Elvis demonstrated that he was a true star in every way, from his amazing singing voice and mesmerizing dancing routines to his innate acting talent and classic good features.
Elvis Presley’s big-screen debut, Love Me Tender, demonstrated his indisputable appeal and musical prowess. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the 1956 picture combines romance, drama, and Western flair.
In anticipation of seeing their idol on the big screen, 1,500 ardent admirers spent the night camped out beneath a 40-foot cutout of Elvis at the Paramount Theater in New York City when the film debuted.
A tribute to the unmatched star power Elvis possessed at the time, his fans were so excited once they entered the auditorium that their constant yells frequently drowned out his words.
With his endearing Southern drawl and his naturally light brown hair, Elvis was so innocent and youthful in Love Me Tender. He exuded innocence and beauty.
Despite being a fan favorite, the film has some undiscovered treasures, intriguing behind-the-scenes information, and a few startling errors that astounded me.
They changed the title
I was initially surprised to learn that Love Me Tender wasn’t even intended to be called that. Originally called The Reno Brothers, the name was changed to capitalize on the success of Elvis Presley’s performance of the movie’s title song.
Love Me Tender is the only movie in which Elvis Presley portrayed a historical figure, drawing influence from the notorious Reno Gang. The Reno Gang, based in Indiana and active in the 1860s, gained a bad reputation as the forerunners of train theft in the United States.
Though their criminal activities were eventually put an end to by vigilante justice, the Reno brothers—Frank, John, Simeon, and William—made them notorious outlaws with their bold heists and brutal tactics.
Behind the scenes of Elvis’ debut
When Elvis Presley was younger, he worked as a movie usher, soaking up the glamour of Hollywood while he watched his favorite actors, Tony Curtis, Marlon Brando, and James Dean light up the big screen.
He aspired to be an actor, a genuine movie star rather than a singing success. Colonel Tom Parker, however, had different ideas. Parker’s idea was to use Elvis Presley’s music to cross-promote his movies, making soundtracks just as important as the actual texts.
Despite this, Elvis failed to secure a main role when he finally got the chance following three days of screen testing. He was cast instead as the youngest of the four Reno brothers, Clint Reno. The part was rejected by Robert Wagner and Jeffrey Hunter because it was too little, and it wasn’t initially meant for Elvis.
Elvis was very serious about acting
In addition, this is the only Elvis film in which he did not receive a high rating. After Debra Paget and Richard Egan, he came in third on the list.
Elvis, however, didn’t take half measures. He knew all of his lines by heart when he got to the set, and he even knew everyone else’s. Despite some difficult periods, he embraced the task with a strong commitment to the craft. He once made a joke about spending a whole day “behind a team of mules” to a friend.
The King was praised by producer David Weisbart, who described him as “humble, polite, and very serious about acting.” In less than a month, Elvis finished filming his sequences and recording all of the songs for the film, demonstrating his diligence in addition to his brilliance.
Extra scenes added
Even if he wasn’t James Dean, Elvis gave a remarkable performance for his first acting role without any formal instruction.
In actuality, Elvis Presley’s character—which was originally supposed to play a supporting role—had extra lines and scenes added especially for it.
Wait, isn’t this the Wild West?
Elvis was initially excited to sign on because he wasn’t supposed to play a singer in Love Me Tender. But that soon changed, much to his dismay.
Five minutes into his first on-screen appearance, Clint Reno (Elvis) not only starts singing, but he also acts as though he’s at one of his 1950s concerts during a later benefit scene. This is clearly not typical of the 1860s, as evidenced by the screaming girls in the audience.
Elvis the accidental songwriter
The four songs in the movie are credited to Elvis Presley as co-writers, but in reality, his efforts were more about royalties than actual composition. Elvis cheekily acknowledged during a 1968 press conference that he contributed just one line to the title song, Love Me Tender. Discuss royalties with little effort.
The truth behind the Love Me Tender song
Elvis Presley did not write the famous title tune, “Love Me Tender.” The melody is based on the romantic 1860s song “Aura Lee,” which was popular during the Civil War. The revised version became an immediate smash, even though Vera Matson is credited with writing the lyrics (although her husband, Ken Darby, really wrote them).
Weeks before the film’s release, on September 9, 1956, Elvis made his Love Me Tender debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The performance sparked such a frenzy that RCA got over a million advance orders for the song, earning it a gold record even before it officially hit shelves.
For five weeks, the song topped the charts. Elvis was still performing it 20 years later in concert, indicating that Love Me Tender was more than just a success — it was a timeless classic that stayed with him throughout his career.
Elvis became obsessed with Debra Paget
Debra Paget was exceptionally gorgeous in her peak and dazzled millions of Americans when she starred in Elvis Presley’s film debut. The gifted actress was ”touched by the hand of God,” according to famed filmmaker Cecil B DeMille.
Apparently, even the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ got enamored with her.
Debra Paget was a 22-year-old established Hollywood star when she went onto the set of Love Me Tender. She was arguably the most attractive actress of the Golden Age of Hollywood at the time. And that’s a statement.
Months prior, on June 5, 1956, she and Elvis Presley made their first appearances together on the Milton Berle Show. During his now-iconic performance of Hound Dog, Elvis stunned conservative America by gyrating his infamous or renowned pelvis.
“Although I usually don’t form an opinion of a person until I have met him,” she explained. “Frankly I looked forward to my first meeting with Elvis Presley with mixed emotions. I’d heard and read a lot about this new young singing sensation from Tennessee—and most of it was not complimentary.”
Inside their first meeting
During their first memorable encounter, Elvis took Debra by surprise in a number of ways. You would think that Debra didn’t like The King since she was a born-again Christian, but she didn’t.
When Mr. Berle introduced the 21-year-old rising star to Debra on his show, he firmly grabbed her hand and said: “I’m glad to meet you, Miss Paget.”
After shaking Debra’s mother’s hand with equal vigor, Elvis excused himself and came back a short while later carrying a chair for her.
“We were together for only a couple of hours but sometimes you can learn more about a person in a short span of time than in weeks of seeing one another constantly. I felt I did. From the very beginning, Elvis impressed me as a pleasant, sincere, obliging young man,” Debra recalled.
Elvis proposal to Debra Paget
Elvis Presley thought Debra was “the most beautiful girl he had ever seen,” according to Daily Express, and even paid her parents a visit.
“From the time he first came to the house, my folks have considered Elvis a member of the Paget clan—a feeling which, I believe, he reciprocated,” Debra explained.
However, the young actress believed that Debra and Elvis’s relationship was more focused on family than a fast-paced romance.
“I was very shy, very quiet and very immature for my age. I was in my very early 20’s but I was emotionally more like a 16-year-old. Elvis and I just sort of came together like a couple of children really.”
But Elvis seems to have had a different idea.
“Following the film, he did ask me to marry him but my parents objected to my getting married. I cared about Elvis, but being one not to disobey my parents, that did not take place,” Debra shared.
In the end, Debra turned Elvis down – she had already fallen in love with Howard Hughes, a famous film producer and billionaire.
Priscilla copied Debra Paget
It’s evident that Debra Paget made a lasting impression on Elvis, given all that has come to light over the years. Looking at the photos from on and off the set, it’s evident that they had a particular bond — those pictures speak for themselves!
But Debra’s charisma and flair didn’t only impact Elvis. It’s reported that in 1959, Priscilla Presley replicated Debra Paget’s unusual haircut from Love Me Tender to grab Elvis’s attention.
Elvis mother didn’t like the ending
Warning: spoilers! If you’ve seen or watched Love Me Tender, you probably remember that Clint Reno, played by Elvis Presley, dies tragically after being shot and dying in Cathy’s (Debra Paget) arms.
The producers reportedly changed the original conclusion because Elvis’ mother and thousands of fans were so unhappy with it. To give the movie a more positive ending, they inserted a silhouette of Elvis singing the title song above the end credits.
Nevertheless, there was a continuity issue in this upbeat scene. Elvis’ hair was more of a blonde in the film, but at the time of the extra filming, he had dyed it black.
Here are some of Love Me Tender’s most well-known bloopers that are sure to bring a grin to your face:
The Reno brothers’ attempt to persuade certain ex-soldiers to turn over the money comes first. They disarm the three men, but if you look closely, you’ll notice that the camera moves back and forth from a man concealing his gun beneath his jacket, revealing it, and then, oops!, putting it back under his jacket.
Then, as a Confederate soldier zips up a pair of trousers that were obviously stolen from Northern forces, Fun fact: zippers had not yet been created. I suppose there is some time-travel magic going on here!
Additionally, make sure to watch the scene where Cathy Reno is crying by the window. An anachronistic surprise in a movie set in the 1860s is a vehicle parked in the background.
Last but not least, Elvis is meant to be strumming his guitar during the song “We’re Gonna Move,” but when he removes his hands off it, guess what happens? The sound of the guitar continues to play. Could it be that he was truly embracing his inner ghost guitarist?
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