Love Me Tender (1956)

Director:

Robert D. Webb

Writers:

Maurice Geraghty (story)
Robert Buckner (writer)

Release Date:

15 November 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance | Western

Tagline:

HEAR ELVIS SING . . . "Love Me Tender" "We're Gonna Move" "Poor Boy" "Let Me"

Plot:

Elvis plays Clint Reno, one of the Reno brothers who stayed home while he brother went to fight in the Civil War for the Confederate army...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Elvis Presley | Elvis | Debut | Brother Brother Relationship

Cast

Richard Egan	...	Vance Reno
Debra Paget	...	Cathy Reno
Elvis Presley	...	Clint Reno
Robert Middleton	...	Mr. Siringo
William Campbell	...	Brett Reno
Neville Brand	...	Mike Gavin
Mildred Dunnock	...	Martha Reno
Bruce Bennett	...	Maj. Kincaid
James Drury	...	Ray Reno
Russ Conway	...	Ed Galt
Ken Clark	...	Mr. Kelso
Barry Coe	...	Mr. Davis
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dorothy Hack
Paul E. Burns	...	Jethro (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin	...	Train passenger (uncredited)
Steve Darrell	...	Train conductor #2 (uncredited)
Joe Di Reda	...	Soldier #1 (uncredited)
Tom Greenway	...	Paymaster (uncredited)
Frank Griffin	...	Bit part (uncredited)
L.Q. Jones	...	Pardee Fleming (uncredited)
Jay Jostyn	...	Maj. Harris (uncredited)
Frank Mills	...	Train passenger (uncredited)
Edward Mundy	...	Auctioneer (uncredited)
Bob Rose	...	Station agent (uncredited)
Dick Sargent	...	Confederate soldier (uncredited)
Jerry Sheldon	...	Train conductor (uncredited)
James Stone	...	Storekeeper (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert D. Webb

Writing credits
Maurice Geraghty		(story)
Robert Buckner		(writer)

Produced by
David Weisbart	....	producer

Original Music by
Lionel Newman

Cinematography by
Leo Tover

Film Editing by
Hugh S. Fowler

Art Direction by
Maurice Ransford
Lyle R. Wheeler

Set Decoration by
Fay Babcock
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Mary Wills

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Helen Turpin	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stanley Hough	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Alfred Bruzlin	....	sound
Harry M. Leonard	....	sound

Special Effects by
Ray Kellogg	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Martha Crawford	....	stunt double: Debra Padget (uncredited)
John Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank J. Calabria	....	additional photographer: New York (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	executive wardrobe designer (as Charles LeMaire)
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Ken Darby	....	vocal supervisor
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator
Hank Garland	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Other crew
Tom Parker	....	technical advisor (as Colonel Tom Parker)
Ben Wright	....	dialogue director

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (????) (Finland) (DVD)
• Fox Video (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1978) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

The Reno Brothers (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) (magnetic prints) | Mono (optical prints)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | West Germany:12 (nf)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Extra scenes and lines were added for Elvis's character, which was originally supposed to be a minor role before he got the part.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A Confederate soldier zips up the pants that were taken off Northern soldiers, before zippers were invented.

Quotes:

Cathy Reno: [Clint has just been shot after defending Vance... Cathy "Kit" Reno rushes to his side and takes him into her arms] Just lie still.
Clint Reno: [gasping for breath] Kit... where's Vance? I gotta talk to him.
Vance Reno: I'm here, Clint.
Clint Reno: [crying] Vance, I didn't mean it! I swear I didn't mean it...
Vance Reno: [softly] I know you didn't, Clint. You don't have to tell me. Everything's gonna be all right.
Clint Reno: [looks at Kit, then at Vance] Everything's gonna be all right
[last lines... gasps, then dies... Kit weeps]
Clint Reno: .

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Elvis (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

LET ME

A casual debut for a future superstar.

Elvis' screen debut didn't put much pressure on his lack of experience. The story line was pretty much like a tv western and seemed awkward trying to fit Elvis' songs into the script. Inspite of being unpolished, Presley still came out almost a flawless gem. Everyone has to start somewhere. This film was by no means something to be ashamed of. 20th Century Fox gave the audience what they wanted...ELVIS.