As the US Civil War ends, three Confederate brothers and their gang rob a Union train. They split the money and return to Texas. Arriving home, they find little brother Elvis Presley (as Clinton "Clint" Reno) has grown up and married. Older brother Richard Egan (as Vance) is hit hard by the news, because pretty Debra Paget (as Cathy) was waiting to be his bride. As it turns out, the family was falsely informed of Mr. Egan's death. There are hurt feelings all around, occasionally tempered when Mr. Presley sings songs. While the three lovers work out their marriage problem, others are looking for the missing money...
The first Presley film has the "rock 'n' roll" superstar taking over the screen. When he sings, the plot stops. In a couple of emotional scenes, he shows a little promise as a dramatic actor. Presley sings the multi-million selling classic "Love Me Tender" (which replaced "The Reno Brothers" as the film's title). Of the other soundtrack songs, "Poor Boy" led in airplay. The pleasant production receives a lift from Presley's participation, but his 1950s style appears anachronistic. Sad-eyed mother Mildred Dunnock (as Martha) does well, and Dick Sargent has a good bit announcing General Robert E. Lee's surrender.
**** Love Me Tender (11/15/56) Robert D. Webb ~ Elvis Presley, Richard Egan, Debra Paget, Mildred Dunnock
The first Presley film has the "rock 'n' roll" superstar taking over the screen. When he sings, the plot stops. In a couple of emotional scenes, he shows a little promise as a dramatic actor. Presley sings the multi-million selling classic "Love Me Tender" (which replaced "The Reno Brothers" as the film's title). Of the other soundtrack songs, "Poor Boy" led in airplay. The pleasant production receives a lift from Presley's participation, but his 1950s style appears anachronistic. Sad-eyed mother Mildred Dunnock (as Martha) does well, and Dick Sargent has a good bit announcing General Robert E. Lee's surrender.
**** Love Me Tender (11/15/56) Robert D. Webb ~ Elvis Presley, Richard Egan, Debra Paget, Mildred Dunnock