On November 15, 1956 Elvis Presley made his movie debut in
Love Me Tender. It seems impossibly long ago...and just like yesterday at the same time. No one had ever seen such a huge presence on the big screen. The way I remember it, he was bigger than anyone else on the screen. His presence completely filled the theater — until you could barely even recognize that there were actually other actors in the movie.
Of course, I was younger then. Wide-eyed and crushing on the crooner, I admit I might be a biased critic. But, as the movie turns 59 years old this year, I can share a few things about
Love Me Tender that make it a stand-out among all of Elvis' films:
- It's one of the very few movies where Elvis doesn't get the girl.
- He sang only four songs.
- It was the only time he ever played a historical figure.
- He was not the star of the film.
- It was the first and last time Elvis didn't receive top billing.
In case you haven't seen it, I won't tell you
why Elvis doesn't get the girl. (Hint: it's very sad.) If you have seen it, you know why. And you also know why you the 59th anniversary of Elvis's debut film is the perfect excuse to curl up with a cozy throw in your favorite Elvis t-shirt and watch it again. And again.
