Review #946: It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)

Title: It Happened at the World's Fair
Year: 1963
Director: Norman Taurog
Country: US
Language: English

It Happened at the World's Fair features iconic actor Kurt Russell (The Thing) in his silver screen debut. He plays the boy who kicks Elvis Presley's shins. Many years later in an interview Russell recalls that he really didn't want to hurt The King, as he was such a big fan, but he was paid $5 by Elvis himself to do it. Russell would go on to play Elvis twice; in Forrest Gump (1994) and the TV movie Elvis (1979). 

Mike (Elvis Presley) and Danny (Gary Lockwood) fly a crop duster, but because of Danny's gambling debts, a local sheriff seizes it. Trying to earn money, they hitch-hike to the World's Fair in Seattle. While Danny tries to earn money playing poker, Mike takes care of a small girl, Sue-Lin, whose Uncle Walter has disappeared.

The Pacific Northwest provided a different kind of scenic backdrop from previous Presley films. The rural shots featured Mount Rainier, a peak in the Cascades south of Seattle. At the time setting a film in Seattle's World Fair was dubious as the fair had been long gone; it certainly would not have helped at the box office. Overall the picture made a decent amount, perhaps because Elvis at the movies was still a little bit of a novelty. 

The story for this film is a bit thin, but the runtime is helped greatly by Elvis' TEN musical numbers. This many songs became the standard for later pictures of his, but here there is no attempt to tie Presley's songs with the story. Rather, they interrupt a nice flow and have the King burst into song for no apparent reason just a few minutes after his previous burst. 

It Happened at the World's Fair is pretty nauseating even for hardcore fans of movie musicals and/or Elvis pictures. I would recommending skipping this one and listening to an hour of his better songs instead. There isn't much to see here; ultimately it's bland and forgettable.