Viva Las Vegas: The Movie with Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley and Their Unforgettable Connection

Outside of Elvis Presley’s immediate family, Ann-Margret held a uniquely significant place in the King’s life. Starring opposite Elvis in the 1963 musical hit Viva Las Vegas, she became the most memorable of Presley’s leading ladies throughout his Hollywood career. The profound personal relationship they shared through the years offers a poignant and compelling chapter in Presley’s life story, which concluded tragically in 1977. Their collaboration on the movie with Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley remains a highlight for fans and a focal point of fascination regarding their off-screen chemistry.

The initial encounter between the Swedish-born actress and the music icon took place in early July 1963 on a soundstage at Radio Recorders studios in Hollywood. They were formally introduced to the press and each other as the stars of MGM’s forthcoming film, Viva Las Vegas. At 28, Presley was starring in his 14th film, while the 22-year-old Ann-Margret was on the cusp of a major career breakthrough. Her previous film, Bye Bye Birdie, released just three months prior, had already catapulted her to stardom. Dick Van Dyke, a co-star in Birdie, famously quipped that a more fitting title would have been The Ann-Margret Story.

Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret meet for the first time on the Viva Las Vegas soundstage.

In her 1994 autobiography, Ann-Margret recounted this first meeting with Elvis Presley:

“Except for a piano, the MGM soundstage where Elvis and I met was empty. In the background, a few of his guys hung around observing their boss, a ritual I would soon come to expect. Under the watchful gaze of director George Sidney, a studio photographer snapped shots of what the film company executives figured would be a historic moment.

“‘Elvis Presley, I’d like you to meet a wonderful young lady, Ann-Margret,’ said George Sidney. ‘Ann-Margret, this is Elvis Presley.’ The significance was lost on Elvis and me. I reached out my hand and he shook it gently. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you,’ we said at the same time, which made us laugh and broke the ice.”

This meeting marked the beginning of both their professional collaboration and a deep personal connection. Ann-Margret reflected, “I’m not really sure why I was so calm about meeting ‘the King.’ After all, this was Elvis, a man who had captured the heart of almost every woman in America. Little did I know he would soon capture mine.”

Filming Viva Las Vegas and the Developing Spark

Before production could fully commence, Elvis and Ann-Margret headed to the recording studio to lay down the film’s musical tracks. On July 9th and 10th, 1963, they each recorded their individual songs at Radio Recorders. The following day, July 11th, they entered the studio together to record three duets: “The Lady Loves Me,” “You’re the Boss,” and “Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.” These recording sessions allowed their musical chemistry to blossom early in their collaboration.

Three days later, the cast and crew relocated to Las Vegas, checking into the Sahara Hotel. Filming in the city itself began on July 15th and continued until July 26th. Following a weekend return to Los Angeles, shooting resumed at MGM studios and lasted through August into the first week of September.

Ann-Margret sensed early on that their partnership was creating something special on screen. She believed the producers intentionally paired them, hoping the chemistry between their characters, Lucky Jackson and Rusty Martin, would enhance the fast-paced musical narrative. While they might have initially attributed any “heat” to the desert sun, others observed sparks from the very beginning. An Associated Press correspondent noted, “They hold hands. They disappear into his dressing room between shots. They lunch together in seclusion.” The connection was becoming evident to everyone involved.

Ann-Margret emphasized how the inherent energy of the music in Viva Las Vegas drew them together instantly:

“We experienced music in the same visceral way. Music ignited a fiery pent-up passion inside Elvis and inside me. It was an odd, embarrassing, funny, inspiring, and wonderful sensation. We looked at each other move and saw virtual mirror images. When Elvis thrust his pelvis, mine slammed forward too. When his shoulder dropped, I was down there with him. When he whirled, I was already on my heel.”

Beyond the Set: A Deeper Connection Forms

As they spent more time together working on the ann margret and elvis viva las vegas production, Ann-Margret noted the many commonalities she and Elvis discovered. Beyond their shared passion for music and performance, they found mutual ground in their love for motorcycles, deep family bonds, a strong desire for privacy away from the spotlight, a shared devotion to faith, and a penchant for long, late-night conversations.

Early in the filming process, Elvis invited her to join him and his group, often referred to as the “Memphis Mafia,” for a show in Las Vegas. Ann-Margret described it as “an innocent, friendly date.” Coming from a background where her parents often accompanied her on dates, she found Elvis’s entourage easy to be around, recalling, “His guys always treated me wonderfully.”

Elvis and Ann-Margret display their undeniable chemistry during a musical number in Viva Las Vegas.

Ann-Margret’s comfort and genuine warmth also resonated with Elvis’s inner circle. His cousin, Billy Smith, noted, “She made his life a little easier because she understood him and didn’t make any demands on him. She even understood his need for us. Priscilla never understood that.” Marty Lacker, another close friend, added, “Ann genuinely liked people, and she liked every one of us. She wasn’t intimidated or threatened by us. I think she also respected us. We used to have a lot of fun with her. She had a terrific sense of humor. We called her ‘Rusty’ because that was her name in the movie and because of her red hair.”

As their bond deepened, Elvis and Ann-Margret began seeking out more private moments together. Ann-Margret recognized a shift, saying, “I knew I’d crossed into a certain uncharted territory when Elvis asked to be alone with me, but later the frequency with which it happened made me happy. It meant Elvis truly trusted me.”

During this private time, Ann-Margret felt Elvis opened up to her in a way he hadn’t with others, allowing her to feel she understood his heart intimately.

“Like everyone else, Elvis had dreams and desires, hopes and hurts, wants and weaknesses. He didn’t reveal this vulnerable side until everyone had disappeared, until those private moments when we were alone, after darkness had blanketed the city and we’d parked somewhere up in the hills and could look down upon the sprawl of L.A. or up at the stars.”

Behind-the-Scenes Challenges: Egos and Controversy

The only significant point of tension during the Viva Las Vegas production related to their professional status and, perhaps, egos. Ann-Margret admitted to having an ego, and Elvis’s was certainly well-known. A notable issue arose concerning perceived favoritism shown by director George Sidney towards Ann-Margret during filming. Several members of Elvis’s entourage, including Red West, Lamar Fike, Joe Esposito, and Sonny West, later claimed Sidney deliberately gave Ann-Margret more favorable camera angles, seemingly at Elvis’s expense.

Red West recounted that after viewing the daily rushes, Elvis would “complain bitterly to us that the sonofabitch was trying to cut him out of the picture.” These complaints were reportedly relayed to Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s formidable manager, who took the issue up with the studio. According to biographer Peter Guralnick, Parker confronted the producers, adamantly reminding them that this was fundamentally an “Elvis Presley picture.” He was unconvinced by MGM’s argument that featuring Ann-Margret prominently would broaden the film’s audience appeal. Guralnick even suggested that Parker used his considerable influence to have two of the three duets recorded by the co-stars cut from the final film.

However, a viewing of the completed movie with Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley reveals that Elvis clearly receives the most musical exposure, performing six solo numbers compared to Ann-Margret’s two. While her impressive talents as a dancer were naturally highlighted, the finished product remains unequivocally an Elvis Presley vehicle, with Ann-Margret shining brightly as a strong and captivating leading lady. None of Elvis’s friends who raised the camera angle issue placed blame on Ann-Margret herself, and she did not address this specific controversy in her autobiography.

A candid moment captured during the filming of Viva Las Vegas, showing the ease between Elvis and Ann-Margret.

If there was any professional jealousy from Elvis regarding the camera angles, it apparently did not spill over into his personal relationship with Ann-Margret. By nearly all accounts from those around them, their connection quickly escalated into a genuine and passionate love affair. Lamar Fike stated, “Elvis’ affair with Ann-Margret was not just an affair. He was really in love with her. It got hot and heavy.” Marty Lacker echoed this sentiment, adding, “Neither one of them was married, and they really cared a lot about each other… and Priscilla was back at Graceland.” Ann-Margret’s own account in her book is more understated regarding the romantic details, focusing instead on shared adventures like motorcycle rides and the foundation of their deep friendship.

The Relationship Continues Beyond Filming

It’s clear their intimate relationship persisted well after filming wrapped on Viva Las Vegas. Jerry Schilling, a close friend of Elvis, wrote in his book that he witnessed Ann-Margret entering Elvis’s California home late one night in the fall of 1964, using her own key to go directly to his bedroom. Marty Lacker revealed that, “She used to write him letters and sign them ‘Bunny’ or ‘Thumper.’ And she’d call Graceland and use the same code.” Ann-Margret herself subtly confirmed the depth of their bond, admitting in her book that, “Elvis knew I loved pink and had commissioned a round, pink bed in a moment of tenderness.”

Elvis and Ann-Margret in a promotional shot for Viva Las Vegas.

The Inevitable End and Lasting Friendship

Despite the intensity of their connection, Ann-Margret felt a sense of inevitability that their love affair would eventually come to an end. She explained this poignant realization in her autobiography:

“There were other factors in Elvis’s life that forced him apart from me, and I understood them. Elvis had always been honest with me, but still it was a confusing situation. We continued to see each other periodically, until we had dated for almost a year. Then everything halted. We knew the relationship had to end, that Elvis had to fulfill his commitment.”

That significant commitment was his impending marriage to Priscilla Beaulieu, which took place in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967. Just one week later, Ann-Margret also made a marital commitment, marrying actor Roger Smith in the very same city.

For the remaining decade of Elvis’s life, he and Ann-Margret maintained a close, loyal, and enduring friendship. When Ann-Margret made her debut on the Las Vegas stage in June 1967, Elvis sent her a distinctive guitar-shaped floral arrangement. This thoughtful gesture became a tradition he continued for all of her Las Vegas opening nights for the rest of his life. Lamar Fike recalled seeing Ann-Margret in the audience when Elvis opened at the International Hotel on July 31, 1969. Throughout the 1970s, they would attend each other’s shows when their schedules allowed, sharing visits afterward. Their mutual respect and affection never waned, a testament to their unique bond.

The 1970s brought struggles for both stars, particularly concerning substance dependencies. While Elvis famously battled addiction to prescription medications, Ann-Margret courageously fought alcohol addiction. She openly shared her experience, stating, “I reached a point where my days and nights blended into one continuous, foggy state of inebriation. I’d drink a fifth of scotch, pass out, wake up, drink some more, and pass out again. I suffered periods that I couldn’t remember.”

Ann-Margret ultimately overcame her addiction, a victory Elvis sadly did not achieve. In early 1977, amidst rumors of Elvis’s declining health, Ann-Margret sought information from Joe Esposito when he attended her show at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. Despite her concerns, Esposito attempted to reassure her, saying, “Don’t worry. Everything’s fine. There’re a few problems, but we’re taking care of them.”

Ann-Margret’s Loyalty After Elvis

When Ann-Margret opened at the Hilton on August 15, 1977, for the first time in a decade, the familiar guitar-shaped floral arrangement or telegram from Elvis was conspicuously absent. The following morning, a phone call from Graceland delivered the devastating news of Elvis’s death. Joe Esposito, conveying the chaotic scene anticipated in Memphis for the funeral, advised her against traveling. Ann-Margret’s response was resolute: “We’re coming.” Upon arriving at Graceland, she shared a tearful embrace with Elvis’s father, Vernon Presley. She recalled the moment: “There was so much to say, to recount, but instead, we cried.” Vernon softly told her, “He was so proud of you.”

Three months later, Vernon Presley and Colonel Parker asked Ann-Margret to host a two-hour NBC tribute to Elvis, titled Memories of Elvis. She described it as one of the most “difficult, wrenching jobs” she had ever undertaken, a testament to her enduring grief and affection.

In early 1979, learning of Vernon Presley’s serious illness, Ann-Margret flew to Memphis to visit him. She recounted their time together, saying, “We had a good visit, laughing and crying and trading stories. He told me how much he missed his son, and I said that I missed him, too.” She continued to offer comfort by calling Vernon occasionally during the months leading up to his death on June 26, 1979. Ann-Margret’s actions demonstrated a loyalty that extended even to Elvis’s family after his passing.

Marty Lacker, one of Elvis’s best men at his wedding to Priscilla, once mused, “If Elvis had ended up with Thumper [Ann-Margret’s nickname], this whole story might have wound up differently.” Could Ann-Margret have provided the stability and understanding Elvis needed to overcome his challenges? It remains a compelling, albeit unanswerable, question. Even at the peak of their passionate connection, both Elvis and Ann-Margret seemed to understand that their story, as a romantic couple, was not destined for a lasting public future, bound by circumstances and prior commitments. Their legacy lives on, forever intertwined by the magic of Viva Las Vegas and the undeniable bond they shared.