It Happened at the World's Fair |  | Director: Norman Taurog
Actors: Elvis Presley, Joan O'Brien, Gary Lockwood, Vicky Tiu, H.M. Wynant
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $3.87
as of 2/9/2010 19:05 EST details
You Save: $11.11 (74%)
New (15) Used (14) Collectible (2) from $2.02
Seller: darkhorse_media
Rating:  58 reviews
Sales Rank: 31507
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 105 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: D65153D
ISBN: 0790745771
UPC: 012569515321
EAN: 9780790745770
ASIN: B00027JY8K
Theatrical Release Date: April 3, 1963
Release Date: August 3, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The novelty backdrop of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair lends wonderful space-age scenery to this Elvis vehicle. The King co-stars with a pre-2001 Gary Lockwood as freelance pilots stranded in Seattle, where Elvis spends more time babysitting a little kid than panting after ostensible love interest Joan O'Brien. There's more plot than usual for a Presley picture, which in this case is not a good thing, and the songs are pallid, save "One Broken Heart for Sale." The real kick is the futuristic look of the World's Fair, as personified by Seattle's Space Needle and Monorail (both of which serve as backdrops for EP songs). Just three years out of the Army, Elvis's persona is thoroughly square and tame, ruffled only by the occasional comic double-take. And yes indeed, that is little Kurt Russell, future star of Elvis, kicking the King in the shins in a couple of scenes. --Robert Horton
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 58
 Signature Collection February 8, 2010
Toppro (Ohio)
Very good price for the six videos in this collection. Viva Las Vegas is by far my all time favorite Elvis video. It is in regular format but the other videos are all in wide screen format. They are all entertaining movies. I would say Harem Scraem is the worst of the bunch. I had never seen it and wanted it in my collection but it's probably not one I will watch that often. I like the auto racing movies so speedway and spinout aren't too bad. Spinout is kinda wierd. When they finally get into the race, the idiot next door races better than Elvis and his rival who are supposed to be expert race car drivers. It's still a fairly entertaining race though. Not a bad buy if you get the collection for uner $20 like I did.
 Review of Elvis DVDs January 9, 2010
Philip H. Eatherington (Germany)
The DVEs tapes were bought as a Christmas present and am well satified witht the product. However shipping seemed to take quite a long time. That was probably because of the time of year [Christmas with all the extra mail etc.] The product did not get here until the middle of the first week in Jan.
Dvd's are much enjoyed! September 16, 2009
Michelle C. Cranford
I ordered these for my seven year old son who is a huge Elvis fan and we have definitely gotten our money's worth.
 "Hey, kid, how would you like to kick me in the shin?" August 17, 2009
H. Bala (Carson - hey, we have an IKEA store! - CA USA)
Never expecting too much from an Elvis Presley movie occasionally pays off. And sometimes all it takes to elevate a Presley flick is a switching up of venue or premise. Cases in point: the N'Awleans-set KING CREOLE, the straight-up westerns FLAMING STAR and CHARRO!, and the ghetto doctor drama CHANGE OF HABIT, which co-stars Mary Tyler Moore as a nun. And for some reason I find FOLLOW THAT DREAM to be a surprisingly engaging film. IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR happens to also fall on my list of preferred Elvis Presley screenings.
In his film career, Elvis longed to branch out to more demanding roles and be perceived as a serious actor. But he seldom landed those dramatic parts. IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR is regarded as one of his formulaic musical comedy romps, but it presents its own easy-going charm. The character in this film may not have been that challenging for Elvis to play, but I think this is one of the most likeable parts he's ever taken on.
There are several cool things about the picture. First, the story is set in the backdrop of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Director Norman Taurog actually shot the film on location, lending it an authenticity and a sort of fun, wide-eyed wonder feel. Sights like the Space Needle, the monorail, and the Dream Car exhibit are featured, and, let's not forget, most of the story takes place in a friggin' fair! Granted, there's probably a bit of imprinting that went down when I first saw this movie when I was a kid, because nowadays those sights don't come off near as neat. But I still like the atmosphere.
Freelance charter pilots Mike Edwards (Presley) and his chum Danny (Gary Lockwood) lose their crop-duster plane due to Danny's gambling debts, and they hitchhike to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. It's a skimpy story, bolstered by ten songs. The core of the plot has Mike taking in an abandoned seven-year-old girl and falling for an attractive but standoffish nurse (Joan O'Brien). And, somewhere along the way, a criminal element is introduced to spice things up, giving a reason for Elvis to engage in manly scuffle, the second one in this film. I'll say this for the King, he really throws himself into his fight scenes. It all ends with Elvis submitting his application to NASA (I kid you not!) and singing "Happy Ending."
Presley is fairly effortless in this one, his role well within the comforts of the cinematic niche he'd fallen into. He again does that thing where he's simultaneously a relentless skirt chaser and a good guy at heart. There are ten songs, most of which are bland. The ones I do like are the suggestive "Relax" (he croons to Yvonne Craig), the mild rocker "One Broken Heart for Sale," and the bouncy bedtime lullaby "Cotton Candy Land."
Elvis is particularly terrific and sweet when he's sharing screen time with young scene-stealer Vicky Tiu, who I think is the film's secret weapon. Vicky Tiu plays the waif Sue-Lin, and she brings a certain irrepressible energy and oodles of cuteness. For triviaheads out there, there's a sexy pre-Batgirl Yvonne Craig canoodling with Elvis, a pre-2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Gary Lockwood as the gambling addicted pal, and, last but not least, there is Kurt Russell's uncredited film debut (he's the kid who kicks Elvis in the shin - twice!).
3.5 out of 5 stars for IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. I like this movie enough that I choose to overlook the fact that Uncle Walter leaves his seven-year-old niece Sue-Lin in the care of a stranger he'd only met that same day. But then maybe he was aware that he was in an Elvis Presley vehicle, where all is sunshine, romance, and song. Ah-huh-huh!
Elvis at the Space Needle April 3, 2009
Scott Rivers (Los Angeles, CA USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
One of Elvis Presley's better musicals, "It Happened at the World's Fair" benefits from its Seattle locations, some decent songs (notably "One Broken Heart for Sale" and "They Remind Me Too Much of You") and a terrific fight scene. Elvis delivers a good-natured performance in this entertaining travelogue. Directed by Hollywood veteran Norman Taurog, the 1963 production was Presley's first post-Army assignment for MGM - followed by the dazzling "Viva Las Vegas."
Showing reviews 1-5 of 58
|
|
|
