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Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Roy Hart If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

dglink Headed by a cast that includes Richard Eagen, Debra Paget, Mildred Dunnock, Bruce Bennet, James Drury, and, oh yes, a young crooner making his film debut, Elvis Presley, "Love Me Tender" is a tidy post-Civil War western. Directed by Robert D. Webb from a screenplay by Robert Buckner, the story follows the Reno family in the period just after the War between the States. Four of the Reno brothers were Confederate soldiers, who, on the day after Lee's surrender, steal the Union payroll from a military train. When the brothers realize that the war is over, rather than deliver the cash to their Confederate superiors, they decide to keep it as spoils of war. When the three brothers reach home, they face several unexpected changes that propel the rest of the film.Without Presley as Clint, the youngest Reno brother, who stayed home with their mother, "Love Me Tender" would likely have gathered dust in the vaults of Twentieth Century Fox. Not that the film lacks merit. Ruggedly handsome Eagen is a strong lead as the eldest brother, and the story holds viewers' attention, as does solid acting from veteran actress Dunnock as the boys's mother. Another major asset is Leo Tover's luscious black and white cinematography, which captures the period in images that often merit freezing and framing. However, even before the inclusion of Presley, the film had anachronisms with Paget, whose hair, costumes, and demeanor have more to do with the mid-1950's than the post-civil-war era.While Elvis Presley is the film's major asset, he is also a major detriment to credibility. As an actor, the young rock and roll singer is quite good in the dramatic scenes; he has an easy natural quality, and the camera loves him. Unfortunately for the film, but fortunately for his fans and music history, "Love Me Tender" features several songs by Presley, which have nothing to do with the Civil War. He delivers the rock songs with his trademark hip swiveling, which sent audiences wild on the Ed Sullivan show, but might have merited strong disapproval from Ante-Bellum Southerners. Only the title tune, beautifully sung to Clint's mother and wife on the family porch, arguably fits into the film. However, without Presley and his songs and his hip swivel, "Love Me Tender" would not have received the care and visibility that it has. A mixed bag, but all on the positive side, "Love Me Tender" showcases a young actor with dramatic potential, some 1950's rock and roll hits, and an engaging western story. That's good entertainment value for 52 cents, the average cost of a movie ticket in 1956.

TedMichaelMor I liked this film. I had never seen it until recently. Mr. Presley was a good actor; he had great potential. The entire cast does a fine job. Robert Webb was a solid director. Richard Egan and Debra Pagett did fine work. I found the narrative engaging. The story was complex as were the characters. I wish that Mr. Presley had had a chance to hone his craft with good instruction and other good material. He clearly had ability to create convincing, interesting, and well-rounded characters.The cinematography has a crisp look with good balance and tonalities. The locations don't remind me of Texas but that was common for westerns at the time this movie was filmed. I grant that the ending feels a bit forced, but the overall story works.The music did not have much, if anything, to do with the narrative but, heck, who cares. It is terrific.

slapstck2000 I've seen this movie many many many times, and it is so good. would love to see this one AND King Creole colorized, WOW you have to admit that would be so cool, it would be like watching a movie ABOUT Elvis Presley with Elvis playing himself! especially this one, that or like watching a home movie of him with color and sound, im sorry guys I've seen what they did with Jailhouse Rock and WOWWWWWWlol! I also agree that if Elvis hadnt been involved with this movie it would have just went down as a B picture, it wouldn't have done well at the box office at all, and speaking of box office its a shame with all the fandom surrounding this picture at the time(56) its a wonder Elvis didn't at LEAST get an Oscar nomination! Michael Smith

moonspinner55 Civil War soldier returns home to his family and fiancée, who are unaware of his past as a thief--and possible murderer. Strictly as a star-vehicle (for a singer who was not yet a movie star), "Love Me Tender" proves to be an interesting footnote in the legend of Elvis Presley; as a piece of western-genre cinema, it is quite dreadful. Richard Egan (in the most prominent role) does well, and the supporting cast featuring Debra Paget and Neville Brand is solid, yet it is Presley's acting debut which garners the most attention, and with good reason: his self-conscious sneering gives the picture its only intrinsic excitement (as well as a campy kick). The writing is inane and the music (with the exception of the hit title tune) is mediocre but, if you can make it to the final reel, stick around for one of the silliest closing shots in 1950s Hollywood. Did the public-at-large really swallow this hokum at the time? *1/2 from ****