Fun in Acapulco (1963)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writer:

Allan Weiss (writer)

Release Date:

27 November 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

Come With Elvis to Fabulous Acapulco!

Plot:

Mike works on a boat in Acapulco. When the bratty daughter of the boat owner gets him fired, Mike must find new work...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Acapulco Mexico | Elvis Presley

Cast

Elvis Presley	...	Mike Windgren
Ursula Andress	...	Marguerita Dauphin
Elsa Cárdenas	...	Dolores Gomez
Paul Lukas	...	Maximillian Dauphin
Larry Domasin	...	Raoul Almeido
Alejandro Rey	...	Moreno
Robert Carricart	...	Jose Garcia
Teri Hope	...	Janie Harkins
Marco López	...	Bullfighter (as Marco Antonio)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Alderette	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Salvador Baguez	...	Mr. Perez, Manager of La Perla (uncredited)
Loren Brown	...	1st Diver (uncredited)
Edward Colmans	...	Mr. Delgado, Manager of the Ambassado Club (uncredited)
Mike De Anda	...	Guard at La Perla (uncredited)
Robert De Anda	...	Bellboy (uncredited)
Luis De Urban	...	M.C. at the Hilton (uncredited)
Don Diamond	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Elly Enriquez	...	2nd Diver (uncredited)
Charles Evans	...	Mr Harkins (uncredited)
Stella Garcia	...	Señorita at Torito's (uncredited)
Martin Garralaga	...	Manager of the Tropicana Hotel (uncredited)
Teri Garr	...	Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Alex Giannini	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Genaro Gomez	...	Bullfighter (uncredited)
Stuart Gray	...	3rd Diver (uncredited)
Ralph Hanalei	...	5th Diver (uncredited)
Bob Harvey	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Tom Hernández	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Roberto Iglesias	...	Maitre D' and Waiter (uncredited)
John Indrisano	...	Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Carmelo Manto	...	Bullfighter (uncredited)
Howard McNear	...	Dr John Stevers (uncredited)
Alberto Monte	...	Bullfighter (uncredited)
Alberto Morin	...	Mr. Ramírez, Manager of the Hilton (uncredited)
Francisco Ortega	...	Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Adele Palacios	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Rachel Parra	...	Castanet Player (uncredited)
Linda Rand	...	2nd Girl (uncredited)
Richard Reeves	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
David Renard	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Linda Rivera	...	Señorita at the Telegraph Desk (uncredited)
Gene Simmons	...	Diver (uncredited)
Darlene Tompkins	...	Miss Stevers (uncredited)
Mary Treen	...	Mrs Stevers (uncredited)
Ronald Veto	...	4th Diver (uncredited)
Red West	...	Poolside Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Thorpe

Writing credits
Allan Weiss		(writer)

Produced by
Joseph H. Hazen	....	executive producer
Paul Nathan	....	associate producer
Hal B. Wallis	....	producer

Original Music by
Joseph J. Lilley

Cinematography by
Daniel L. Fapp

Film Editing by
Stanley E. Johnson

Art Direction by
Hal Pereira
Walter H. Tyler		(as Walter Tyler)

Set Decoration by
Robert R. Benton		(as Robert Benton)
Sam Comer

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Nellie Manley	....	hair stylist
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Richard Blaydon	....	production manager (uncredited)
William W. Gray	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael D. Moore	....	assistant director (as Michael Moore)
Michael D. Moore	....	second unit director (as Michael Moore)

Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Hugo Grenzbach	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography
Paul K. Lerpae	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Kim Kahana	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Irmin Roberts	....	photographer: second unit

Editorial Department
Warren Low	....	supervising editor

Music Department
The Four Amigos	....	vocal accompaniment
The Jordanaires	....	vocal accompaniment
Joseph J. Lilley	....	conductor
Charles O'Curran	....	stager: musical numbers
Gus Levene	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Richard Mueller	....	technicolor color consultant
Tom Parker	....	technical advisor (as Col. Tom Parker)

Production Companies

• Hal Wallis Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1967) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Viacom

Also Known As:

Vacation in Acapulco (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Hal Wallis Productions

Trivia:

Elvis Presley didn't film in Acapulco and stunt double was used.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Several times during the drive with Doloris, Elvis' body double is clearly visible.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mike Windgren: Hold it down. Everyone's asleep. Siesta.
Armando: It's too early for siesta.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Into the Night (1985/I)

Soundtrack:

Bossa Nova Baby

FUN IN ACAPULCO (Richard Thorpe, 1963) **

While the title itself promised little more than the fluff the film undoubtedly turned out to be, I was still let down by this Presley vehicle – given that it was helmed by the man behind one of his biggest successes and best films, JAILHOUSE ROCK (1957)!

The star plays an ex-trapeze artist with a guilt complex(!), while Mexico and Ursula Andress provide the scenery. The narrative involves Elvis befriending a resourceful kid who gets him singing jobs(!), plus a tedious subplot comprising the jealousy of both a lifeguard (Andress’ would-be boyfriend) and a lady bullfighter who has her eyes set on Presley. Paul Lukas turns up as Andress’ father, a deposed member of royalty now forced to performing chef’s duties – the image of him in an over-sized cap, coupled with his thick Hungarian accent, proves unintentionally hilarious…but his is a welcome presence, nonetheless.

Needless to say, Elvis sings a number of mostly forgettable songs during the course of the film: the best of these, unsurprisingly, is another Leiber/Stoller song – “Bossa Nova Baby”.