Did you know that the entire movie Love Me Tender can be found on YouTube? Experiencing it for the first time is a delightful experience and serves as a reminder of the immense talent of Elvis Presley. He was not only the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll — he truly had it all!
With his amazing singing voice, mesmerizing dance moves, natural acting skills, and timeless good looks, Elvis demonstrated that he was a genuine star in every way possible.
Love Me Tender was Elvis Presley’s debut on the big screen, highlighting his undeniable charm and talent that extended beyond music. Released in 1956, this film combines elements of romance, drama, and Western style, all set against the backdrop of the Civil War.
When the movie debuted at the Paramount Theater in New York City, 1,500 dedicated fans camped out overnight under a massive 40-foot cutout of Elvis, eagerly waiting for the opportunity to see their idol on the big screen.
Once they entered the theater, Elvis’ fans were so thrilled that their continuous screams often drowned out his dialogue — a true indication of the extraordinary star power he possessed at that time.
In Love Me Tender, Elvis appeared youthful and brimming with innocence, showcasing his delightful Southern drawl and naturally light brown hair. He exuded beauty and purity.
Although cherished by fans, the film contains some hidden treasures, intriguing behind-the-scenes details – along with a few unexpected errors that took me by surprise.
They altered the title
The first thing that caught my attention was that Love Me Tender wasn’t the original title. Initially named The Reno Brothers, the title was changed to take advantage of the popularity of the film’s title song, performed by Elvis Presley.
Love Me Tender loosely draws inspiration from the notorious Reno Gang, making it the sole film where Elvis portrayed a historical figure. Active during the 1860s, the Reno Gang operated in Indiana and gained a notorious reputation as the pioneers of train robbery in the United States.
Led by brothers Frank, John, Simeon, and William Reno, their audacious heists and ruthless tactics turned them into legendary outlaws, although their criminal activities were ultimately curtailed by vigilante justice.
Behind the scenes of Elvis’ debut
In his early years, Elvis Presley served as a cinema usher, absorbing the magic of Hollywood while watching his idols James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Tony Curtis shine on the big screen.
He aspired to be an actor — not just a singing star, but a serious film actor. However, Colonel Tom Parker had different ideas. Parker envisioned a strategy to promote Elvis’s films alongside his music, making soundtracks as vital as the scripts themselves.
Nevertheless, when Elvis finally got his shot after three days of screen tests, he didn’t secure a leading part. Instead, he was cast as Clint Reno, the youngest of the four Reno brothers. The role wasn’t initially meant for Elvis — it had been declined by Jeffrey Hunter and Robert Wagner due to its small size.
Elvis took his acting very seriously.
Interestingly, this is the only film featuring Elvis where he didn’t receive top billing. He was listed third, following Richard Egan and Debra Paget.
However, Elvis was not one to take things lightly. He showed up on set with all his lines memorized — and even knew the lines of his co-stars. Committed to his role, he fully immersed himself in the character, although he faced some tough moments. At one point, he humorously remarked to a friend about spending an entire day “behind a team of mules.”
Producer David Weisbart had nothing but admiration for the King, stating that Elvis was “humble, polite, and very serious about acting.” He completed his scenes and recorded all the songs for the film in just over a month, demonstrating his dedication and talent.
Additional scenes were included.
While Elvis may not have been James Dean, he certainly made a strong impression in his acting debut, despite lacking formal training.
In fact, extra scenes and lines were specifically written for Elvis Presley’s character, which was originally meant to be a minor role.
Wait, isn’t this set in the Wild West?
Elvis was not meant to portray a singer in Love Me Tender, which is why he was initially excited to take the role. However, that excitement quickly faded.
Not only does he burst into song just five minutes into his first appearance, but later, during a benefit scene, Clint Reno (Elvis) performs as if he’s at one of his 1950s concerts. Cue the screaming fans in the audience — definitely not a scene typical of the 1860s.
Elvis, the unintentional songwriter.
Although Elvis Presley is credited as a co-writer of the film’s four songs, the reality is that his contributions were more about securing royalty rights than actual songwriting. During a 1968 press conference, Elvis humorously confessed that his only lyrical input for the title song Love Me Tender was just a single line. Talk about earning royalties for minimal effort.
The story behind the song Love Me Tender
The famous title track Love Me Tender wasn’t actually an original by Elvis! Its melody is derived from the Civil War-era ballad “Aura Lee,” a romantic song that gained popularity in the 1860s. Although the lyrics are attributed to Vera Matson (with the true lyricist being her husband, Ken Darby), this revamped version quickly became a sensation.
Elvis first performed Love Me Tender on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, 1956, just weeks prior to the film’s release. The performance sparked such excitement that RCA received over a million pre-orders for the single, turning it into a gold record even before it officially launched.
The song topped the charts for five weeks. Even 20 years later, Elvis was still performing it in concerts, demonstrating that Love Me Tender was not just a hit — it was a timeless classic that remained with him throughout his career.
Elvis’s infatuation with Debra Paget
Debra Paget was incredibly stunning during her prime and captivated millions of Americans when she appeared in Elvis Presley’s film debut. The gifted actress was described as being “touched by the hand of God,” according to the legendary director Cecil B DeMille.
It seems that even the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ developed an obsession with her.
At the age of 22, Debra Paget was already a well-established Hollywood star when she arrived on the set of Love Me Tender. At that time, she was likely the most beautiful actress of the Hollywood Golden Age. And that’s quite a statement.
She and Elvis Presley first crossed paths months prior when they both appeared on the Milton Berle Show on June 5, 1956. This was the occasion when Elvis stunned conservative America by shaking his well-known, or perhaps notorious, pelvis during his now-legendary performance of Hound Dog.
“While I typically don’t form an opinion about someone until I’ve met them,” she shared. “Honestly, I approached my first encounter with Elvis Presley with mixed feelings. I had heard and read a lot about this new young singing sensation from Tennessee—and most of it wasn’t very flattering.”
Inside their initial meeting
Elvis astonished Debra in numerous ways during their unforgettable first meeting. As a born-again Christian, one might assume that Debra would have a negative view of The King, but the reality was quite the opposite.
When Mr. Berle introduced the 21-year-old emerging star to Debra on his show, he confidently took her hand and said: “I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Paget.”
Elvis then shook Debra’s mother’s hand with the same enthusiasm, excused himself, and returned shortly with a chair for her.
“We spent just a couple of hours together, but sometimes you can learn more about someone in a brief period than in weeks of constant interaction. I felt that way. From the very start, Elvis struck me as a kind, genuine, and accommodating young man,” Debra remembered.
Elvis’s proposal to Debra Paget
As reported by the Daily Express, Elvis Presley thought Debra was “the most beautiful girl he had ever seen” and even went to her parents’ home.
“Since the first time he visited our house, my parents have seen Elvis as part of the Paget family—a sentiment that I think he shared,” Debra shared.
However, Debra viewed her relationship with Elvis as more of a family bond rather than a passionate romance.
I used to be very shy, quite reserved, and rather immature for my age. Although I was in my early 20s, emotionally I felt more like a 16-year-old. Elvis and I came together almost like two kids, really.
However, Elvis seemed to have a different perspective.
“After the film, he proposed to me, but my parents were against me getting married. I had feelings for Elvis, but I was someone who wouldn’t go against my parents, so it didn’t happen,” Debra revealed.
Ultimately, Debra turned down Elvis – she had already fallen for Howard Hughes, a well-known film producer and billionaire.
Priscilla took inspiration from Debra Paget.
It’s evident that Debra Paget left a significant mark on Elvis, considering all that has emerged over the years. When you look at the photos from both on and off the set, it’s obvious they shared a unique connection – those images tell their own story!
But Debra’s charm and fashion sense didn’t just impact Elvis. It’s rumored that in 1959, Priscilla Presley emulated Debra Paget’s iconic hairstyle from Love Me Tender to grab Elvis’s attention.
Elvis’s mother was not fond of the film’s ending.
Spoiler alert! For those who have watched and remember Love Me Tender, you might recall that Elvis Presley’s character, Clint Reno, meets a heartbreaking fate when he is shot and dies in Cathy’s arms (played by Debra Paget).
It’s said that Elvis’s mother and many fans were so distressed by the original ending that the producers chose to change it. They included a silhouette of Elvis singing the title song during the end credits to provide a more positive conclusion to the film.
This cheerful scene, however, resulted in a continuity mistake. By the time of the extra filming, Elvis had changed his hair to black, while in the film, his hair appeared more blonde.
Zippers hadn’t been invented yet.
Here are some of the most well-known bloopers from Love Me Tender that are sure to bring a smile to your face:
First, there’s the scene where the Reno brothers attempt to persuade some ex-soldiers to hand over their money. They disarm the three men, but if you pay close attention, the camera angles switch back and forth between a guy concealing his gun under his jacket, then suddenly it’s visible, then — oops! — it’s back under his jacket again.
Next, in a scene where a Confederate soldier zips up a pair of pants that were clearly taken from Northern soldiers… except, fun fact, zippers hadn’t been invented yet. Looks like we’ve got a bit of time-travel magic happening on set!
And don’t overlook the moment when Cathy Reno is crying at the window. In the background, there’s a car parked — an unexpected surprise in a film set in the 1860s.
Finally, during the song ”We’re Gonna Move,” Elvis is meant to be strumming his guitar, but when he takes his hands off it, guess what? The guitar sound continues to play. Maybe he was truly channeling his inner ghost guitarist?
All these little blunders only enhance the charm of this classic Elvis movie! Be sure to share this article so others can uncover these delightful, overlooked Elvis details! You can watch the film here:
