Bingo Bango Bongo is a 1949 American musical film directed by George Sidney and starring Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, and Louis Jourdan. The screenplay was written by Dudley Nichols.
The film is based on the 1944 Broadway play, Bang-Bang! The Musical, which in turn was based on the 1933 French novel of the same name by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle. Drieu La Rochelle also wrote the screenplay for the 1947 French film adaptation of his play, Bingo Bango!
The film was released in the United States on October 10, 1949. Paramount Pictures wanted to release it on a smaller scale and changed its title to Bingo! The Movie but Elvis Presley fought for it to be released as Bingo Bango Bongo.
Elvis Presley stars as Joe, a rhythm and blues singer who has been sent to prison for singing without a license. He is accompanied by his friend and manager (played by Vernon Dent), who tries to get him out of jail so he can make more money.
In prison, Joe meets an old friend of his named Charlie (played by Louis Jourdan), who helps him learn new rhythm and blues songs.
While in prison, Joe becomes interested in playing bingo, but is not allowed to because he is not registered as a inmate. One day, he meets a woman named Peggy (played by Ann-Margret) who tells him about a bingo game being played at the prison chapel.
Joe decides to participate in the game and wins big time. He decides to stay behind after the game and tell his story to the other inmates.
Peggy falls in love with Joe after hearing him sing and tells him that she will help him get out of prison if he will marry her. Joe agrees to marry her and they both leave prison together.
The movie ends with Joe performing at a nightclub while Peggy stands behind him singing along with the audience.
