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Elvis Presley in Love Me Tender: More Than Just a Singer
At the New York premiere of Love Me Tender, fans camped out overnight, and their screams in the theater often drowned
out Elvis Presley’s lines. Though his role was initially small, scenes were added to highlight him.
Elvis wasn’t top-billed, but he took acting seriously, memorizing not only his own lines but others’ too.
Despite wanting a dramatic, non-singing role, Elvis performs several songs in the film — even in its
1860s setting, complete with modern-style fan frenzy. The movie, loosely based on the real-life Reno Gang, was his only historical role.
He co-wrote four songs, though his contribution was minimal. The film’s title track, Love Me Tender,
borrowed its melody from the Civil War-era ballad “Aura Lee” and became one of Elvis’s most iconic hits.
Off-camera, Elvis fell for co-star Debra Paget and even proposed, but her parents refused. Their
bond was innocent, though he remained deeply infatuated. Priscilla Presley reportedly styled herself after Debra to win his affection.
The film originally ended with Elvis’s character, Clint Reno, dying — which upset fans and even his