Lure of the Wilderness is a 1952 American Technicolor romantic adventure film directed by Jean Negulesco and based on the 1941 novel Swamp Water by Vereen Bell.

While looking for Careless, Ben is hit in the head by someone, and when he awakens, he finds himself captured by two people living in the wilderness: old Jim Harper and his fierce, aggressive but beautiful daughter Laurie.

Fearing lynching, Jim and his daughter have since fled the nearby village to live in the wilderness.

Despite Laurie's clear lack of trust in him, Ben believes Jim's story and tells them that he wants to return to civilization to receive a fair trial.

As revenge, the Longdens nearly drown Ben and later try to find the Harpers to kill them so the truth will not emerge.