The Wild One is a 1953 movie directed by Laslo Benedek.
The Wild One tells the story of Johnny, the leader of a rebel motorcycle gang. The bikers invade a small town and cause havoc, before the locals fight back – leading to an unfortunate end.
It’s hard to separate this movie from both its lead actor and the cultural impression forged by its release. While nostalgia may color this view, The Wild One is emblematic of 1950’s cinema and more specifically, classic teenage angst.
Marlon Brando became a pop culture icon and a symbol of rebellion, which unfortunately overshadows what is a terrific, nuanced acting performance.
In this sense, the movie’s most memorable line can be easily disposable: “What are you rebelling against? What do you got?” Underneath this dialogue is a storm of emotions, confusion and violence that Brando delicately represses.
Brando’s intensity is unrivaled but what’s also impressive is how he locks onto his character’s insecurity and mistrust of the world. When he fails to lessen any emotional attachments to Mary Murphy’s Kathie, he immediately acts to remove himself from the situation.
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