Did you know you can now watch the entire *Love Me Tender* movie for free on YouTube? Seeing it for the first time is a real treat — and a powerful reminder of just how extraordinary Elvis Presley truly was. He wasn’t just the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll; he was the complete package.
With his magnetic stage presence, smooth dance moves, golden voice, and natural acting ability, Elvis proved himself to be a once-in-a-generation talent who could do it all.
Released in 1956, *Love Me Tender* marked Elvis’s first-ever film role. Set during the Civil War, it blends romance, family drama, and Western adventure — and introduced audiences to a new side of the superstar they’d only known from the stage and radio.
When the movie premiered at New York City’s Paramount Theater, over 1,500 devoted fans spent the night outside beneath a massive 40-foot cutout of Elvis, eager to see their idol on the big screen. Inside the theater, the excitement was so overwhelming that the screams of fans nearly drowned out his lines — a true reflection of Elvis’s magnetic power at the height of his fame.
### Elvis’s debut and the story behind the title
In *Love Me Tender*, a young Elvis appears with light brown hair, a soft Southern accent, and an innocence that made him glow on screen. But interestingly, the movie wasn’t originally supposed to be called *Love Me Tender* — its first title was *The Reno Brothers.* The name was changed to take advantage of the enormous success of Elvis’s hit single of the same name.
The story was loosely inspired by the real-life **Reno Gang**, notorious train robbers from Indiana in the 1860s. This also makes the movie the only one in which Elvis ever portrayed a historical character.
### How Elvis got the role
Before stardom, Elvis actually worked as a theater usher, watching Hollywood legends like James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Tony Curtis — and dreaming of acting himself. He longed to be a serious movie star, not just a singer. But his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, saw films as a way to promote Elvis’s music, ensuring every movie came with a hit-filled soundtrack.
After screen testing, Elvis didn’t land a lead role but was cast as **Clint Reno**, the youngest brother. Ironically, the part was originally turned down by Jeffrey Hunter and Robert Wagner for being too small — until Elvis made it unforgettable.
### Dedicated to his craft
Though his name came third on the billing, Elvis approached his debut with total dedication. He memorized not just his own lines but everyone else’s, impressing the crew with his discipline and humility.
Producer **David Weisbart** later praised Elvis for being “humble, polite, and very serious about acting.” He completed all his scenes and recorded the songs in just over a month.
### More Elvis, please
Originally, Clint Reno wasn’t supposed to sing at all — but once Elvis joined the cast, new scenes and musical numbers were added to give audiences more of the star they adored.
That decision led to some funny moments — like Clint performing in front of a crowd of screaming girls, something you definitely wouldn’t expect in the 1860s!
### Fun facts and hidden details
The movie’s title song, *Love Me Tender*, was based on the 19th-century tune **“Aura Lee.”** Although Elvis is listed as a co-writer, he later admitted that he only contributed a single line — the rest was arranged by lyricist **Ken Darby** (credited under his wife’s name, Vera Matson).
When Elvis performed *Love Me Tender* on *The Ed Sullivan Show* weeks before the film’s release, the response was explosive — over a million pre-orders for the record poured in, making it a gold record even before it was officially released.
### Debra Paget — the woman who captivated Elvis
Actress **Debra Paget**, who played Cathy Reno, was already a star when she met Elvis. Beautiful, graceful, and deeply spiritual, she left a lasting mark on him. Elvis was reportedly smitten, calling her “the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.”
Though Elvis even proposed to her, Debra turned him down — her parents didn’t approve, and she had fallen for film producer **Howard Hughes**. Still, she remained fond of Elvis, describing him as a “sincere, polite young man.”
Years later, it’s said that **Priscilla Presley** styled her hair after Debra’s look in *Love Me Tender* to win Elvis’s attention — a sign of just how iconic Paget’s image was.
### A changed ending and a few funny mistakes
The film originally ended tragically, with Elvis’s character dying in his lover’s arms. The scene devastated his mother — and fans — so producers softened it by adding a new closing shot of Elvis singing the title song.
However, that change created a continuity error: by then, Elvis had dyed his hair black, so the ending didn’t quite match his earlier scenes!
And for eagle-eyed viewers, *Love Me Tender* is full of other charming bloopers:
* A zipper on a soldier’s pants — even though zippers weren’t invented yet.
* A background car accidentally visible in an 1860s scene.
* A guitar that keeps playing even when Elvis’s hands aren’t touching it.
These little mistakes only make the film more endearing today — a snapshot of Hollywood’s golden era and the moment a young Elvis Presley transformed from a music sensation into a movie icon.
Be sure to share this story so others can rediscover these fascinating tidbits — and don’t miss your chance to watch *Love Me Tender* on YouTube!