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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.<\/p>\n
Although cherished by fans, the film contains some hidden treasures, intriguing behind-the-scenes details \u2013 along with a few unexpected errors that took me by surprise.<\/p>\n
They altered the title<\/h2>\n
The first thing that caught my attention was that Love Me Tender wasn\u2019t the original title. Initially named The Reno Brothers, the title was changed to take advantage of the popularity of the film\u2019s title song, performed by Elvis Presley.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Behind the scenes of Elvis\u2019 debut<\/h2>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He aspired to be an actor \u2014 not just a singing star, but a serious film actor. However, Colonel Tom Parker had different ideas. Parker envisioned a strategy to promote Elvis\u2019s films alongside his music, making soundtracks as vital as the scripts themselves.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, when Elvis finally got his shot after three days of screen tests, he didn\u2019t secure a leading part. Instead, he was cast as Clint Reno, the youngest of the four Reno brothers. The role wasn\u2019t initially meant for Elvis \u2014 it had been declined by Jeffrey Hunter and Robert Wagner due to its small size.<\/p>\n
Elvis took his acting very seriously.<\/h2>\n
Interestingly, this is the only film featuring Elvis where he didn\u2019t receive top billing. He was listed third, following Richard Egan and Debra Paget.<\/p>\n
However, Elvis was not one to take things lightly. He showed up on set with all his lines memorized \u2014 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 \u201cbehind a team of mules.\u201d<\/p>\n
Producer David Weisbart had nothing but admiration for the King, stating that Elvis was \u201chumble, polite, and very serious about acting.\u201d He completed his scenes and recorded all the songs for the film in just over a month, demonstrating his dedication and talent.<\/p>\n
Additional scenes were included.<\/h2>\n
While Elvis may not have been James Dean, he certainly made a strong impression in his acting debut, despite lacking formal training.<\/p>\n
In fact, extra scenes and lines were specifically written for Elvis Presley\u2019s character, which was originally meant to be a minor role.<\/p>\n
Wait, isn\u2019t this set in the Wild West?<\/h2>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s at one of his 1950s concerts. Cue the screaming fans in the audience \u2014 definitely not a scene typical of the 1860s.<\/p>\n
Elvis, the unintentional songwriter.<\/h2>\n
Although Elvis Presley is credited as a co-writer of the film\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The story behind the song Love Me Tender<\/h2>\n
The famous title track Love Me Tender wasn\u2019t actually an original by Elvis! Its melody is derived from the Civil War-era ballad \u201cAura Lee,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
Elvis first performed Love Me Tender on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, 1956, just weeks prior to the film\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 it was a timeless classic that remained with him throughout his career.<\/p>\n
Elvis\u2019s infatuation with Debra Paget<\/h2>\n
Debra Paget was incredibly stunning during her prime and captivated millions of Americans when she appeared in Elvis Presley\u2019s film debut. The gifted actress was described as being \u201ctouched by the hand of God,\u201d according to the legendary director Cecil B DeMille.<\/p>\n
It seems that even the \u2018King of Rock and Roll\u2019 developed an obsession with her.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s quite a statement.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I typically don\u2019t form an opinion about someone until I\u2019ve met them,\u201d she shared. \u201cHonestly, 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\u2014and most of it wasn\u2019t very flattering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inside their initial meeting<\/h2>\n
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.<\/p>\n
When Mr. Berle introduced the 21-year-old emerging star to Debra on his show, he confidently took her hand and said: \u201cI\u2019m pleased to meet you, Miss Paget.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elvis then shook Debra\u2019s mother\u2019s hand with the same enthusiasm, excused himself, and returned shortly with a chair for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d Debra remembered.<\/p>\n
Elvis\u2019s proposal to Debra Paget<\/h2>\n
As reported by the Daily Express, Elvis Presley thought Debra was \u201cthe most beautiful girl he had ever seen\u201d and even went to her parents\u2019 home.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the first time he visited our house, my parents have seen Elvis as part of the Paget family\u2014a sentiment that I think he shared,\u201d Debra shared.<\/p>\n
However, Debra viewed her relationship with Elvis as more of a family bond rather than a passionate romance.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
However, Elvis seemed to have a different perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter 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\u2019t go against my parents, so it didn\u2019t happen,\u201d Debra revealed.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Debra turned down Elvis \u2013 she had already fallen for Howard Hughes, a well-known film producer and billionaire.<\/p>\n
Priscilla took inspiration from Debra Paget.<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s 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\u2019s obvious they shared a unique connection \u2013 those images tell their own story!<\/p>\n
But Debra\u2019s charm and fashion sense didn\u2019t just impact Elvis. It\u2019s rumored that in 1959, Priscilla Presley emulated Debra Paget\u2019s iconic hairstyle from Love Me Tender to grab Elvis\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n
Elvis\u2019s mother was not fond of the film\u2019s ending.<\/h2>\n
Spoiler alert! For those who have watched and remember Love Me Tender, you might recall that Elvis Presley\u2019s character, Clint Reno, meets a heartbreaking fate when he is shot and dies in Cathy\u2019s arms (played by Debra Paget).<\/p>\n
It\u2019s said that Elvis\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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