Elvis Presley’s hip-swinging charm was already legendary, but when Ursula Andress joined him in Fun in Acapulco, the dynamic shifted into something extraordinary. Fresh from her breakout role as the original Bond girl in Dr. No, Andress brought an allure that rivaled even The King himself. Their chemistry on-screen was undeniable, leaving fans to wonder what was really going on behind the scenes—and the truth just might surprise you.
Fun in Acapulco was the highest-grossing musical film of 1963. It arrived during a turbulent time in American history, hitting theaters just after the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Yet, despite the national sadness, audiences turned out in droves. They couldn’t resist the combination of Elvis’s dazzling charisma, catchy tunes like “Bossa Nova Baby” (which climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100), and the tropical charm of Acapulco—even if Elvis never actually set foot there during filming.
At a glance, the film seems like your typical sun-soaked musical, but Elvis elevated it with his voice and magnetic screen presence. Add in Ursula Andress, and it was a recipe for sparks. While the storyline may not have been groundbreaking, audiences didn’t mind. There was more than enough star power to carry the film—and plenty of interesting moments most people never even noticed.
At the time, Ursula Andress was widely considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. In the film, she plays Marguerita Dauphin, a social director at a swanky hotel who’s intrigued by Elvis’s character, Mike. Though cautious at first—partly due to Elvis’s tabloid reputation—Andress soon found herself captivated by him. She later recounted the moment she met Elvis, describing him as unexpectedly humble, kind, and full of charm. It shattered her preconceptions and left her genuinely touched.
Interestingly, while Elvis was usually the one pursuing his female co-stars, the roles were reversed this time. According to his close friend Sonny West, it was Ursula who made the first moves. “They were very close,” he said. “She went after him. She wanted him bad.”
But did Elvis feel the same? Rumors swirled, but insiders maintained that nothing romantic happened between them. Even though Ursula had once dated James Dean—a fact that intrigued Elvis—he wasn’t overly taken with her looks. His longtime friend Alan Fortas shared that Elvis found Ursula’s build too athletic, saying she had broad shoulders and wasn’t his usual “petite” type.
Some speculate that this was Elvis’s way of keeping distance. He had a personal rule: no romantic involvement with married women. At the time, Ursula was married to actor John Derek, and Elvis didn’t want to cross that line. He even instructed his entourage never to leave him alone with her. As Fortas recalled, Elvis once joked, “No way, son, not with John Derek lurking all over the place. I’d be goddamned if I’d start a conversation with her and see his possessive eyes glaring at me.”
Priscilla Presley later weighed in, too. In her memoir Elvis and Me, she shared that Elvis once told her Ursula had a “man’s body”—no hips, and shoulders broader than his. “I was embarrassed to take my goddamn shirt off next to her,” he told Priscilla, adding sarcastically that her sharp bone structure could cut someone in half.
Despite her reputation as a sex symbol, Fun in Acapulco downplayed Ursula’s sensuality. The studio wanted to protect Elvis’s younger fan base, so they toned things down. Ursula wasn’t thrilled about it, admitting she was frustrated that they wouldn’t let her wear a real bikini, instead dressing her in ruffled swimwear and a hair ribbon to make her look more “wholesome.”
Another little-known fact is that Elvis never filmed in Mexico. Due to political tensions and persistent rumors that he had insulted Mexican women in an old magazine article—a claim he always denied—he had been declared persona non grata. All of his scenes were shot at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. A stunt double, Raul Garcia, performed the cliff dives and other action scenes on location in Acapulco.
Elvis’s discomfort extended to his wardrobe, too. During the “Marguerita” number, he wore a short-sleeved shirt left untucked—a look he said he’d never wear in real life. But since the outfit had already been filmed on his double, he had no choice but to match it. Still, he did enjoy some of his Latin-inspired costumes and even asked to keep a few of them after filming.
There’s also a humorous moment when Elvis’s character learns what a margarita is. In a scene with Ursula’s character at La Perla, she orders the drink and Elvis mistakenly thinks someone is asking her name. She explains, “No, silly, a margarita is a drink made with tequila.” He responds smoothly, “Well, any drink named after you is good enough for me.” Yet what arrives doesn’t resemble the margaritas we know today—it looks more like straight tequila in coupe glasses, complete with a straw and salted rim.
Elvis was always up for stunts and thrills, but even he drew the line at diving off a 136-foot cliff. That feat was left to a professional, but Elvis did do his own trapeze work—though wisely saved for the last day of filming, just in case something went wrong. In one amusing scene after the dive, Elvis is hoisted onto the shoulders of local extras. Unfortunately, one of them got a bit too handsy, making Elvis visibly uncomfortable. The scene had to be reshot several times until the culprit was quietly replaced.
One of the film’s most puzzling bits of movie magic? Elvis’s perfectly styled hair. He swims, he dives, he climbs—but his hair never budges. That’s Hollywood perfection for you.
The film also included a few familiar faces from Elvis’s earlier movies. Darlene Tompkins, Linda Rivera, and Howard McNear all returned in small roles, while Teri Garr made her uncredited debut. She would go on to appear in several more Elvis films before achieving her own stardom. Sadly, Garr passed away in 2024 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.
There’s one iconic photo from the set that still circulates today—Elvis wearing all black, long sleeves and slacks, at the beach. Only he could pull off something so out of place and still look effortlessly cool.
Fun in Acapulco marked a significant moment in Elvis’s career—it was the last movie he released before The Beatles exploded onto the American scene. In a twist of fate, the Fab Four even went to see the film at a Florida drive-in after their first U.S. tour. It was a brief, beautiful moment when two musical worlds collided—before pop culture shifted forever.
So, the next time you watch Fun in Acapulco, remember it wasn’t just another Elvis film. It was the end of an era. A swan song before Beatlemania swept in and changed music—and movies—forever.
