Elvis Presley is credited as co-writer of the film's four songs, but in fact had little to do with writing them; it was just for purposes of royalties. Elvis did reveal at a 1968 press conference , when asked about his " lack of songwriting, in general" that he did contribute one line of lyrics to the title song, "Love Me Tender".
Elvis Presley was later offered the starring role in director Robert D. Webb's next film, The Way to the Gold, but 20th Century-Fox refused to pay the $250,000 plus 50% of the profits that Elvis' manager asked (Fox had offered $150,000 plus 50%).
Elvis Presley's real-life backing musicians Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana were not allowed to play the roles of the band in the movie because according to the casting crew they didn't look like country musicians.
A record number of prints of "Love Me Tender" were struck in 1956 to accommodate the demand for Elvis Presley's movie debut.
Although this started out as a "B" feature, it wound up costing approximately $1,000,000. It reportedly made its production cost back in only the first three days of release.
Average Shot Length (ASL) = 9.5 seconds
Extra scenes and lines were added for Elvis Presley's character, which was originally supposed to be a minor role before he got the part.
In its opening weekend film it shot to #2 in Variety's list. Only James Dean's film Giant had more viewers.
Made back its production cost - approximately $1,000,000 - on its opening weekend.
Of all the movies starring Elvis Presley, this is the only one in which he didn't get top billing. He was billed third, after Richard Egan and Debra Paget.
Possibly the first American film to use a "Squib hit" on an actor (using an explosive under clothing with a blood pack to simulate a bullet hit).
The film was produced by 20th Century-Fox but the premiere was at the Paramount Theater on Broadway in New York City. Thousands of fans were outside the building on the night of premiere. A huge paperboard with the image of Elvis Presley was on the outside of the building.
The footage of Elvis Presley singing "Love Me Tender" at the end was shot after preview audiences reacted badly to his character's fate. This new footage created a continuity error, as Elvis had dyed his hair black by the time of the additional shooting, while in the movie his hair color was closer to blonde.
The part of "Clint Reno" was originally offered to 20th Century-Fox contract players Robert Wagner and Jeffrey Hunter and also actor Cameron Mitchell before Presley got it on loan to Fox from Hal B. Wallis, to whom he was under contract.
The title song, "Love Me Tender" was taken from the Civil War ballad "Aure Lea", written by W. W. Fosdick (words) and George R. Poulton (music). That song first appeared on the screen in 1936 sung by a Francis Farmer in "Come And Get It". It was adopted, almost from its' beginning, as the "school song" of The West Point Military Academy and was part of the soundtrack for The West Point Story and _The Long Grey Line (1954)_.
This is the only movie in which the character played by Elvis Presley dies on-screen.
Title was changed from "The Reno Brothers" to promote the title song sung by Elvis Presley.
When the film played in theaters, Elvis Presley's fans were screaming so loud that audiences couldn't hear any of his lines.