It's a good title. I think I'm safe in assuming that it refers to Yancy's (Audie Murphy) seeming choice between females: the wild Marcy(Joanne Dru), an aging saloon girl, who likes to get drunk and frolic, or the seemingly innocent shy teenage hillbilly Rosalie(Sandra Dee). In terms of actual age of the actors, Joanne and Audie were pretty similar, and twice the age of the 17 year old Sandra. Audie thought she was a more desirable candidate for a wife than Sandra, but she wasn't interested in becoming a backwoods woman. Yancy has always been a trapper, along with his father. Although he seems polite and respectful, he's just not her idea of a fun playmate, being too young and unsophisticated. Audie seems to be playing a man in his early twenties, although being 35. He says he ran out of fingers and toes in counting his age. Thus, his character's age is not all that much more than Rosalie's. So, why did he keep pushing Rosalie away? Of course, at first, she looked disheveled, with her unkept hair and soiled dress, was illiterate, and talked very little, mostly pouting, with a blank expression. So, even after her appearance was upgraded, he was not that attracted to her. Yet, he was willing to risk his life to prevent her from becoming a saloon girl and a plaything of the 54y.o. Sheriff Bartell(Gilbert Roland), who owned the saloon, and apparently 'broke in' new recruits. And, when it came down to the wire, he took her to town, when he said he couldn't, and took her back home when she looked so soulful at him when he was about to leave without her.Of course, Sandra was perfect for her role, Audie perhaps less so in his role as an almost equal innocent. Of course, their characters were burlesqued in this respect. I have to wonder why Rosalie was so shy, and disheveled. Was she trying to make herself unattractive to men? I found Struther Martin hilarious as Sandra's thieving father. Gilbert Roland made a good lecherous owner of the saloon. Joanne Dru made it clear to Yancy that she was treated as an outcast by polite society in the town. Although she might frequently be dressed in fancy clothes, she was not considered a lady. Polite society was scandalized when she attended a social with Yancy.Yancy engages in several fights with cowboys or townies, and shoots one man dead, providing some 'action'. The catchy theme song "A Touch of Pink" is featured in the upbeat finale.See it in color at YouTube. I think you will find it a fun film.

One reason the old TV sitcom I Dream of Jeannie remains popular is that it keeps us yelling at our screens: "Major Nelson, you idiot! Can't you see that Jeannie is totally gorgeous and is hooked on you? You can make any wish. What are you waiting for?" We wonder if he'll ever wise up. A similar plot element drives this innocent yet sometimes wise story, made in a happily more naive time than today, and depicting a time and place even more so. About half-way through this movie, I angrily thought somebody should compose a sarcastic plot synopsis that begins: "A blind, gay, castrated, autistic mountain man is accompanied on a journey by a beautiful blonde nymphet..." But then I realized that the filmmakers had hooked me in precisely the manner they meant to. Sandra Dee does an excellent job as Rosalie. And at a dewy and budding 17, she is very attractive, modern society's scolding admonitions that teenage girls cannot possibly be appealing to normal adults notwithstanding. This movie's heart is in the right place. Some of the characters are perhaps a bit archetypal and cliché, but that is part of the charm and fun of it. See it if you get the chance.

I saw this movie once years ago and always thought it had been made in black and white,which shows how long ago it was it was when my parents still owned a black and white set.I do remember really liking it though and had always wanted to see it again,finally i got the chance a couple of days ago and it was as good as i remembered . The Wild And The Innocent is an unusual little western and i cant say its like anything else I've seen before or since.Its a sort of tale about morals and the decisions that people might make in life and how easy it is to make the wrong ones,there is always somebody corrupt around the corner who will prey on those that are naive and will use them for their own advantage. Audie Murphy plays a young fur trapper named Yancy who goes to town reluctantly with a young runaway girl named Rosalie{Sandra Dee},and together they get into all sorts of trouble through their naivety towards town life.He wants to help Rosalie find a job,and then he can go his separate way,but its not that simple.Towards the end of the film he wisens up when he finally realises that the job Rosalie has been offered is more than what the job description says,and he must try to save her before its too late. The Wild And The Innocent is a charmingly romantic film which seems to be sadly forgotten,i think it needs to be shown more as I'm sure there are a lot of viewers out there who would really appreciate this little movie if they only knew about it.As one reviewer on here as commented you need to look at the era it was made in to really appreciate it. I love this movie and the ending makes it all worthwhile,ill give it 9/10

I really should have given it a 5 of 10, but it just felt good to watch.This movie reminds me of some of the Elvis movies where they surrounded him with great character actors. Audie was famous years before Elvis, but in a different way. I would not be surprised if Audie was a hero of Elvis.Anyway, this is a vehicle movie made for Audie, and it works fine. Audie is a good actor, and you will always get what you expect from one of his movies. Sandra Dee is good as well; she conveys much with her pouty face without ever saying a word.Worth watching.