Love Me Tender - 1956 - B/W

Elvis' debut as an actor

Actors

Clint Reno	-	Elvis Presley
Cathy Reno	-	Debra Paget
Vance Reno	-	Richard Egan

Songs

Love Me Tender
Poor Boy
Let Me
We're Gonna Move

Basic plot:

The film is set in the last few day's in the Civil War. Vance (Richard Egan) and his two brothers decide to rob a payroll train, and get away with a few dollars. They go into the nearest town and freshen up before they go home. Vance was planning to marry Cathy (Debra Paget), but was sent off to the war. Because there was no news from the brothers, and apparentely Vance had been killed in action, Cathy married Clint (Elvis). So when the brothers returned, you can imagine the shock horror of Vance . So Clint tries to lighten the mood up by having a sing-a-long. Meanwhile the feelings are mounting for Cathy. Clint doesn't really know what's going on, but notices that Cathy keeps on being offish with him.
The sheriff in the gets wind of the robbery and has suspicions that it's the Reno brothers, so when
confronted they all panic and decide to do a runner. The gang that were with the Reno brothers at the time of the robbery get a bit argumentative and end up winding Clint up, so Clint shoots Vance in the leg, then one of the gang shoots Clint who consequently dies in Cathy's arms and manages to make peace with Vance.

Opinion:

Not a great film in my point of view - too long and drawn out. Debra Paget overplayed her part and was too wimpy and got on my nerves. Elvis had a great presence on screen though, his hair looked fantastic - not to sure about him in a nightdress though! I did cry at the end when he dies and was buried and they faded him in singing the title song. Four songs in all, not much to write home about though!

Score:

6 out of 10

Best Song:

Love Me Tender (end of film version).

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