Hope Lange - Elvis Presley's co-star in 'Wild In The Country'
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The appearance of her photo in a newspaper led to work as a model and eventually work on television. She was spotted on the Kraft Television Theatre by film producer Buddy Adler who brought her to Hollywood at the age of 26 for her first film role, which was in the 1956 movie 'Bus Stop', starring Marilyn Monroe. Ms. Lange's first husband, actor Don Murray, was also in the film. They were married from 1956 to 1961 and had two children together - son Christopher and Patricia.
In 1956, Hope Lange co-founded the Homeless European Land Program, a private initiative dedicated to the resettling of Eastern European refugees on the Italian island of Sardinia. Don Murray said that she put all her money into the project, living a sparse life herself for two years in order to fund the program.
![]() Hope Lange
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Her career continued with roles in such films as 'The Young Lions' with Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando and 'The Best of Everything' with Joan Crawford.
And of course the 1961 role of Irene Sperry, opposite Elvis Presley's Glenn Tyler in 'Wild In The Country'. By 1968 she had the lead role in the TV series 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' for which she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in both 1969 and 1970. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for the role in 1969.
She starred opposite Dick Van Dyke from 1971 to 1974 on 'The New Dick Van Dyke Show'. She received Emmy nomination for her work in the 1972 TV production of 'That Certain Summer'. In 1974, she played the role of Charles Bronson's wife in 'Death Wish'. Some of her other film roles were in 'Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge' (1985), 'Blue Velvet' (1986), and 'Clear and Present Danger' (1994). Her last film was 'Just Cause' (1995) with Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne and Kate Capshaw. Also appearing with her in that film was her actor son Christopher Murray. who has also been in the film 'The Pelican Brief' and on TV shows such as 'Crossing Jordan' and the 'The West Wing'.
Hope Lange died in Santa Monica, California on December 19, 2003 at the age of 70, due to complications from ischemic colitis. She was survived by her husband, her two children and two grandchildren.
In praise of Wild In The Country
Inside Wild In The Country - On set and Location 1960
Wild In The Country - 20th Century Fox 1961
Buy Wild In The Country FTD CD
Buy Wild In The Country DVD (NTSC Region 1)
Buy The Elvis Presley Collection 6 DVD Set (PAL Region 4) Includes Wild In The Country DVD.
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.