FILMING AMIDST FALSE ALLEGATIONS ON RACE In a scene from the movie with Ursula Andress as Margarita Dauphin and Alejandro Rey as Moreno. MOVIE DIRECTORY FUN IN ACAPULCO CONTINUES It's wrong how certain elements of our world choose to create racism where it does not exist. As a result, not only does it turn people inside out, but it turns nations against one another as well. In 1957, SEPIA MAGAZINE printed a blatant lie which accused Elvis of saying, “The only thing Negroes can do for me is buy my records, and shine my shoes.” "THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER: THE BETRAYAL OF ELVIS PRESLEY" (Preface page iii and Chapter 6 page 195) MOVIE TRAILER FILMING AMIDST FALSE ALLEGATIONS ON RACE (CONTINUED) FUN IN ACAPULCO NARCISSISM On Tuesday, February 19, 1957, a newspaper called the "EXCELSIOR" published a false article by gossip columnist Frederico de Leon which stated that Elvis was interviewed in Tijuana. This article's lie stated how Elvis claimed he didn't want to go to Mexico because he found it a distasteful country, adding that he would prefer to kiss three Negro (it was 1957) women than a single Mexican woman, a quote which never came out of Elvis's mouth. Another riot occurred during the opening of "G. I. BLUES." This violent incident consisted of the public burning of Elvis’s records in the El Zocalo town square by a student group called, Federación Estudiantil Universitaria (FEU). PREVIOUS Consequently, the violence caused all of Elvis's songs to be banned from airplay, his records banned from record stores, and movies banned from the country as well. This worked in the government's favor which labeled Elvis's music and style as vulgar. Adding fuel to the fire, Mexican reporters labeled Elvis as being a racist and a homosexual. They suggested how Elvis’s hip-wiggling and mannerisms proved he was homosexual or a woman in reverse drag. This false rumor split the attitudes about Elvis among Mexican youth, resulting in riot violence at the 'Las Americas' cinema in Mexico City. This riot occurred during the opening of "KING CREOLE," where a large number of young people had already gathered hours before the screening was scheduled to begin. More than 600 of these rioters entered the theater without paying. Many began yelling and shouting insults and disturbing others, especially the young ladies present. Oddly, the showing of the film started in the middle of the chaos which included the throwing of seats and running through the theater as if it were on fire. In an attempt to calm the crowd, the theater stopped the film, but the rioting didn't cease until the police came on the scene and threw everyone out. Approximately 100 people were jailed that day due to a media lie. In other Mexican cities, Rock 'N' Roll music was described unfavorably and was an act against the traditions of the Mexican family. The Mexican government persuaded the National Institute of Fine Arts to organize a list of "suitable songs." This list was then given to all radio broadcasters throughout the country, making sure they understood they were not allowed to play any songs, not on the list. NARCISSISM FUN IN ACAPULCO WORKING TITLE Unfortunately, it took decades to bring the truth to light. The false Mexican stories came from one of Mexico City's highly influential politicians named Ernesto Peralta Uruchurtu. Uruchurtu wanted Elvis to appear at some powerful media mogul's daughter's fifteenth birthday party. Uruchurtu sent a blank check to Elvis's Los Angeles office in early 1957. Elvis's office did not accept the check (and who knows if Elvis was even made aware of the grand fifteen-year-old's event). Foolishly, the mogul had been boasting publicly that Elvis was going to appear at his daughter's birthday party. Uruchurtu got his panties all in a bunch and had to save face, so he sought revenge against Elvis by creating the FALSE racial quote and FAKE damaging rumors. (For more information, click here to read "ELVIS REFRIED: THE RISE OF THE MEXICAN COUNTERCULTURE" by Eric Zolov and "REY CRIOLLO" by Parménides García Saldaña.) PREVIOUS A POLITICIAN'S NARCISTIC SENSE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE WORKING TITLE FUN IN ACAPULCO LOCATION NARCISSISM Before the film became "FUN IN ACAPULCO" the working title was "VACATION IN ACAPULCO." Scene from "FUN IN ACAPULCO." LOCATION FUN IN ACAPULCO BOX OFFICE When the filming of "FUN IN ACAPULCO" began, Elvis was unable to travel to Mexico because he had been declared "persona non grata" (meaning an unacceptable or unwelcome person). So during exterior filming in early January 1963, every other crew member was able to be in various places in Acapulco and a stunt double had to be used for Elvis. Elvis's shots were later completed in March 1963 at the Paramount studios in Hollywood. WORKING TITLE BOX OFFICE Scene from "FUN IN ACAPULCO." FUN IN ACAPULCO MORE RELEASE DATES LOCATION "FUN IN ACAPULCO" was released by Paramount Pictures on Wednesday, November 27, 1963. Even though it had been banned in Mexico, the United States box office grossed $1.5 million, which is equivalent to $12,852,336 in 2021. MORE RELEASE DATES FUN IN ACAPULCO CAST Paramount Pictures released the film on Wednesday, November 27, 1963. It grossed $1.5 million at the box office in the United States. BOX OFFICE Other Release Dates Austria December 1963 United Kingdom Australia West Germany Sweden Colombia Finland Italy France December 12, 1963 Denmark Japan Argentina Venezuela Spain (Madrid) Turkey (TV premiere) December 13, 1963 December 20, 1963 December 21, 1963 1964 January 24, 1964 January 24, 1964 February 19, 1964 March 16, 1964 March 21, 1964 April 3, 1964 May 13, 1964 July 27, 1964 September 21, 1985 (Never released in Mexican Theaters) CAST FUN IN ACAPULCO MORE RELEASE DATES PLOT NEXT Elvis Presley as Mike Windgren Ursula Andress as Margarita Dauphin Elsa Cárdenas as Dolores Gomez Paul Lukas as Maximilian Dauphin Larry Domasin as Raoul Almeido Robert Garricart as Jose Garcia Alejandro Rey as Moreno Genaro Gomez as Bullfighter Teri Hope as Janie Harkins In a scene with Dolores Gomez played by Elsa Cárdenas. FUN IN ACAPULCO PLOT CAST BACK TO MOVIE DIRECTORY Mike Windgren (played by Elvis Presley) looks for work after being fired. Raoul Almeido (played by Larry Domasin), a street smart kid helps Mike land a job as a lifeguard and singer at a local hotel. A rival lifeguard and champion diver, Moreno (played by Alejandro Rey), becomes angry at Mike for stealing his hours at work and jealous because Mike has stolen his girlfriend’s heart, Margarita Dauphin's (played by Ursula Andress). In a publicity still with co-stars Ursual Andress and Elsa Cárdenas. SOUNDTRACK SOUNDTRACK POSTER The music for the movie "Fun in Acapulco" consists of Elvis Presley performing a blend of pop and Latin-inspired tracks. This album, which was released by RCA Victor in November 1963, reached number three on the Billboard Top Pop Albums list. PLOT BACK TO MOVIE DIRECTORY