Love Me Tender was Elvis Presley’s first movie, and it’s still a joy to watch today. The film mixes romance and Western drama during the Civil War and features Elvis as Clint Reno, part of the infamous Reno Gang.
The movie’s original title was The Reno Brothers, but it was changed to Love Me Tender to promote the popular song Elvis sang. The Reno Gang were real-life train robbers from the 1860s, making this the only film where Elvis played a historical figure.
Before acting, Elvis worked as a cinema usher and dreamed of being a serious actor. Though his role was small, he was very dedicated, memorizing all lines and impressing the film’s producer.
Elvis sings early in the movie, and his performance resembles his famous 1950s concerts. He’s credited as a co-writer of the songs but admitted he only wrote one line of the title track, which is based on an old Civil War ballad.
Elvis was captivated by his co-star Debra Paget, who was a Hollywood starlet known for her beauty. Although Elvis proposed, Debra’s parents opposed the marriage, and she later married someone else. Her style influenced Priscilla Presley’s look years later.
The film has some amusing errors, like zippers appearing too early and a car visible in the background. These details add to the film’s charm and make it a beloved piece of Elvis history.
