It Happened at the World's Fair

***It Happened at the World's Fair*** is a 1963 American musical film starring Elvis Presley as a crop-dusting pilot who gets involved in a romantic adventure at the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle. The film was directed by Norman Taurog and written by Si Rose and Seaman Jacobs. It also features Joan O'Brien, Gary Lockwood, Vicky Tiu, Yvonne Craig and H.M. Wynant in supporting roles. The film was produced by Ted Richmond and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It marked the film debut of Kurt Russell, who played a boy who kicks Presley in the shin.

The film was suggested by Albert Rosellini, the governor of Washington at the time, who wanted to promote the state and the fair. The film was shot on location at the fairgrounds and other landmarks in Seattle, such as the Space Needle, the Monorail, and the Boeing Field. The film features several songs performed by Presley, including “One Broken Heart for Sale”, “I'm Falling in Love Tonight” and “Happy Ending”. The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a moderate box office success, earning $2.5 million in North America.

## Plot

Mike Edwards (Presley) and Danny Burke (Lockwood) are crop-dusting pilots who are in debt to a local sheriff, who threatens to auction off their plane, Bessie if they don't pay him in a week. They hitchhike to Seattle, hoping to find a way to raise money. On the way, they are picked up by Walter Ling (Kam Tong) and his niece Sue-Lin (Tiu), who are apple farmers. Walter has to leave for a business trip and entrusts Sue-Lin to Mike and Danny.

Mike and Danny take Sue-Lin to the World's Fair, where they encounter various attractions and adventures. Mike meets Diane Warren (O'Brien), a nurse who works at a dispensary at the fair. He pretends to be injured so that he can get close to her, but she resists his charms. He also meets Dorothy Johnson (Craig), another woman who is interested in him. Danny gets involved with Vince Bradley (Wynant), a shady businessman who smuggles furs using Mike and Danny's plane.

Sue-Lin becomes attached to Mike and Danny, but they worry about what will happen to her when Walter returns. They also have to deal with the sheriff, who is on their trail. Mike eventually wins Diane's heart after saving her from a runaway car. He also decides to join the NASA program after being recruited by an officer at the fair. Danny breaks off his deal with Vince and pays off their debt with the sheriff. Walter comes back and reunites with Sue-Lin. The film ends with Mike and Diane in love.

## Cast

* Elvis Presley as Mike Edwards
* Joan O'Brien as Diane Warren
* Gary Lockwood as Danny Burke
* Vicky Tiu as Sue-Lin
* H.M. Wynant as Vince Bradley
* Edith Atwater as Miss Steuben
* Guy Raymond as Barney Thatcher
* Dorothy Green as Miss Ettinger
* Kam Tong as Walter Ling
* Yvonne Craig as Dorothy Johnson
* Kurt Russell as Boy Kicking Mike (uncredited)

## Production

The film was inspired by the Century 21 Exposition, also known as the Seattle World's Fair, which took place from April 21 to October 21, 1962. Albert Rosellini, the governor of Washington at the time, suggested the idea of making a film set at the fair to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer executives, who agreed to finance it. Rosellini also provided assistance and cooperation from the state government and the fair organizers.

The film was directed by Norman Taurog, who had previously worked with Presley on six other films, including "G.I. Blues" (1960) and "Blue Hawaii" (1961). The screenplay was written by Si Rose and Seaman Jacobs, who had also collaborated on Presley's previous film "Girls! Girls! Girls!" (1962). The film was produced by Ted Richmond, who had produced several other Presley films.

The film was shot on location at the fairgrounds and other landmarks in Seattle, such as the Space Needle, the Monorail, and the Boeing Field. The filming took place from August 27 to October 17, 1962. Some scenes were also shot at MGM Studios in Culver City, California.

The film featured several songs performed by Presley, including "One Broken Heart for Sale", "I'm Falling in Love Tonight" and "Happy Ending". The songs were written by various composers, such as Otis Blackwell, Sid Wayne, Ben Weisman, and Fred Wise. The musical score was composed by Leith Stevens, who had also scored Presley's previous film "Kid Galahad" (1962).

The film marked the film debut of Kurt Russell, who played a boy who kicks Presley in the shin. Russell was 11 years old at the time and had been cast by Taurog, who had seen him in a television show. Russell later recalled that Presley was very kind and friendly to him and gave him some advice on acting. Russell would later play Presley himself in the 1979 television film "Elvis", directed by John Carpenter.

## Reception

The film was released on April 3, 1963, in the United States. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Presley's performance and the location shots but criticized the plot and the songs. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that the film was "a pleasant enough musical comedy" that "makes good use of the Seattle World's Fair", but that it was "not much more than a routine run-through of a standard boy-meets-girl-meets-boy formula". Variety called it "a bright, breezy and entertaining entry" that "has Elvis Presley in top form", but that it was "hampered by a weak script and some indifferent tunes". Philip K. Scheuer of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the film was "a mild disappointment" that "has its moments" but that it was "too long and too loosely knit".

The film was a moderate box office success, earning $2.5 million in North America. It ranked as the 43rd highest-grossing film of 1963. It also earned $1.3 million in foreign markets.

The film was nominated for a Golden Laurel Award for Top Musical of 1963, but lost to "Bye Bye Birdie".