At its New York premiere, fans camped out overnight, and inside the theater, their screams often drowned out Elvis’s lines. Although his role was minor at first, extra scenes were added for him, and while he didn’t get top billing, he took acting seriously, memorizing all his lines — and even others’.
He was humble, hardworking, and determined to be more than just a singer. Ironically, despite wanting a non-singing role, Elvis performs multiple times in the movie — even in an 1860s setting, complete with screaming fans.
The film loosely draws on the real-life Reno Gang, making it Elvis’s only historical role. He was credited as co-writer on four songs, but his lyrical input was minimal.
The melody of Love Me Tender comes from a Civil War ballad called “Aura Lee.” The song topped charts for weeks and became one of Elvis’s most enduring hits.
Off-screen, Elvis became smitten with co-star Debra Paget, whom he once proposed to, but her parents objected. Debra described their bond as innocent and childlike, though Elvis was clearly infatuated. It’s said that Priscilla Presley later mimicked Debra’s hairstyle to catch Elvis’s eye. Fans and even Elvis’s mother were so upset by Clint Reno’s tragic death at the end of the film that a final shot of Elvis singing was added to soften the ending — but caused a continuity error due to his now-dark hair.
