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| “Love Me Tender” | |
|---|---|
| Single by Elvis Presley | |
| from the album Love Me Tender | |
| B-side | “Any Way You Want Me” |
| Released | September 28, 1956 |
| Format | 7″ single |
| Recorded | August 24, 1956, 20th Century Fox Studios, Los Angeles, California |
| Genre | Ballad |
| Length | 2:41 |
| Label | RCA Victor |
| Songwriter(s) | Music: George R. Poulton Lyrics: Ken Darby |
| Producer(s) | Ernie OelhrichThorne Norgar |
| Elvis Presley singles chronology | |
| “Shake, Rattle and Roll“ (1956)”Love Me Tender“ (1956)”Too Much” / “Playing for Keeps“ (1957) |
“Love Me Tender” is a 1956 song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music from the 20th Century Fox film of the same name. The words are credited to Ken Darby under the pseudonym “Vera Matson”, the name of his wife, and Elvis Presley. The RCA Victor recording by Elvis Presley was no. 1 on both the Billboard and Cashbox charts in 1956. The song was adapted from the melody for “Aura Lee“, a sentimental Civil War ballad.
The 1956 song “Love Me Tender” puts new words to a new musical adaptation of the Civil War song “Aura Lee,” published in 1861. “Aura Lee” had music by George R. Poulton and words by W. W. Fosdick. It later became popular with college glee clubs and barbershop quartets. It was also sung at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.
The principal writer of the lyrics was Ken Darby, who also adapted Poulton’s Civil War tune, which was in the public domain. The song was published by Elvis Presley Music. and credited to Presley and Darby’s wife Vera Matson. Presley received co-songwriting credit due to his Hill & Range publishing deal which demanded songwriters concede 50 percent of the credit of their song if they wanted Presley to record it; Presley had songwriting input on only a very small number of the many songs he recorded
| Love Me Tender | |
|---|---|
| film poster by Tom Chantrell | |
| Directed by | Robert D. Webb Stanley Hough (ass’t) |
| Produced by | David Weisbart |
| Screenplay by | Robert Buckner |
| Based on | story by Maurice Geraghty |
| Starring | Richard Egan Debra Paget Elvis Presley |
| Music by | Lionel Newman |
| Cinematography | Leo Tover |
| Edited by | Hugh S. Fowler |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date | November 15, 1956 |
| Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,250,000 |
| Box office | $4.5 million (US rentals) |
Love Me Tender is a 1956 American black-and-white musical western CinemaScope film directed by Robert D. Webb, and released by 20th Century Fox on November 15, 1956. The film, named after the song, stars Richard Egan, Debra Paget, and Elvis Presley in his acting debut. As Presley’s movie debut, it was the only time in his acting career that he did not receive top billing.
Love Me Tender was originally to be titled The Reno Brothers, but when advanced sales of Presley’s “Love Me Tender” single passed one million—a first for a single—the film’s title was changed to match. This was the only time that Presley played a historical figure.
Wallis’ partner, Joe Hazen, commented: “As a straight actor, the guy has great potentialities.” His first screen test, a scene from the William Inge play The Girls of Summer, resulted in drama coach Charlotte Clary declaring to her class of students, “Now that is a natural born actor”.
On April 2, Wallis offered Presley a contract for one motion picture, with options on six more. The contract was finalized on April 25, and also stipulated that Presley was free to make at least one picture a year for other studios.
By August 17 Fox announced the four brothers would be played by James Drury, Cameron Mitchell, Presley and Egan. The New York Times called Presley’s casting “somewhere between fantasy and drama” and said his next film would be for Paramount, The Lonesome Cowboy. William Campbell played another brother. Cameron Mitchell eventually turned down his role and was replaced by Neville Brand.
The moment Presley’s casting was announced, Fox was deluged with queries about the film from Presley’s fans. It was decided to expand his part and give him some songs to sing.
Weibsart said during the shoot Presley was “humble, polite, solicitous… He was co operative with us, never late, and very serious about acting. This was another kind of career for him.”
When Presley appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show during a break in filming the movie, on September 9, he performed “Love Me Tender” for the first time. Two weeks later RCA confirmed that advanced sales of the single had resulted in it going Gold before even being released—an industry first. (It sold one million copies pre ordered and ultimately ended up selling two million copies.)
On 2 September, Fox announced the film’s title would be changed from The Reno Brothers to Love Me Tender.
Test screenings of the film resulted in people being upset at the death of Presley’s character. Attempting to reach a compromise between the death and pleasing his fans, Presley filmed an extra scene and recorded an extra verse to the title track to be played over the end credits.
In its first week of release the film grossed $540,000, #2 at the box office for that week, beaten only by James Dean’s posthumous release Giant, and had made back the money it cost the studio to produce it.
Within weeks it had recouped the costs of the negatives, and despite being released in November, the film finished 1956 as the 23rd highest-grossing film of the year.
Watch the movie “Love Me Tender”
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