Bottom

Directed-Robert D Webb
Writing Credits-Robert Buckner
Produced by David Weisbart
Screenplay Robert Buckner
Based on a story by Maurice Geraghty
Music by Lionel Newman
Assistant Director Stanley Hough
Technical Advisor Colonel Tom Parker
Hair styles Helen Turpin
Sound Alfred Bruzlin and Harry M Leonard.

Cast Overview
Richard Egan - Vance Reno, Debra Paget - Cathy Reno, Elvis Presley - Clint Reno, Robert Middleton - Mr. Siringo,William Cambell - Brett Reno, Neville Brand - Mike Gavin, Mildred Dunnock - Martha Reno,Bruce Bennett - Mjr. Kincaid, James Drury - Ray Reno, Russ Conway - Ed Galt, Ken Clark - Kelso.Barry Coe - Davis,Paul E Burns - Jethro, LQ Jones - Flemming, Jerry Sheldon - Train Conductor

Plot

Despite switching the film's title from The Reno Brothers to Love Me Tender in order to capitalize on the young singer's popularity, Elvis still took second billing in his big screen debut, a typical Western that takes place just after the completion of the Civil War. The setting makes for some unintentionally humorous anachronisms, as the spirit of E's musical numbers is far more at home in the 1950s than the 1860s. Love Me Tender's plot sets up a love triangle involving two brothers: Elvis' character Clint Reno marries his big brother's sweetheart when the elder sibling fails to return from the war, but brother Vance unexpectedly shows up and naturally is not happy about the state of affairs on the family farm. The rivalry brings about tragic consequences. E got shot which incited fans enough to bring about a compromise ending cooked up by Twentieth Century-Fox showing a ghostly Elvis image singing Love me Tender as the rest of the cast walk off into the Sunset.

Musical Soundtrack

"LOVE ME TENDER"
Written by Elvis Presley and Ken Darby [billed as Vera Matson] Performed by Elvis Presley
The quintessential Elvis ballad.Released as a single with Any Way You Want Me on the flip-side. (The film version had one extra verse.) Elvis performed the song on all three Ed Sullivan show appearences, on other important TV broadcasts and in documentary films. Elvis actually said he disliked the cut because of flat singing in parts, but there were a million advance orders before its release. It appeared on the EP Love Me Tender (1956) and on several LP's: Elvis Golden Records vol1 (1958), Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol 1 (1970), A Legendary Performer Vol 1 (1974) and Pure Gold (1975). The song was performed on the 1968 NBC TV Special and appears on the on the LP Elvis 68 TV Special and in both concert documentaries, Thats the Way It Is (1970) and On Tour (1972). These versions were unreleased on record. An additional live version appears on the LP Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden (1972). The short end title version from the movie and a stereo version were released on the Jailhouse Rock/Love Me Tender soundtrack CD as a bonus track (1997).

"LET ME"
Written by Elvis Presley and Ken Darby [billed as Vera Matson] Performed by Elvis Presley
The fairground scene. Pure C&W singing style from Elvis. Released on the soundtrack EP (1956) and the EP Elvis Presley (1956).The solo version with just Elvis vocals was released on the Jailhouse Rock/Love Me Tender soundtrack CD as a bonus track (1997).
"POOR BOY"
Written by Elvis Presley and Ken Darby [billed as Vera Matson] Performed by Elvis Presley
Elvis sings about his love for Debra Paget with accordian backing in a C&W style. Released on the soundtrack EP (1956) and later on the LP's For LP Fans Only (1959) and Elvis the Other Sides- Worldwide Gold Award Hits Vol 2 (1971). A stereo version was released on the Jailhouse Rock/Love Me Tender soundtrack CD as a bonus track (1997).

"WE'RE GONNA MOVE"
Written by Elvis Presley and Ken Darby [billed as Vera Matson] Performed by Elvis Presley
A C&W song about the house falling apart and moving to a better home. Released on the soundtrack EP (1956) and on the EP Loving You (1957), later released on the LP's A Date with Elvis (1960) and Elvis: The Other Sides-Worldwide Gold Award Hits Vol 2. A stereo version (take 9) was released on the Jailhouse Rock/Love Me Tender soundtrack CD as a bonus track (1997).

Recorded at 20th Century Fox Studios, Beverly Hills, California. August 1956.

Musicians: Elvis Presley (vocals), Vita Mumolo (guitar), Red Robinson (drums), Chuck Prescott (bass), Ken Darby Trio (accompaniment and vocals).

A group of Hollywood session musicians backed Elvis for these four songs.

All the tunes were specially written for the film by Ken Darby who used his wifes name and Elvis' for copyright purposes on all but the title track.

The lyrics of the film version of "Love me Tender" differed from those of the record.

Advanced orders for the single "Love Me Tender" were for an unprecedented 856,327 copies. It was released on September 28 and reached No. 1 on Billboard chart in October 1956. The singles has subsequently been certified double platinum.

To coincide with the premiere of Elvis' first movie, RCA released the "Love Me Tender" extended play in October 1956, which featured the soundtrack's four songs. Another platinum seller

Triva

Filming began in August 1956, and was completed in early October.

Exteriors were filmed in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles

"Love Me Tender" premiered on Broadway in New York City. On November 15, 1956, a huge 50-ft. tall cardboard cut-out was unveiled in front of the theater. The fans went wild. It opened nationally on November 21.

On November 22, The Los Angeles Times said "Elvis can act. So help me the boy's real good, even when he isn't singing."

November 24: The New Yorker magazine says "Thick-lipped, droopy-eyed and indefatigably sullen, Mr. Presley, whose talents are meager but whose earnings are gross, excites a big section of the young female population as nobody has ever done."

November 28: "Love Me Tender" entered Variety's top grossing box-office list at No. 2 behind "Giant".

Title was changed from "The Reno Brothers" to promote the title song sung by Elvis.

Of all the movies starring Elvis Presley, this is the only one in which he didn't get top billing. He was billed third, after 'Egan, Richard' and Debra Paget.

The footage of Elvis singing "Love Me Tender" at the end was shot after preview audiences reacted badly to his character's fate. This new footage created a continuity error as Elvis had dyed his hair black by the time of the additional shooting, while in the movie his hair color was closer to blonde.

Elvis' real life backing musicians Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana were not allowed to play the roles of the band in the movie because according to the casting crew they didn't look like country musicians.

Goofs

In the scene where Cathy Reno is at the window crying, a car can be seen in the background.

A Confederate soldier zips up the pants that were taken off Northern soldiers, before zippers were invented.

Top