoul (Domasin) to get trapeze-artist- in-crisis Mike (Presley, that is) back in shape. Richard Thorpe (who also directed "Jailhouse Rock") moves things efficiently until the grand finale in which the trapeze artist sings... "Guadalajara" in Spanish. I could not understand a word, but it was fun to watch "The King" (at his handsomest) trying hard.

Attractive , agreeable vehicle with Presley as Mike, a lifeguard and singer at a local hotel . There's a nice pairing between the two leads , Elvis Presley and Ursula Andress , falling in love at a fancy beachfront resort and the King singing classic songs . Notable musical comedy in which Elvis plays an ex-acrobat , working on a boat , including amusing events , nice set design , good actors and overwhelming production numbers . There a bratty, spoiled daughter of a wealthy man and boat owner gets him fired and Mike must find new work , while little boy Rauol helps him get a job . Then he takes a job at luxurious Acapulco Hilton hotel as a lifeguard by day and a singer by night and while falling in love for Ursula Andress , but Mike's also seeing a bullfighter woman. Clashes abound when Mike runs into the rival and fellow employee lifeguard (Alejandro Rey) , who is the champion diver of Mexico . He's really angry at Mike for taking his daily job hours , and stealing his girlfriend . And Andress becomes jealous when Elvis becomes interested in a woman bullfighter : Elsa Cardenas . Eventually , beloved Elvis and appealing Ursula Andress get together , which comes as no surprise to any viewer . Eventually , he must conquer his fear of heights for a climatic dive from Acapulco cliffs . Elvis Never Had It Like This ! .Come With Elvis to Fabulous Acapulco!

Typical of Presley's movies with usual ingredients such as songs , dances romances, beautiful girls , entertainment and fun . Elvis and Ursula Andress well teamed in this popular and enjoyable tipically Presley musical comedy. This is a pretty lightweight stuff , but a sympathetic cast , classical songs and impressive dances make it worthwhile . Pleasant musical comedy , being really a great recital from the stunning Elvis Presley , as well as the beauty Ursula Andress recent her hit in ¨James Bond vs. Dr. No¨, adding colorful cinematography by cameraman Daniel L. Fapp and catching soundtrack by composer Joseph Lilley . Stars the great Elvis as a former trapeze artist who romances two beauties and acts as a part-time lifeguard and night club entertainer . The film benefits itself from likable main singers/dancers and charming support cast , such as : Elsa Cardenas , Alejandro Rey , veteran Paul Lukas and the unknown little boy Larry Domasin who's very likable. And including wonderful songs , hilarious moments and lots of fun with the two splendid entertainers : Presley and Ursula Andress , though it has inconsistent plot , then takes off for the spectacular musical numbers and catching songs.

There are several marvellous songs and dances , featuring ten musical numbers along the way , and the King does particularly fine , such as : Fun in Acapulco ; Vino, dinero y amor ; El Toro ; Marguerita ; No room to Rhumba ; I think I'm going to like it here ; You can't say no in Acapulco. The motion picture was competently directed by Richard Thorpe . This was a great Hollywood filmmaker with penchant for Westerns , Epics and Musicals , though also made other genres at times . Richard was a prolific director who made slickly a lot of films of all kinds of genres . As he directed the following ones : "Thin Man goes home" , "Three little words" , "Knights of the Round Table" , "The Black Hand" , "Great Caruso" , "Prisoner of Zenda" , "King of the Kongo" , "Fun in Acapulco" , "Jailhouse Rock" , "Vengeance Valley" , among others . Rating : 6/10 . Passable and acceptable Elvis vehicle . The picture will appeal to Presley and Andress fans .

After her big break role in Dr. No Ursula Andress got to co-star with Elvis Presley in Fun In Acapulco. Not that she or Elvis got to have any fun in Acapulco off the set because Paramount did all their location footage with doubles. On learning that fact I carefully watched all the scenes and if you examine it closely which the average member of the movie-going public did not do you can clearly see that the King is being doubled.

Still Acapulco is certainly shown to best advantage with that second unit cinematography. And Elvis sings some nice songs, none of which really charted for him.

Fun In Acapulco find Elvis working as a charter boat skipper who gets fired and is stranded in the famous Mexican resort town. He has a past which involves him being involved in a family trapeze act and when he failed to catch his brother during the act resulting in the brother's demise it left him with a fear of heights and failure.

Still he can sing and he gets a job at one of the resorts due to an enterprising shoeshine boy played by little Larry Domasin. And he gets two girls falling for him, lady bullfighter Elsa Cardenas and an exiled princess Ursula Andress. That gets Mexican high diving champion Alejandro Rey all bent out of shape. Ursula's dad, a former Grand Duke from some Zenda like duchy is played by Paul Lukas who is now making a living as the head chef at the resort hotel Presley is singing at. Another great example of Colonel Tom Parker getting Elvis the best support possible. I have no doubt that Parker also got former MGM contract director Richard Thorpe who did a number of MGM classics back in the day to direct the film.

Elvis does a bit of acting here and Fun In Acapulco gives the King a bit of an acting job which he carries off as he struggles with his fears.

I'm sure Presley felt gypped along with the rest of the cast in not actually shooting in Acapulco. The second unit shooting though gives Fun In Acapulco a look like the Hawaiian location films that Presley did. And it's a nice story with a capable cast backing up the King.