Many films featuring Elvis seemed rushed into existence, churned out without much care given to his abilities as either an actor or vocalist. Viva Las Vegas doesn’t deviate from this pattern, but it remains enjoyable, largely because of the rapport between Elvis and Ann Margret. Elvis portrays Lucky Jackson, a race car driver who holds down a job as a waiter in Las Vegas to finance a new engine for his vehicle.…

Elvis Presley films generally aren’t great. Of his thirty-one feature films, it’s hard to say more than a handful are genuinely enjoyable and worth watching. Still, even the weaker ones have their fans—not just those who love Elvis in general, but also people who appreciate the campiness and go along with it. However, completely dismissing Presley's contribution to cinema overlooks the few movies that actually stand …