Viva Las Vegas (HD DVD)

Warner | 85 minutes | 1963 | Not Rated | Directed by: George Sidney |
HD DVD reviewed by: Fusion3600

Lucky Jackson (Elvis Presley) loves to drive fast and while he has been involved in some terrible accidents on the race track, he's always managed to survive. That is how he came to be known as Lucky, but his luck seems to be in short supply of late, as he can't afford to race. He has the skills to succeed and the courage to drive like few others would dare, but he lacks the cash to purchase an engine powerful enough to let him compete. He is offered a driving position by a rival racer, but Lucky turns it down and then his luck picks up once again. He strolls into a casino and wins enough to get his high end engine, but he gets more than that, as he gets smitten with the beautiful Rusty (Ann Margaret). He ends up losing his winnings and takes a job at the casino's hotel, just to get close to the object of his affection. But when his rival on the track proves to be a rival for Rusty's attention, can Lucky win both the race and the lady?

As with most of Elvis' movies, Viva Las Vegas is no great shakes. The story is thin and most of the performances are passable at best, so Elvis is the main draw. His work here is fine, but unremarkable and as usual, he shines the most during the musical numbers, of course. But in the case of Viva Las Vegas there is more than Elvis to be found, as the young, beyond hot Ann Margaret is on hand and she is so damn gorgeous here. She proves to be the show stealer, between her incredible looks and her great screen presence, which even Elvis can't compete with. This is an Elvis movie though, so the music is the driving force, but Viva Las Vegas doesn't rank with his best films in that department. Warner's HD-DVD offers a beautiful new transfer and a few supplements, so it is without a doubt the best version available. But unless you're an Elvis fan or you want to see Ann Margaret in high definition on a daily basis, Viva Las Vegas is best suited as a rental.

Viva Las Vegas is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a great visual presentation, one that is a sizable step up from previous editions. The print looks clean, with few instances of debris and overall clarity is impressive, especially when compared to most films made around the same time. I found detail to be above average in most scenes, with good depth, but don't expect pristine, crystal clear visuals here. The bright colors come across well, so hues are as vibrant as they should be, while contrast never wavers in the least. So we have a bright, clear visual effort that fans are sure to be thrilled with.

The included Dolby TrueHD 5.1 option is by no means a reference level track, but it does liven up the material and provide an active, natural audio experience. Some remixes force surround use or try to stretch thin soundtracks too much, but that doesn't happen here at all. The movie does have more life and presence than before, but the mix is careful to remain faithful to the source and enhance, never overdoing things. The music driven scenes sound the best of course, but even lower key sequences and dialogue seem to benefit from the new mix. This disc also includes a Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 option, the original mono soundtrack, French and Spanish language tracks, and subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.

Steve Pond, author of a book on Elvis' movie career, offers his audio comments and has some great information to share. He has a good knowledge of Elvis and his movies, so he is able to provide a lot of insight here. Pond gives background on the cast and crew, as well as production details and plenty of Elvis comments. This disc also includes a twenty minute retrospective featurette, as well as the film's theatrical trailer.