Cheap Love Me Tender (DVD) (Richard Egan, Debra Paget, Elvis Presley) (Robert D. Webb) Price

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The movie was filmed in 1956 and it is Elvis Presley's first role. He receives third billing to veteran actor Richard Egan and actress Debra Pagent who is known for her role in The Ten Commandments.

It is a western set in the Civil War Period. Vance (Richard Egan)is called to serve in the Confererate Army. Clint (Elvis Presley) is too young to serve and stays home to tend the homestead. Cathy (Debra Pagent) is Vance's girlfriend and her family is killed in the war.

Cathy goes to stay with Clint & his mother until Vance returns. At some point they are given bad information that Vance has perished in the war and eventually Clint & Cathy become married.

Vance and his army buddies (not knowing the war is over) rob a train office and are pursued by army officials as they head home. Once home Vance finds out about Clint & Cathy and though he pretends to be happy for them he is awefully hurt by the marriage.

Though Clint is glad his brother is alive and well he is also growing increasingly uncomfortable with the situation. Elvis gives a really good performance as he starts becoming paranoid and thinking Cathy & Vance still have something going between each other.

The tension ensues between Clint & Vance over Cathy and over the money stolen from the train office and ends in a showdown between Clint, Vance and his old army buddies.

Elvis is hit by a bullet and dies in the end.

For those who say Elvis cannot act, I guess they never watched him die.

LOVE ME TENDER
In this western drama set immediately after the Civil War (originally titled "The Reno Brothers"), Elvis appears in the secondary role of Clint Reno. This was the only time in his acting career that Elvis received second billing. Clint, the younger of the four Reno brothers, stayed behind to run the family farm during the war while his older brothers were off fighting for the Confederacy. Star Richard Egan plays Vance Reno, the elderst brother whom the family believes to have been killed in battle. Upon returning home, Vance is shocked to discover that Clint has married Vance's former sweetheart, Cathy, played by Debra Pagent (who appeared in The Ten Commandments). The love triangle, complicated by the greedy actions of some unscrupulous ex-Confederates, eventually pits brother against brother, resulting in Clint's death. The downbeat ending is tempered by the brother's reconciliation as Clint dies in Cathy's arms.

Originally titled "The Reno Brothers", this western drama was re-titled after a number of articles announced that advanced sales for "Love Me Tender"--one of the songs recorded for the film--exceeded a million copies. It was the first time advanced sales for a single release had ever suprassed the million mark, and the producers capitalized on the publicity by changing the film's title.

The enormous amount of press coverage also affected the film's conclusion. During production, fanzines leaked that Elvis's character was supposed to die near the end of the film. As originally shot, the final scene features Mother Reno solemnly ringing the dinner bell as her three remaining sons toil in the fields. Pain and loss are registered on the faces of Mother Reno and Cathy, who mourn the death of Clint. Elvis's legion of fans were disturbed by the news that their idol was to be killed off in his first film and caused such a commotion that Twentieth Century-Fox shot an alternative ending in which Clint is spared. For reasons known only to the producers the second ending was rejected. Instead a third version of the ending was used and Clint is killed as called for in the original script, but the final shot superimposed a ghostly close-up of Elvis as Clint crooning "Love Me Tender" as his family slowly walks away from his grave. Hence the fans were then left with a final image of Elvis doing what he was famous for--singing.

The same promotion surrounding Love Me Tender that generated excitement among the fans also generated loathing among the critics. Many were brutal in their assessment of Elvis's performance, particulary Time Magazine, comparing Elvis's acting and screen presence to that of a sausage, a "Walt Disney Goldfish", a corpse, and a cricket--all in the same brief review.

If Elvis cried over the mean-spirited reviews, then he cried all the way to the bank. The film recouped its production costs within three days of release, guaranteeing that Elvis's Hollywood future would be lucrative.

Produced for Twentieth Century Fox by David Weisbart. Released November 15, 1956. B&W.

My Favorite Elvis Movie!
Love Me Tender is, by far, my favorite Elvis movie. Yes, Elvis sings but it is the storyline that clinches my 5 star rating.

Elvis plays Clint Reno, the youngest of his brothers who stays behind to tend the family farm while the others go off to fight in the Civil War. The family receives word that the oldest brother, Vance (played by a very handsome Richard Egan) is killed. Cathy, Vance's love, has lost her family in the war and now that Vance is killed, she has no one. Clint marries her and believes that she loves him the way in which he loves her. He does not realize that her heart still belongs to Vance.

Their lives are forever changed when Vance along with his brothers, reappears. He is intent upon marrying Cathy, of spending the rest of his life with her. He soon finds out that she is not free. She is now Clint's wife. Shattered and heartbroken, he conceals his feelings from his younger brother. Yet, he cannot contain the overwhelming love he has for Cathy. Nor can Cathy remain so indifferent. Knowing that Clint will soon discover the feelings they still have for each other, he makes plans to go away. But Fate intervenes.

One reckless act during the war jeopardizes Vance's future. He and his fellow soldiers have taken money. Money that has been traced back to them. They are ordered to return it or face prison. Vance and his brothers agree to this intent upon finding the other members of his troop that took part in this robbery.

Unexpectedly, Clint meets up with the members of Vance's troop and learns the horrible truth. Vance had always loved Cathy. Had longed to marry her. He believes that he was played for a fool and his jealousy and anger escalate causing him to act rashly.

Love Me Tender is an excellant story. This isn't a musical nor does Elvis sing in every scene. The plot is tightly woven with sadness, betrayal, jealousy and a love that will not be denied.

Beforwarned, the ending isn't happily-ever-after. Elvis does die yet I believe that there could have been no other ending. He could never have made Cathy happy especially once Vance came back. With every glance she cast his way, the longing was there in her eyes. And this he knew . . .

An excellant plot, believable characters and the sound of the King's voice. What better way to spend an afternoon. :)