Elvis Presley was famous for his amazing hip movements, but Ursula Andress, who had just starred in Dr. No, really raised the bar in Fun in Acapulco. Their on-screen chemistry was super strong, but what went on behind the scenes? You might be shocked by the answer!
Top-grossing movie musical of 1963
Elvis Presley always knew how to bring the fun, and Fun in Acapulco is a perfect example of that. With his amazing dance moves and stunning looks, he was like a living piece of art—kind of like a statue that could sing! Plus, when you add Ursula Andress, the famous Bond girl, it creates a mix of talent and chemistry that you just can’t miss.
Sure, it’s your usual beach musical, but Elvis really makes it sparkle with his fantastic voice and those catchy songs, like “Bossa Nova Baby,” which even made it to Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the highest-grossing movie musical of 1963, and it came out right after the sad news of JFK’s assassination.
Even though the script was somewhat simple, Elvis’ charisma and his amazing voice turned it into a film you just have to watch. If you check out this classic movie now, you’ll notice so many things you might have missed before. There are lots of interesting facts and funny mistakes that most people didn’t catch when it first came out. But honestly, you can’t talk about Fun in Acapulco without bringing up the incredible chemistry between the main characters. So, let’s dive into that first…
Ursula Andress had her eyes set on Elvis
In 1963, Ursula Andress was considered the most attractive woman in the world after her big role in Dr. No. In the movie Fun in Acapulco, she played Marguerita Dauphin, the social director at a hotel who had a crush on Elvis’ character, Mike.
At first, Ursula kept her distance from Elvis Presley because of some not-so-nice stories in the tabloids, but as they continued filming, their chemistry really started to develop. Ursula later shared how amazed she was when she first met Elvis, feeling completely in awe of his incredible presence.
“I only knew him from TV, this new idol, this cool guy with a guitar. On my first day at work, he came over, and he was such a humble man, full of charm and kindness. I was really surprised,” she recalled.
Usually, it was Elvis who would charm his co-stars, but according to his friend Sonny West from the Memphis Mafia, this time it was different. West mentioned, “They were really close. She went after him. She wanted him a lot.”
Did Elvis fall in love with Ursula Andress?
Rumors about a love story between Ursula and Elvis started flying around right away, and it was clear that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll thought his beautiful co-star was something special.
However, sources close to Elvis said that “nothing happened” between them. In reality, it seemed like Elvis wasn’t really that taken by Ursula’s appearance.
Elvis might seem like he would be interested in Ursula since she used to date James Dean, but maybe he had gotten over that. However, Alan Fortas, one of Elvis’ close friends from the Memphis Mafia, mentioned that Elvis was actually curious about her because of her link to James Dean.
Even so, Elvis didn’t pursue her, saying she was too broad-shouldered for his liking — definitely not the small and delicate type he usually preferred.
Elvis had a rule when it came to relationships
Elvis might have made those comments about Ursula’s broad shoulders as a way to protect himself. He was probably trying really hard to steer clear of any romantic feelings for the Swiss beauty, especially since he wanted to get back together with his first love, Priscilla Presley.
In fact, Elvis was so anxious about Ursula’s appeal that he made sure his friends were always around him when she was nearby. When his buddy Alan Fortas joked about a possible romance, Elvis quickly replied, “No way, man! Not with John Derek hanging around. I’d be crazy to start talking to her with him watching me like a hawk. You know he gave her a car with ‘Baby, you’re indispensable’ written on the steering wheel. He’s totally in love with her. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Elvis had a personal rule about dating: he never went after married women. His friend from the Memphis Mafia, Sonny West, remembered, “Elvis always told us not to leave him alone with her.” This rule definitely helped keep things professional between Elvis and Ursula, even if there was some chemistry between them.
What did Priscilla say?
In Priscilla Presley’s book, Elvis and Me, she shared Elvis’s thoughts about Ursula Andress and how he felt about her. Priscilla mentioned that Elvis believed Ursula had a “manly body” with no curves and shoulders wider than his own.
“I felt awkward taking my shirt off next to her,” Elvis admitted.
“I was shocked by how Elvis described Ursula Andress, the stunning star from Dr. No. ‘Wasn’t she beautiful?’ I asked. ‘Beautiful?’ he laughed. ‘No way! Her bone structure was so sharp, it could slice you in half if you moved too quickly,’ Priscilla recounted.
Wasn’t allowed to be too sexy
Ursula Andress was known as the ultimate sex symbol for being the first Bond girl in Dr. No, but in Fun in Acapulco, things were much more modest for Elvis’ younger fans.
Ursula wasn’t happy about this either. She said, “They wouldn’t let me wear a real bikini and made me wear a ruffled cover-up instead. They even added a hair ribbon, thinking it would make the innocent little girls in Elvis’ audiences happy.”
Elvis Presley didn’t film in Acapulco
I was surprised to learn that Elvis never actually shot Fun in Acapulco in Acapulco! Instead, they used a stunt double named Raul Garcia for all the outdoor scenes because Elvis wasn’t even allowed in Mexico. The Mexican government had declared him persona non grata, and by 1963, many people still believed the rumor that he had insulted the country. Even Hollywood columnist Sheilah Graham wrote in December 1962 that “Elvis Presley made some negative comments about Mexican women in a fan magazine article about two years ago. In Mexico, they are only just now getting around to forgiving him.”
But the truth is, Elvis never said anything like that! The rumor seems to have started with a politician who was angry because Elvis wouldn’t perform a private concert for his daughter and her friends. Despite that, Elvis had already been on Mexico’s bad side for a long time.
Back in 1957, Mexico’s Education Minister banned him from performing in any government-owned places, saying that his rock ’n’ roll music “lacks aesthetic values and is very inappropriate.” A month later, a Hollywood columnist reported that “Elvis Presley was offered $12,000 for a TV performance in Mexico City but turned it down because he was too busy making movies in Hollywood.”
With all the drama surrounding him, filming in Mexico was never going to happen. Elvis’s huge fame would have made it impossible for him to go unnoticed, and with all the bad press he had received, working secretly in Mexico was totally out of the question.
Elvis shot all of his scenes at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California.
Elvis was very uncomfortable in this outfit
According to the blog Deenas Days, Elvis wasn’t too thrilled about his outfit while filming the Marguerita song.
The scene is a timeless moment that highlights his amazing voice, showing us why he’s regarded as one of the best singers of all time. However, there’s a cool detail about his short-sleeved shirt that has inspired a lot of people since then.
Elvis thought the untucked, short-sleeved style was not something he would wear in real life. Unfortunately for him, he had to wear it because his double had already used that outfit in a previous shot.
On the bright side, he really liked most of his Latin-inspired costumes. He even asked to keep his flamenco-style outfit, which included a navy blue and red cummerbund, along with two black silk shirts.
Elvis learns what a Margarita is… kind of.
Did you catch that interesting detail about Marguerita? In the scene where Elvis Presley and Ursula Andress’s characters go to La Perla, they ask for two margaritas, but what they get doesn’t look like the classic drink at all!
When Maggie says, “Margarita, por favor,” Mike, not really getting it, asks, “He’s asking your name?” She giggles and clarifies, “No, silly, a margarita is a drink made with tequila.” Mike, always trying to be charming, responds, “Well, any drink named after you is good enough for me… two margaritas, please!”
It’s pretty surprising for today’s viewers to think Mike wouldn’t know what a margarita is. But what’s even more hilarious is how the drink looks in that scene. Instead of the usual lime-flavored cocktail, they’re served what seems like plain tequila in fancy glasses, with a salted rim and a straw. Definitely not the refreshing margarita we’re used to!
Cliff dives, trapeze tricks, and an awkward grab
Elvis Presley loved to entertain, but he knew when to draw the line—like when it came to jumping off a huge 136-foot cliff! In the movie Fun in Acapulco, it looked like The King bravely jumped into the ocean, but that risky dive was actually done by a stunt double. Still, Elvis was eager to get in on the action. He insisted on doing some of his own stunts, including swinging on a trapeze! They smartly decided to film that scene on the last day, just in case anything went sideways.
During the fun celebration after the dive, something really funny happened. After Elvis made his “awesome” jump, the crowd lifted him onto their shoulders, cheering loudly. But there was a tiny issue — one of the guys holding him got a bit too touchy. Elvis kept moving around awkwardly, which led to several retakes before the overly excited guy was quietly asked to step aside.
And here’s another cool thing: Even with all the splashing around, Elvis’ hair stayed perfectly styled the whole time. He dives in, swims around, climbs out, and not a single hair is out of place. Now that’s what you call movie magic!
Did you spot the familiar faces?
In “Fun in Acapulco,” three actors from earlier Elvis films pop up for quick cameos. Darlene Tompkins, who plays one of the young girls in a smoky bar, was also seen as Patsy, a teen that Elvis’ character helped out in “Blue Hawaii.”
Linda Rivera, who is at the hotel’s telegraph desk, had a small part as a squealing fan in “Loving You” back in 1957. Howard McNear made his third appearance in an Elvis movie as well.
Additionally, Teri Garr made her first appearance as an extra in “Fun in Acapulco.” She later went on to star in four more Elvis films before starting her own acting career. Unfortunately, Teri passed away in 2024 after fighting multiple sclerosis for over 20 years.
The truth behind the photo
Looking at behind-the-scenes photos of Elvis and Ursula from Fun in Acapulco is even more fascinating today, knowing what we do about their dynamic.
One photo really stood out to me—not because it shows anything about the gossip of an affair, but for a simple reason: Who else but Elvis would wear all black to the beach—long sleeves and long pants?! Only The King could pull off that style so effortlessly cool in the Mexican sun!
The last cinematic hurrah
Elvis Presley’s movie Fun in Acapulco was the last film he released before the huge wave of Beatlemania took over everywhere. The movie had a fun story, Elvis’s great personality, and some catchy songs that provided a nice break from all the changes happening in society.
As the 1960s progressed, things started to shift in the cultural scene. In a cool twist, The Beatles, who had just finished their first tour in America, decided to check out Fun in Acapulco at a drive-in theater in Florida. This moment shows how the entertainment world was changing.
If you love both Elvis and The Beatles, this time period is a great example of how two legendary artists from different backgrounds were coming together, even if they didn’t realize it. It also highlights how pop culture is always changing. So, when you watch Fun in Acapulco next time, remember it was more than just another Elvis film — it was the last big moment before everything transformed. Feel free to share your thoughts and keep the discussion alive!