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Wild in the Country is the best Elvis movie

posted 18 years ago by liberalcajun
9 replies | jump to latest

This film by far is the best Elvis film. The title song is good. Hope was great in this...she looks as lovely as ever.

[–] sdeyerle 17 years ago

What an amazing film! I just ran across it this morning on AMC quite by accident.
I had always heard that "Flaming Star" was supposed to be Elvis' best dramatic role, but I thought this was a much more natural fit for his style of acting.
I did think that the musical number in the pickup truck was a bit cheesy and out of place given the dramatic tenor of the rest of the film, but I suppose it was in the interest of marketability.
In many respects, it seemed Tenessee Williams-esque.

[–] liberalcajun 17 years ago

You are correct it did have a touch of Tennessee Williams in it...maybe the location....it looks like a Southern setting.

" All that there really is to life is what happens next " from The Misfits 1961

[–] PaulJPoduslo 17 years ago

Yes it was indeed his best film.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sean4554 14 years ago

I put the dvd in today and watched "Wild In The Country" for the first time in many years and enjoyed it. What bugged me most is the inconsistent directing; some scenes have good acting and other ones mediocre, on the part of everyone. (Ireland was guilty of this the most often). The story is all right, nothing great by any means. I really doubt anyone would remember this film at all if Elvis hadn't starred in it. But we're glad he did appear in this film.
And he does extremely well! The motel scene especially, this may be the finest acting sequence of his career. The worst scene is the first one with Elvis in Lange's office, the dialogue was unbelievable and situation improbable and neither of the two seem to know how to play it. There are a myriad of flaws really but small quibbles for an Elvis film.
Is this his best movie? It is absolutely in the top 5 at least. "Wild In The Country" still doesn't cut it as a good film, but it's close enough to demonstrate what talent Elvis (like his character) had and could have developed - if things had been different. It's quite sad.

[–] smiller224 9 years ago

Hi liberalcajun....I agree with you 100%!!! I feel this is the best movie Elvis ever made also. he was very dramatic ....in fact if this movie were made today, I feel Elvis should have been awarded an Oscar for his terrific performance ...and Hope Lange also. I thought the entire cast was superb!!! Those were the days.....those days of Elvis, Blue Hawaii, My Way, and another favorite movie Elvis made .... Follow That Dream.....here in Ocala/Silver Springs, Fl and I got to see him in person. Ah, what great times I enjoyed back then !!!

[–] Wuchak (8110) 3 years ago

I’d put it up there with "Blue Hawaii" (1961), "Kid Galahad" (1962) and “Roustabout” (1964), but it’s the most dramatic of these and you have to persevere with the mundane set-up of the first half, which some viewers will find boring. The second half, however, pulls the rug out from under the viewer and is quite compelling, not to mention risqué for its time. It’s a well-done soap opera with Elvis.

[–] [email protected] (1636) 2 years ago

Top 5 Elvis films for me.

1. Jailhouse Rock
2. King Creole
3. Flaming Star
4. Wild in the Country
5. Loving You

Have 6 other honorable mentions that I find enjoyable as well:

Fun in Acapulco
Roustabout
Live A Little, Love A Little
Charro
Kid Galahad
Change of Habit

[–] Wuchak (8110) a year ago

Blue Hawaii
Roustabout
Wild in the Country
Viva Las Vegas
Follow That Dream

Kid Galahad
Live a Little, Love a Little
Easy Come, Easy Go
Jailhouse Rock
Charro