Elvis Presley’s iconic hip movements were legendary, but Ursula Andress, fresh off her role in Dr. No, took things to a whole new level in Fun in Acapulco. The chemistry between them was undeniable, but what was going on behind the scenes? The answer may surprise you…
The highest-grossing musical film of 1963
Elvis Presley made everything fun, and Fun in Acapulco was no exception. With his smooth moves and stunning looks, he was simply a living, breathing work of art — like a marble statue that could sing. Add Ursula Andress, the iconic Bond girl, to the mix, and you have a combination of talent and chemistry that is impossible to ignore.
Sure, it’s a typical beach musical, but Elvis makes it shine with his incredible voice and memorable tunes like ‘Bossa Nova Baby,’ which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the highest-grossing musical film of 1963, and believe it or not, it was released right after the heartbreaking news of Kennedy’s assassination.
The script may have been a little corny, but Elvis’ charm and unforgettable voice made the film a must-see. Watching this cult classic today, you can’t help but see it in a whole new light. There are many forgotten facts and funny bloopers that most moviegoers didn’t even notice at the time. But let’s be realistic — it would be impossible to talk about Fun in Acapulco without mentioning the undeniable chemistry between the main characters. So, let’s start with that…
Ursula Andress had her eye on Elvis
In 1963, Ursula Andress was the sexiest woman on the planet, having just landed a role in the film Dr. No. In Fun in Acapulco, Ursula Andress played Margarita Dofin, the hotel’s social director, who took an interest in Elvis’ character, Mike.
Initially, she kept her distance from Elvis Presley because of unflattering stories in the tabloids, but as filming progressed, a mutual attraction developed between them. Ursula later admitted that she was surprised and overwhelmed when she first met the King, and that moment made her revere Elvis Presley’s majestic presence.
“I only knew him from television, as a new idol, this hip-swinging lover with a guitar. On the first day I came to work, he arrived, this modest man, full of charm, love in his eyes, kindness, so attentive and warm. I was so surprised,” she says.
In fact, Elvis was so nervous about Ursula’s charms that he made sure his entourage never left him alone with her. When his friend Alan Fortas teased him about a possible flirtation, Elvis quickly replied, “No way, son, not with John Derek lurking around. I’d be damned if I started talking to her and saw his possessive eyes watching me. You know, he gave her a car, and on the steering wheel it said, “Baby, you’re irreplaceable”. He was head over heels in love with her. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Elvis had a rule about his relationships: he never chose married women. His friend from the Memphis Mafia, Sonny West, recalled, ‘Elvis told us never to leave him alone with her.’ This rule definitely played a part in keeping things strictly professional between Elvis and Ursula, even if sparks were flying.
And what did Priscilla say?
In Priscilla Presley’s book Elvis and Me, she recalls Elvis talking about Ursula and his feelings for her. Priscilla said that Elvis thought Ursula had ‘a man’s body,’ with no hips and shoulders wider than his.
‘I was embarrassed to take my damn shirt off around her,’ Elvis said.
“I was surprised when I heard Elvis talking about Ursula Andress, the alluring sex goddess from Dr. No. “Isn’t she beautiful?” I asked. “Beautiful?” he snorted. ‘Damn, she had such sharp bone structure that she could cut you in half if you turned too quickly,’ Priscilla shared.
It wasn’t allowed to be too sexy
Despite the fact that Ursula Andress was an absolute sex symbol as the first Bond girl in Dr. No, in Fun in Acapulco, everything was kept in moderation for Elvis’s young audience.
Ursula was not thrilled about this either, saying, ‘They wouldn’t let me wear a real bikini and put some frilly thing on me. They even glued on a hair band, foolishly thinking that innocent little girls in Elvis’s audience would like it.’
Elvis Presley did not film in Acapulco
I had no idea that Elvis never filmed Fun in Acapulco in Acapulco! It turns out that a stunt double (Raul Garcia) was used for all the filming because Elvis was not even allowed into Mexico. The Mexican government declared him persona non grata, and by 1963, rumours that he had insulted Mexico were still widespread. Even Hollywood columnist Sheila Graham reported this as fact, writing in December 1962: ‘Elvis Presley made several derogatory remarks about Mexican women in an article in a fan magazine about two years ago. Mexico is only now beginning to forgive him.’