It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)

Such a frustrating disappointment

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Fresh and Exciting

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

It was late 1962 when Elvis Presley started filming at the World's Fair in Seattle, It Happened at the World's fair follows the exact same formula that producer Hal Wallis developed for Elvis on Paramount, beautiful scenery, beautiful girls, lots of songs and occasionally some children to showcase Elvis new found maturity.As with most Presley movies, this has an innocent plot, a few fights, lots of movie songs, and a pretty gal to win his heart. Enjoy the Seatle fair as it was in 1962 and Elvis being on the receiving end of two painful kicks by child actor Kurt Russell. And there's some very heart warming moments as well as a few chuckles here and there.This is a great light-hearted movie with a couple of well known Elvis songs, such as One Broken Heart For Sale. Elvis talks, sings, fights, loves, flies, fights again, and endearingly looks after a little girl.Get away from reality and escape into Seattle's fair with Elvis - just for those ninety minutes. Nice Feelgood Movie.

Honestly, I love this movie! It's, in my opinion, the best Elvis movie. It's kid friendly, and doesn't have half naked bimbos running around all over creation. It's a very heartwarming movie, that leaves you in a happy, lightweight mood afterwords. Mike(Elvis) and Danny start off this movie with Danny gambling away all of their money, and in too much debt, the Sheriff takes away their plane, Bessie. Needing transportation, they hitchhike their way to Seattle with Sue-lin and her uncle. Mike repairs Sue-lin's ukulele, and then explains what the World's Fair is to her through a song. Once they get off in Seattle, Sue-lin and her uncle come to Mike and Danny saying that the uncle is too busy to take Sue-lin to the fair, so Mike agrees to take her. While at the fair, Sue-lin overeats and develops a stomach ache. At the nurse's office, Mike spots a pretty nurse and makes up a story about having something in his eye. The nurse is offended and asks him to leave. Mike returns Sue-lin to her uncle and Danny announces that he's met a guy who will provide them with a place to stay. Mike is still thinking about the nurse, and goes back to the fair too see her. He pays a little boy to kick him, causing a huge bruise, and sees Diane(the nurse). Diane takes care of him along with another nurse, but they meet the boy and he spills the beans about kicking Mike. A few minutes later, Sue-lin finds Mike and tells him her uncle is gone. Mike lets her stay with them, causing and resolving different problems. VERY CUTE and worth watching!

I really don't get tired of this film! It contains four terrific elements that make for a good show: 1) a good soundtrack (several fine bouncy numbers, and I'm even getting used to "Relax" which visually looks stunning ---- Yvonne Craig and Elvis!), 2)an interesting story, 3) somewhat fascinating characters, and 4) good scenery. I can even add a number five, action! Elvis clobbers some gamblers near the beginning of the film, then a gangster near the end of the movie! The little Asian girl really makes the film! I find her cute, not annoying as one of my fellow writers here stated. She and Elvis had a pretty good chemistry together. Gary Lockwood was admirable as the gambling, lying friend! Joan O'Brien was okay for the role given. Kurt Russell was terrific to see.....good kicks! I was so glad to see it on TCM a while ago. Letterboxed and beautiful. My copy from VHS was awful!

As someone else mentioned, 1963 is still early enough that Elvis Presley looks like he's enjoying himself in "It Happened at the World's Fair," which also stars Gary Lockwood, Joan O'Brien and Vicky Tiu. Pilots Mike (Elvis) and Danny (Lockwood) find themselves without a plane after it's confiscated for debts due to Lockwood's addiction to gambling. They hitch a ride to Seattle with a man and his 7-year-old niece Sue-Lin (Tiu), and Mike ends up taking the little girl to the 1962 World's Fair. When she eats too much junk, he takes her to the clinic, where he meets Diane Warren (Joan O'Brien), a nurse. He comes on a little strong - so strong, I'm surprised she didn't call security. In order to see her again, he gives a little boy (Kurt Russell) a quarter to kick him in the shins.After he return Sue-Lin to her uncle, she finds Mike again when her uncle doesn't come home from making a delivery. Mike now has to cope with a not very helpful partner, trying to think of a way to get his plane back, romancing Diane and taking care of a 7-year-old girl.This is the usual Elvis travelogue, but more interesting than others because it's shot on the grounds of the Seattle World's Fair and has that iconic moment when future brilliant Elvis impersonator Russell lets him have it in the shins. Elvis looks great and as usual sings beautifully. The music is pretty good. This wasn't the film career Elvis wanted but unfortunately for his ambitions, these films made money. Enjoyable.