Fun in Acapulco
Paramount 1963
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By: For Elvis Fans Only
Source: EPE
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Fun In Acapulco |
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.
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.
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."
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Elvis Presley, Ursula Andress &
Elsa C�rdenas in Fun 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.)
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Elvis Presley in Fun In Acapulco |
In "Fun in Acapulco", Mike Windgren
(Elvis) performed in various nightclubs
and hotel showrooms. Club managers were
played by several noted character
actors. Salvador Baguez, who played the
manager of the La Perla club, had roles
in "Viva Zapata!", "The Snows of
Kilimanjaro", "Love Is A Many Splendored
Thing", the 1953 version of "Titanic"
and others. Edward Colmans, who played
the manager of the Ambassador club, had
roles in "Jubilee Trail", "Four Horseman
of the Apocalypse" and "Hellfighters",
among other films. Alberto Morin, who
played the manager of the Hilton, had
roles in "For Those Who Think Young",
"Two Mules For Sister Sara" and "The
Cheyenne Social Club". Martin Garralaga,
who played the manager of the Tropicana
hotel, had roles in "Captain Scarface",
"The Secret of the Incas" and "Island of
the Blue Dolphins", in which he would
again work with Larry Domasin, who had
played Raoul in "Fun in Acapulco".
If you look very closely you'll see that
one of the uncredited cliff divers in
"Fun in Acapulco" is a young Gene
Simmons. Yes, the same Gene Simmons who
would not only try his hand at acting
but also at being a rock 'n' roller,
achieving fame as a member of the band
Kiss. He was born in Israel and at one
time the multi-linguist was a school
teacher. He has gone on to careers in
writing, publishing and merchandising as
well.
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Elvis Presley & Ursula Andress
in Fun In Acapulco |
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".
Paul Lukas played Maximillian Dauphin.
He was born on a train near Budapest,
Hungary and began his career on stage
and in film in Budapest and in Austria.
In 1927, he came to Hollywood, becoming
a U.S. citizen in 1933. He performed in
a number of films including "20,000
Leagues Under the Sea", "Four Horsemen
of the Apocalypse" and "55 Days at
Peking". He won an Academy Award as well
as a Golden Globe for his work in the
1944 film "Watch On The Rhine".
Troublesome teen Janie Harkins was
played by Teri Hope. She was the
September 1958 "Playboy" magazine
Playmate of the Month. She also played a
college student in Elvis' 1964 film
"Roustabout".
Several other actors and actresses under
contract with Paramount played small
roles in "Fun In Acapulco" in addition
to roles in other Elvis movies. Mike De
Anda was also in
"Girl Happy". Robert De Anda was also in
"Change of Habit".
Charles Evans was in
"King Creole".
Stella Garcia was also in "Change of
Habit".
Terri Garr
(years later an Academy Award nominee
for "Tootsie") was also in
"Roustabout",
"Viva Las
Vegas"and
"Kissin' Cousins".
John Indrisano had a role in
"It
Happened At The World's Fair". While
Howard McNear (best known as Floyd the
barber on television's "The Andy
Griffith Show") was in
"Blue Hawaii" and
"Follow That Dream". Linda Rand was in
"Roustabout" and
"Girls! Girls! Girls!".
David Renard was in
"Change of Habit".
Linda Rivera was in
"Loving You". Mary Treen had roles in
"Girls! Girls!
Girls!" and
"Paradise Hawaiian Style".
Daniel L. Fapp, cinematographer for
"Fun in Acapulco, went on to work with
Elvis on
"Spinout" and
"Double Trouble".
He was nominated six times for an
Academy Award, winning one for "West
Side Story".
Film editor Stanely E. Johnson also
worked on
"Girls! Girls! Girls!".
Art director Hal Pereira also worked on
the Elvis films
"Loving You",
"King
Creole",
"G.I. Blues",
"Blue Hawaii",
"Girls! Girls! Girls!",
"Roustabout",
"Paradise, Hawaiian
Style", and
"Easy Come, Easy Go". He was
nominated twenty-three times for an
Academy Award, winning in 1956 for "The
Rose Tattoo".
Art director Walter H. Tyler, who teamed
with Hal Pereira on all the same Elvis
movies except
"King Creole" and
"Loving
You", was nominated nine times for an
Academy Award, winning in 1951 for
"Samson and Delilah".
Robert R. Benton was set decorator for
"Fun in Acapulco" as well as the Elvis
films
"The Trouble with Girls",
"Easy
Come, Easy Go",
"Paradise, Hawaiian
Style"
and
"Roustabout". He was
nominated four times for an Academy
Award.
Sam Comer, teamed with Benton as a set
decorator on "Fun in Acapulco". He
worked as set decorator on the Elvis
films
"Paradise, Hawaiian Style",
"Roustabout",
"Girls! Girls! Girls!",
"Blue Hawaii",
"G.I. Blues" and
"King
Creole". His accolades include
twenty-six Academy Award nominations. He
won in 1956 for "The Rose Tattoo", in
1951 for both "Sunset Boulevard" and
"Samson and Delilah", an in 1946 for
"Frenchman's Creek".
Nellie Manley styled Elvis' hair in
"Fun
In Acapulco"
as well as
"King Creole",
"G.I. Blues",
"Blue Hawaii",
"Girls!
Girls! Girls!",
"Roustabout",
"Tickle
Me",
"Paradise Hawaiian Style", and
"Easy Come, Easy Go".
Wally Westmore was the makeup supervisor
for the Elvis films
"Loving You",
"King
Creole",
"G.I. Blues",
"Blue Hawaii",
"Girls! Girls! Girls!",
"Fun In
Acapulco",
"Roustabout",
"Paradise,
Hawaiian Style"
and
"Easy Come, Easy
Go".
Eight-time Academy Award winner Edith
Head was costume designer for "Fun in
Acapulco" as well as the Elvis films
"Loving You", "King Creole", "G.I.
Blues", "Blue Hawaii", Girls! Girls!
Girls!", "Roustabout", "Paradise
Hawaiian Style" and "Easy Come, Easy
Go". She was nominated thirty-four times
for an Academy Award. She won in 1950
for "The Heiress", in 1951 for both
"Samson and Delilah" and "All About
Eve", in 1952 for "A Place in The Sun",
in 1954 for "Roman Holiday", in 1955 for
"Sabrina", in 1961 for "The Facts of
Life" and in 1974 for "The Sting".
"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".
Bob Harvey, who played a waiter in
the movie, became a regular fixture in
various 60's beach movies including
"Beach Party", "Bikini Beach", "Pajama
Party", "Beach Blanket Bingo", "How To
Stuff A Wild Bikini" and "Ghost In the
Invisible Bikini".
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Fun In Acapulco FTD CD |
Soundtrack
- Fun In Acapulco
- Vino Dinero Y Amor
- Mexico
- El Toro
- Marguerita
- The Bullfighter Was A Lady
- (Theres) No Room To Rhumba In A Sports
Car
- I Think Im Gonna Like It Here
- Bossa Nova Baby
Recorded at:
Radio
Recorders Studios, 7000, Santa Monica
Boulevard, Hollywood. January 1963
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore,
Tiny Timbrell, Barney Kessel (guitars),
Ray Siegel (bass), D.J. Fontana, Hal
Blaine (drums), Emile Radocchia
(percussion), Dudley Brookes (piano),
Anthony Terran, Rudolph Loera
(trumpets), the Jordinaires and the
Amigos (vocals).
Elvis managed to inject a Spanish feel
to his vocals for these soundtrack
recordings accompanied by the Amigos. A
single "Bossa Nova Baby" reached number
eight in the charts.
Fun in Acapulco Paramount
1963
Directed: Richard
Thorpe
Writing Credits: Allan Weiss
Producer: Hal Wallis
Associate Producer: Paul Nathan
Assistant Director: Michael Moore
Hairstyle Supervision: Nellie Manley
Musical numbers staged by:
Charles O'Curran
Music scored and conducted by:
Joseph J. Lilley
Special photo effects by: Paul.k
Lapae
Art Direction: Hal Pereira and
Walter Tyle
Technical Advisor: Colonel Tom
Parker
Cast Overview
Elvis Presley .... Mike Windgren, Ursula
Andress .... Marguerita Dauphin, Elsa
C�rdenas .... Dolores Gomez, Paul Lukas
.... Maximillian Dauphin, Larry Domasin
.... Raoul Almeido, Alejandro Rey ....
Moreno, Robert Garricart.... Jose
Garcia, Teri Hope .... Janie Harkins
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