Fun In Acapulco
Shooting began January 28,1963 and completed mid-March.
Opened nationally November 27, 1963
Character: Mike Windgren
Producer: Hal B. Wallis
Director: Richard Thorpe
Plot:
Elvis stars as Mike Windgren, a former circus performer trying to escape his past. Mike's former career ended when his partner was seriously injured while performing on the high trapeze with him. He felt responsible for the accident. Traumatized by this, he has developed a fear of heights. He finds himself in Acapulco, where he gets hired as a lifeguard at a resort hotel. In the evenings, he moonlights as an entertainer for hotel guests. He soon becomes involved with the daughter of the Hotel chef, who is herself the hotel social director. He also shares his attentions with a lady bullfighter. He soon learns he is rivaled for their affections by another hotel lifeguard. This rival learns of his past afflictions and encourages him to tempt fate with cliff diving. He soon finds this to help him to overcome his fears and his love for Marguerita.
Songs:
"Fun In Acapulco"-Sung over the opening credits.
"Vino, Dinero y Amor"-Sung in Torito's with the Four Amigos.
"I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here"-sung in Torito's with the Four Amigos.
"Mexico"-Sung in duet with Larry Damasin while riding on a bicycle.
"El Toro"-Sung in the Chapultepec Room of the Acapulco Hilton.
"Marguerita"-Sung at La Perla.
"the Bullfighter Was a Lady"-Sung in the Chapultepec Room of the Acapulco Hilton.
"(There's) No Room To Rhumba in a Sports Car"-Sung in a sports car with Elsa Cardenas.
"Bossa Nova Baby"-sung at the Tropicana Hotel.
"You Can't Say No in Acapulco"-Sung at poolside at the Acapulco Hilton.
"Guadalajara"-Sung after making the dive at La Perla.
"Malaguena" was scheduled for the film, but not used in the final product.
Cast:
| Mike
Windgren - Elvis Presley
Marguerita Dauphin - Ursula Andress Delores Gomez - Elsa Cardenas Maximillian Dauphin - Paul Lukas Raoul Almeido - Larry Domasin Moreno - Alejandro Rey Jose Garcia - Robert Carricart Janie Harkins - Teri Hope Mariachi Los Vaqueros - Themselves Mariachi Aguila - Themselves Dr. John Stevers - Howard McNear Mr. Ramirez, Manager of the Hilton - Alberto Morin Mrs. Stevers - Mary Treen Mr. Perez, Manager of La Perla - Salvador Baguez Mr. Delgado, Manager of the Ambassador - Edward Colmans Mr. Harkins - Charles Evans Guard - Mike Deanda Manager of the Tropicana Hotel - Martin Garralaga Senorita at Torito's - Stella Garcia Photographer - Tom Hernandez Desk Clerk - Francisco Ortega Senorita at the Telegraph Desk - Linda Rivera |
Waiter
- Donald A. Diamond
Secretary - Adele Palacios 1st Girl - Darlene Tomkins Bellboy - Robert De Anda Maitre D' and Waiter - Robert Iglesias Taxi Driver - Robert M. Alderette Bullfighter - Marco Antonio Master of Ceremonies at the Hilton - Luis De Urban Bullfighter - Carmelo Manto Bullfighter - Alberto Monte 2nd Girl - Linda Rand Photographer - David Renard Waiter - Bob Harvey Guest - John Indrisano 1st Diver - Loren Brown 2nd Diver - Elly C. Enriguez 3rd Diver - Stuart Gray 4th Diver - Ronald Veto 5th Diver - Ralph Hanalei Bartender - Alex Giannini Castanet Player - Rachel Parra Diver - George Simmons Poolside Guest - Red West |
Production Notes:
Although several locations were photographed in Acapulco, Elvis did not travel to the city. All of his shots wee shot on the Paramount lot in Hollywood.
The soundtrack album of Fun In Acapulco had thirteen songs, it was Elvis's thirteenth film, and there are thirteen letters in the film's title.
Vacation in Acapulco was first considered as the film's title.
Paramount created passports as a promotional gimmick to use during the promotion of the film and a passport was shown on movie posters for the film.
The Beatles went to see Fun in Acapulco at a drive-in theater in Miami on February 18, 1964, during their first American tour.
Elvis chose to participate in some of his own stunts in this film. In the opening scene, Elvis's Character is performing as an aerialist in the circus. His character is to swing from a high trapeze without a net, 20 feet above the circus floor, and accidentally miss his partner, who plummets to the floor. Every precaution was taken to protect Elvis, but Hal Wallis was still nervous with him doing the stunt himself. As an added precaution, the stunt was scheduled to be done during the last days of filming and when all of his other scenes were completed. Elvis performed the stunt with incident. He did not do the high dive stunt off the cliff.
Fun in Acapulco reached #5 on Variety's weekly top-grossing films list. For the year 1963, it ranked #33, grossing more than $1.5 million for the last six weeks of that year.
Trivia:
Mike Windgren met Dolores Gomez in Torito's.
The Chapultepec Room was the cabaret at the Acapulco Hilton where Mike replaced El Trovador as the featured singer.
During Elvis's singing of "You Can't Say No in Acapulco," Red West could be seen at a poolside table.
Mike and his parents formed a trapeze act know as the Flying Windgrens. He quit after causing his partner to be seriously injured.
Mike's nickname for Marguerita was Princess.