Love Me Tender (1956)

We're kicking off Viva Pod Vegas (earlier than anticipated!) with Elvis Presley's first feature film: Love Me Tender! In this episode, we get up to speed with Elvis's movie career trajectory from birth to the time of making this movie, talk about the way Love Me Tender changed once Elvis was on board, and wonder if this was truly the role he was "born to play." We discuss all four songs from this movie (including our collective favorite, "Poor Boy"), ache for Elvis's character stuck between worlds, and explore the symmetry of the Clint and Vance Reno characters. We also talk about the recent news that they're making a new James Dean movie, wonder if that could happen with Elvis, and wonder whether Riley Keough would get to act alongside her grandfather. This movie "introduces" Elvis Presley (heard of him???), so let's get to know him.