Watch Love Me Tender — Elvis’s Big-Screen Debut
Did you know the entire Love Me Tender movie is available on YouTube? Watching it for the first time reminds us just how multi-talented Elvis Presley was. He wasn’t just the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll — he had the voice, the moves, the looks, and the acting chops to prove it.

Released in 1956, Love Me Tender mixes romance, drama, and Western style, set during the Civil War. When it premiered at New York’s Paramount Theater, 1,500 fans camped out overnight, screaming so loud inside the theater that Elvis’s lines were often drowned out. That’s star power!

A Title Change and a Historical Role
Interestingly, the movie wasn’t originally called Love Me Tender. Its first title was The Reno Brothers, after the infamous outlaw gang it loosely depicts. The name changed to highlight the film’s title song, sung by Elvis.

This film is also unique because Elvis plays a historical character—Clint Reno, one of the outlaw Reno brothers. Before this, Elvis was just a music sensation dreaming of acting stardom.

Elvis’s Acting Start: Serious and Dedicated
Elvis got his start working as a movie theater usher, idolizing stars like James Dean and Marlon Brando. Although he wanted to be a serious actor, his manager pushed him to blend music with movies to boost his fame.

He landed the role of Clint Reno after other actors rejected it for being small. Despite being third-billed behind Richard Egan and Debra Paget, Elvis memorized all his lines and everyone else’s too. Producer David Weisbart praised him as “humble, polite, and very serious about acting.”

Unexpected Singing and Added Scenes
Elvis didn’t expect to sing in the film, but five minutes into his first scene, he breaks into song. Later, during a benefit scene, he performs much like he did in his live concerts—with screaming fans, a clear anachronism for the 1860s setting.

Originally a minor role, producers added more scenes for Elvis once they saw his screen presence. He might not have been James Dean, but his debut showed real potential.

Getty Images
The Truth About the Songs and Royalties
Elvis is credited as co-writer of four songs in the film, but his input was minimal—mainly to secure royalty payments. The famous title song Love Me Tender borrows its melody from the Civil War ballad Aura Lee. Elvis first performed it on The Ed Sullivan Show, sparking a frenzy that led to over a million advance orders for the single.

The song stayed a concert favorite for over 20 years, cementing its timeless appeal.