The Wild One (1954)
The Wild One Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Johnny Strabler / Narrator
as Kathie Bleeker
as Chino
as Sheriff Harry Bleeker
as Sheriff Singer
as Mildred
as Charlie Thomas
as Frank Bleeker
as Bill Hannegan
as Art Kleiner
as Ben
as Wilson
as Jimmy
as Britches
as Gringo
as Mouse
as Dinky
as Red
as Dextro
as Crazy
as Pigeon
as Go-Go
as Boxer
as Stinger
as Betty
as Simmonds
as Sawyer
as Chino Boy
as Cyclist
as Dorothy
as Mrs. Thomas
as Racer
Critic Reviews for The Wild One
All Critics (21) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (4) | DVD (1)
Marlon Brando turns in a tremendously powerful performance as the inarticulate, frozen-faced, truculent outlaw who heads the gang of motorcycle hoodlums.
Legions of Brando impersonators have turned his performance in this seminal 1954 motorcycle movie into self-parody, but it's still a sleazy good time.
Brando's biker seems disarmingly tame by comparison with the wild angels he spawned. Yet the film isn't half bad.
The first and best biker movie.
The film is outdated and its message overly stated, but in 1953, Brando's rebel unwittingly became a new screen hero and heralded the arrival of the Beat Generation.
Risible and outdated.
Audience Reviews for The Wild One
A young and angry Marlon Brando lights up the screen as an aimless biker gang leader rebelling against whatever he can find in this cult classic from the 50s. Johnny is the leader of the Black Rebels Motorcycle Club, and he spends most of his time just cruising around and raising hell. Things start to change when he and his crew invade a small, sleepy California town and he meets a cute young lady who might just be what he needs to change his ways. That all changes when he finds out that her dad is the local cop. Not only that, but he's also got to deal with the intolerance of the townspeople, and a rival gang leader named Chino, played by the always cool Lee Marvin. I liked this one. I liked it maybe even more than Rebel Without A Cause. This is certainly not as overrated or heavy handed as that one. It's a nice existential drama, and for a B movie, it's shot and executed far better than it has a right to be. Yeah, it's not the deepest film, but it's not totally devoid of substance, either. The acting is pretty solid. Brando is course is uber cool as Johnny, oozing a quiet strength. Marvin is larger than life, and somewhat cartoony, but hey, it works. The other performers aren't as well known, but they do decently in their respective roles. All in all, this is a pretty good one.
Super Reviewer
Dated and a bit ridiculous now partially owing to the familiarity of some of the actors playing gang members who went on to careers as reliable supporting actors. How threatening can Jerry Helper from The Dick Van Dyke show really be now after years of watching him with Rob, Laura and devoted wife Millie? Aside from that all the actors are too old to be believable as a roving gang of purported teens.
Super Reviewer
This is one of my absolute favourite biker movies. Brando is perfect in the lead role. The story is good, and the movie is exciting.
Super Reviewer
The Wild One Quotes
| Johnny: | I'm rebelling against high taxes. |
| Mildred: | Hey, Johnny, what are you rebelling against? |
| Johnny: | What've you got? |