Love Me Tender (1956)

Love Me Tender

• This was Elvis’s first feature film, and though it felt like every other western/drama, he had a really great performance. I enjoyed this one to an extent, and though the story was decently good, there were several parts that were kinda iffy. A lot of the scenes felt pretty exaggerated, although the acting was pretty good all around. I obviously enjoyed Elvis, but Richard Egan also did a really good job. He has the classic western look/build, so casting him in one of the lead roles was a great choice. Both him and Elvis did a good job of showing both love and hate, which made the movie interesting. Watching Clint and Vance’s relationship progress throughout the movie was the best part of the story. It shows you how destructive love can potentially be, which is something you don’t always think about. Along with the actual drama, there were some great action scenes. Although they were pretty minor, it still put the western thrill into the movie. The music was great, and though it wasn’t anything too original, it still added a nice feel to the movie. Hearing Elvis sing “Love Me Tender” was a real treat, as it’s so beautifully sung. I wasn’t a big fan of the other songs he sang, however. Although his voice was great as always, the songs themselves weren’t anything special. One thing I hated was his dancing. He used a lot of his late 50’s moves, which didn’t match the Civil War setting at all. It obviously felt way too modern, and they shouldn't have been added. Overall, this movie was decent, though corny and some exaggerated acting. But, it was still good, and for Elvis’s first movie, he did a great job. I’d recommend it to western/drama/Civil War fans.