Elvis Presley plays a troubled young "country boy" who faces The Law after administering a deadly punch. He receives parole; then, the court has him move in with his uncle, and attend counseling sessions. There are three women who incur Elvis' attentions - Hope Lange is the "sophisticated" psychiatrist, Tuesday Weld is the "sexy" cousin, and Millie Perkins is the "nice" girl.
The story's structure is much like "Jailhouse Rock". It differs from that film in that Elvis more prowess as a actor than a singer. What hurts the film is a plodding story which becomes to hard to understand. It seems to be about the difference in societal classes. The religious imagery gets very heavy when, during a "flood", people march into a motel "two by two" with Elvis quoting the Bible.
Elvis' status as an undiscovered writer is made believable during a scene where the script give him some imaginative dialog, which he delivers well. Eventually, the film turns into a soap opera - more contrived than authentic. A couple of songs are nice, but they add nothing to the story.
**** Wild in the Country (6/15/61) Philip Dunne ~ Elvis Presley, Hope Lange, Tuesday Weld, Millie Perkins
The story's structure is much like "Jailhouse Rock". It differs from that film in that Elvis more prowess as a actor than a singer. What hurts the film is a plodding story which becomes to hard to understand. It seems to be about the difference in societal classes. The religious imagery gets very heavy when, during a "flood", people march into a motel "two by two" with Elvis quoting the Bible.
Elvis' status as an undiscovered writer is made believable during a scene where the script give him some imaginative dialog, which he delivers well. Eventually, the film turns into a soap opera - more contrived than authentic. A couple of songs are nice, but they add nothing to the story.
**** Wild in the Country (6/15/61) Philip Dunne ~ Elvis Presley, Hope Lange, Tuesday Weld, Millie Perkins