Life Story of Music Icon Elvis Presley
In April 1956, Elvis Presley took a significant step in his career with his first movie role in the film "Love Me Tender." This debut marked the beginning of his journey as a film star, despite not receiving top billing.
The original title of the film was "The Reno Brothers," a Civil War drama in which Elvis played a secondary role. However, the film was later renamed to capitalise on the popularity of his hit song "Love Me Tender," which was reworked from a Civil War ballad called "Aura Lee" and featured prominently in the movie.
Hal Wallis, an independent movie producer with a 25-year reputation in the movie business, was convinced of Elvis' potential after seeing him perform on the television show "Stage Show." Wallis arranged a screen test for Elvis with Frank Faylen, and the test was powerful enough for Wallis to arrange a three-picture deal for the young singer.
Despite initial concerns about the reaction of Elvis' fans to his on-screen death, the movie's ending features Elvis' character being shot and killed. However, a compromise ending was used, where Elvis' character is killed but his face is superimposed over the final scene as he sings "Love Me Tender."
The movie follows the fortunes of a farm family after the Civil War, with Elvis playing the youngest son who marries his eldest brother's girl. Elvis' real-life mother, Gladys, was reportedly shocked by his on-screen death.
The film only has four musical numbers, but "Love Me Tender" was a big hit for Elvis despite the limited number of songs. Elvis released "Love Me Tender" as a single, which gained wide exposure after he sang it on "The Ed Sullivan Show." The Ken Darby Trio backed up Elvis in the soundtrack recording sessions for "Love Me Tender," but Scotty Moore, Bill Black, and D.J. Fontana were not present.
During the production of "Love Me Tender," Elvis had a crush on costar Debra Paget, but she was not interested. Elvis got along well with his costars, and Richard Egan, who played elder brother Vance Reno, spoke highly of him.
"Love Me Tender" was a pivotal launching point for Elvis' film career. It connected his musical stardom with Hollywood, introducing him to a wider audience and setting the stage for his development as a film star. Although Elvis received negative reviews for his first screen performance, his image was still popular with fans[1][4]. Over time, his film roles and performances improved, with later films like "King Creole" showing marked progress from this starting point[3].
[1] Elvis Presley: A Life in Music, Alan Light [3] Elvis Presley: A Southern Life, Joel Williamson [4] Elvis Presley: A Biography, Donald B. McCutchen
- Elvis Presley's foray into the world of cinema with "Love Me Tender" was a significant step in pop-culture, coinciding with the popularity of his hit song and transforming him into a film star.
- The intersection of entertainment and celebrity was underscored in the film's success, as it not only highlighted Elvis' musical stardom but also introduced him to a wider audience, influencing the trajectory of his career within the realm of pop-culture.
