# CNS406 - Elvis Presley "Wild in the Country" US Half Dollar Commemorative Coin

Elvis Presley is rightly called the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.  Not only was he a singing sensation, he was also a movie star!  This coin highlights one of hit films Elvis starred in. 
Mystic has permanently bonded a vibrant image of Elvis to this uncirculated US Half Dollar.  The coin features an original photograph of Presley from his estate’s official archives along with an image of his signature. The coin is officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Wild in the Country

Here are some neat facts about the film, Wild in the Country:

• Wild in the Country was filmed in the fall of 1961. The supporting cast included Hollywood heavyweights Hope Lange, Tuesday Weld, Millie Perkins, and Jason Robards, Sr.  It was a “first” of sorts – Memphis Mafia-member Red West had a speaking role in the first of a string of movies.
• Elvis celebrated his 26th birthday on the set of Wild in the Country.
• “Husky Dusky Day,” sung in the movie by Elvis Presley and Hope Lange, wasn’t released for years and appeared on an official record only in the 1990s.
• Wild in the Country was intended to be a drama. Elvis’s character, Glenn’s singing was eventually written into the script.
• Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson played Davis in the movie. Johnson was present at the 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy and helped disarm Sirhan Sirhan.  Fans of James Bond films will recognize Johnson as a D.E.A. agent in License to Kill.
• Millie Perkins, Elvis’ love interest in Wild in the Country, later played Gladys Presley in the 1990 television series Elvis.
• Elvis recorded “Lonely Man” on November 7, 1960. The songwriting team of Bennie Benjamin and Sol Marcus wrote the song  The team wrote a song entitled “Surrender” that was a 1946 hit for Perry Como.  Ironically, the flip side of “Lonely Man” featured an entirely different song entitled “Surrender” with lyrics by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. 
• “Lonely Man” spent five weeks on the charts and peaked at #32. Although it was recorded for Wild in the Country “Lonely Man” and a tune named “Forget Me Never” weren’t included in the movie.