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In June 1961 20th Century Fox released "Wild In The Country". Without the competition of another Presley movie the US/Canada business made 2.5 million USD for the studio, which meant 5 million USD at the box office. Translated to the present by our factor 15 the box office would be 75 million USD with 37.5 million USD for 20th Century Fox. Once again this was nowhere near of what "Love Me Tender" had made in 1956 or Paramount had earned with the more recent "G.I. Blues". As a result 20th Century Fox didn't hire Elvis ever again.
In Germany the movie was released on September 1, 1960 and was called "Lied Des Rebellen". Translated the title means "Song Of The Rebel".
Because his temper causes him constant trouble and his dad is struggling with the situation, Glenn Tyler (Elvis) is to live with his uncle and to visit a psychological therapy. The therapist is named Irene Sperry, who discovers Glenn's talent as a writer.
Jerry Wald (producer), Philip Dunne (director), Clifford Odets (script, based on the novel "The Lost Country" by J.R. Salamanca), Kenyon Hopkins (music), William C. Mellor (camera), Dorothy Spencer (editor).
Elvis Presley (Glenn Tyler), Hope Lange (Irene Sperry), Tuesday Weld (Noreen Braxton), Millie Perkins (Betty Lee Parsons), Rafer Johnson (Davis), John Ireland (Phil Macy), Gary Lockwood (Cliff Macy) und William Mims (Rolfe Braxton).. Once again Elvis' voice was dubbed by Rainer Brandt.
On November 11, 1960, barely six weeks after the production of "Flaming Star" had ended, 20th Century Fox started to shoot "Wild In The Country". Until January 18, 1961 the crew worked in St. Helena, Napa Valley, at The University Of California and at the 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles. According to the arrangement from 1958 Elvis was paid $250,000, which would be 3.8 million USD today when using the factor 15.
By including songs in a movie meant to be taken serious the studio repeated the mistake already made with "Love Me Tender" and "Flaming Star". While "In My Way" and "Husky Dusky Day" were tolerable, "I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell" was as ridicolous as "Summer Kisses, Winter Tears" had been in "Flaming Star". Glenn turns on the car radio and sings along to an instrumental version of the tune. WTF?!?
In February and May 1961 RCA Victor released "Lonely Man" and "Wild In The Country" on the flipsides of "Surrender" and "I Feel So Bad". Both singles, albeit not because of the movie tunes, sold 8.5 million units. The other songs from the movie were issued on the albums "Something For Everybody" (1961) and "Elvis For Everyone!" (1965).
Explosive Media released a blu ray version of "Wild In The Country" in August 2018. For a review just tap on the cover.
Maybe the project had looked good on paper, but the result was not all that convincing. The movie seems to go on forever, the script lacks substance and, for whatever reason, Elvis' acting was worse than in "Flaming Star". To make it short: Story and actor were stretched beyond their limits.
Movie Posters and BluRay Cover (C) 20th Century Fox, Record Covers (C) RCA Victor and Follow That Dream Records