The Wild and the Innocent

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The Wild and the Innocent is a 1959 American Western film directed by Jack Sher. It stars Audie Murphy and Sandra Dee and was filmed in CinemaScope.

Plot
Yancy, a shy mountain trapper, travels through Wyoming with his uncle Lije and Lije’s Indian wife. After Lije is injured by a bear, Yancy goes to trade their furs in a distant town. The trading post has been burned by an Indian who was sold moonshine by a lazy thief named Ben Stocker. Stocker tries to trade his daughter Rosalie to Yancy for furs, but Yancy refuses. The next day, Rosalie runs away and asks Yancy to take her to town.

In town, Yancy trades his furs and helps Rosalie get clothes for work. The town’s corrupt sheriff, Paul Bartell, tries to put Rosalie to work at a dance hall. Yancy discovers the truth of what’s happening and tries to rescue Rosalie. Bartell won’t let her go, so Yancy shoots him in self-defense. The following day, Yancy plans to head back to the mountains, but Rosalie doesn’t want to part from him. In the end, Uncle Lije and Yancy ride into the mountains with Rosalie on Yancy’s horse.

Production notes
Filming took place in Big Bear Lake, California, in October 1958. The film’s working title was The Buckskin Lad and the Calico Girl. It was the final Universal-International film shot in CinemaScope.

Cast (brief)
- Audie Murphy as Yancy
- Sandra Dee as Rosalie
- Gilbert Roland as Sheriff Paul Bartell
- Strother Martin as Ben Stocker
- Jim Backus as Mr. Forbes
- Betty Harford as Mrs. Forbes