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Love Me Tender, a review by GSyren

Love me tender (7-340112-705220)

United States 1956 | Released 2013-10-23 on Bluray from Fox-Paramount Home Entertainment

90 minutes | Aspect ratio 2.35:1 | Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, Spanish Dolby Digital Mono, Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, German DTS 5.1, Italian DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, Polish Dolby Digital Mono, Commentary Dolby Digital Mono

Directed by Robert Webb and starring Elvis Presley, Richard Egan, Debra Paget, Robert Middleton, William Campbell

Moviegoers were introduced to Elvis Presley in this film set during the dying hours of the Civil War. Elvis sings four songs, including the title song. The year is 1865, and the three Confederate Reno brothers don't know the war has ended. They manage to steal a Union Army payroll, and head for home with the money. While Vance (Richard Egan) can think only of the love of his life, Cathy (Debra Paget), it turns out that the brothers have been reported dead, and Cathy has married their youngest brother Clint (Elvis Presley). Vance accepts this until he learns that Cathy still loves him. To complicate things, the U.S. Army knows of the brothers' theft and is hunting them down.

My thoughts about Love me tender:

Love Me Tender was a blind buy for me. I did not know what to expect, but I did not expect this. Love Me Tender feels a bit like it's suffering from split personality. On the one hand it's a fairly good B-movie western. On the other hand it is an Elvis movie. Or perhaps I should say "an Elvis movie wannabe". Anyway, the two does not mix very well. Elvis' routines seem very anachronistic in an 1865 setting. Love Me Tender is the one and only Elvis movie where Elvis does not receive top billing. And it is probably also the only Elvis movie where Elvis was an afterthought. And that explains the duality of the movie. There are no real big names in the cast, but many competent actors like Richard Egan, Debra Paget and Neville Brand. And in uncredited small roles actors like L. Q. Jones and Dick Sargent. If you're expecting a "regular" Elvis movie, then you probably will be disappointed. If you watch it as just another B-movie western, you'll be OK if you can disregard the rather uncalled for musical numbers. I had no problems with that, so I thought it was fine enough.

I rate this title

(From Reviews and ramblings by Gunnar on March 21st, 2015)

Melody Time, a review by Danae Cassandra

Melody Time
Year of Release: 1948
Directed By: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Jack Kinney
Starring: Roy Rogers, Trigger, Dennis Day, The Andrews Sisters
Genre: Comedy, Musical, Animation

Overview:
In the grand tradition of Disney's greatest musical classics such as Fantasia, Melody TimeMelody Time is a delightful Disney classic with something for everyone in your family!

My Thoughts:
Another of Disney's package films, and like the others I've watched this year sadly sanitized for home video release (excising a smoking bit from Pecos Bill). I enjoyed all of the segments here, though my favorite was Trees (and I'm apparently in the minority with that). Bumble Boogie was also a lot of fun, as is Blame it on the Samba which reunites the Donald, Jose Carioca, and the Aracuan Bird. The more conventional Little Toot, Once Upon a Wintertime, and Pecos Bill are cute cartoons, but I found Johnny Appleseed to be a bit too saccharine. Recommended if you like Disney's short cartoons.

This would make a great 2-pack with Make Mine Music, should Disney decide to release them on blu-ray.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 7th, 2016)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Tom

3.09 Dead Guy Running (1998-01-04)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Created By), Julie Lacey (Writer)
Director: George Bloomfield
Cast

(From "Due South" marathon on January 3rd, 2010)