The Wild One (1953)

Featured Audience Ratings

• AJ V

  
  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.

• Cindy I

  
  I'm probably going to make enemies throughout the cosmos for this, but...I'm not impressed with Marlon Brando. Never have been. I will admit that he has put in some great performances -- I'm not a moron -- and he did have a few moments here that I liked, but for the… More
  I'm probably going to make enemies throughout the cosmos for this, but...I'm not impressed with Marlon Brando. Never have been. I will admit that he has put in some great performances -- I'm not a moron -- and he did have a few moments here that I liked, but for the most part I find him mannered and pretentious, and his voice mannerisms and inflections are irritating. As a result, this film didn't really do anything for me. It was good but not great, for a number of reasons. First, I had the problem of being distracted by Brando. Next, the dialogue is incredibly dated. I'm a fan of older films and period pieces, and generally I can get into the rhythm of the time period with little problem, even films set in previous centuries. But for some reason, this "coolspeak" came across as really fake, as if it was written by older people who THOUGHT that's the way the kids talked, but didn't really understand it themselves. Finally, I wasn't even sure what I was supposed to take away from it. I thought the theme was going to be that when the townspeople decided to take justice into their own hands, their behavior was no better than the biker gang. But that wasn't really explored enough. Was I supposed to be angry at the bikers for being jerks to the townfolks? Angry with the town for not being tolerant of the bikers, who were just out to have some fun? Sympathetic to Johnny because he is just "misunderstood"? If some reason for his behavior had been given, such as a traumatic childhood, I might have bought it more. Whatever it was, it didn't do it for me. Maybe the relationship between Johnny and Kathie was the important theme. But no. That didn't really go anywhere either -- good or bad. She seems to want to escape from her boring little life, and Johnny seems to be the ticket out -- note her expression of bliss when she is riding on the back of Johnny's bike with him -- but there didn't seem to be any moment of revelation where she made a decision to go with him or not. One thing to the film's compliment -- Lee Marvin as Chino, the head of the rival biker gang. He put in the peformance that I was expecting out of Brando -- believable and real. Am I the only one who thinks this film is basically a retread of a Western? I can't place from where, but I know I've seen this story with horses. I probably would have enjoyed it better in that genre. Oh, and the "riding" scenes are obviously a film running in the background behind Johnny & Co.

• Conner R

  
  A well acted film that has an interesting story about corrupted youth. Marlon Brando plays a great rebellious character that is both charming and full of personality. It is has a great evaluation on the treatment of the unknown, the outcast is automatically seen as a threat and… More
  A well acted film that has an interesting story about corrupted youth. Marlon Brando plays a great rebellious character that is both charming and full of personality. It is has a great evaluation on the treatment of the unknown, the outcast is automatically seen as a threat and should therefore be taken out.

• danny d

  
  although entertaining, this film missteps in a lot of places. this is one of brando's weaker performances, the story is not quite as provocative as the opening shot promises it to be, and there was no real commentary offered here by the culture the film was trying to portray. a… More
  although entertaining, this film missteps in a lot of places. this is one of brando's weaker performances, the story is not quite as provocative as the opening shot promises it to be, and there was no real commentary offered here by the culture the film was trying to portray. a fun and silly film that misses the mark.

• Chris G

  
  The Wild One is about a motorcycle club (apparently "gang" wasn't used back in 1953) that rolls into a small town and upsets the locals with their over zealous behavior. The leader Johnny (Marlon Brando) falls for a local girl whose father also happens to be the local… More
  The Wild One is about a motorcycle club (apparently "gang" wasn't used back in 1953) that rolls into a small town and upsets the locals with their over zealous behavior. The leader Johnny (Marlon Brando) falls for a local girl whose father also happens to be the local constable. The Wild One is your basic 1950's exploitation film just with better actors. It's message: rebels without a cause can wind up in big trouble even if they don't mean it. The script is rather droll with Brando's Johnny jumping back and forth from should we stay or should we go. Brando is the main reason to see this film. He radiates when he's on screen and buries his co-stars in the dust. Everyone except Lee Marvin, who does a great job as the drunken leader of a rival gang called The Beatles. Yes, the Beatles. Sadly, Marvin's was underused even though later press materials played him up as the chief antagonist to Brando's Johnny. The Wild One is basically a film to watch if you A) enjoy 1950's shake their finger at you tales or B) a look at a great actor rising above the drivel he's been given.

• xGary X

  
  Like Easy Rider, this is one of those films that captured an era and transcended the quality of the film itself. Looked at objectively, it's pretty lame...very dated and contrived with little attempt at genuine insight. What carries the film is Brando's and his zeitgeist… More
  Like Easy Rider, this is one of those films that captured an era and transcended the quality of the film itself. Looked at objectively, it's pretty lame...very dated and contrived with little attempt at genuine insight. What carries the film is Brando's and his zeitgeist attitude, but viewed as a whole, the film is not great. Cinematically "important", but not great.

• Sarah G

  
  Had this DVD for christmas and I first thouhg tthat I wouldn't be my cup of tea basically. When I watched it I was plesently suprised. It certainly explored the rebellious teen that went on in the 50's, which may not be relevent to today's standards. However the… More
  Had this DVD for christmas and I first thouhg tthat I wouldn't be my cup of tea basically. When I watched it I was plesently suprised. It certainly explored the rebellious teen that went on in the 50's, which may not be relevent to today's standards. However the situation when the gang invade the town, then then residents can not cope with the amount of members. They then are scared to tell them to leave the town. This is happening today in Britain and growing out of control. Brando performs at the top of his game once again and certainly changed the course of acting int eh 50;s. He played the character very well to such an extent that I grew to like him towards the end of the film. The film is a typical 50's, has all the lements of subculture life in the 50's, which could be argued as been tame compared to day's film ans society in general. Overall, worth the watch for any brando film and fans of 50's cinema.

• Michael G

  
  Pretty hokey and very dated but at the same time very fun.

• Danny R

  
  A powerful '50's cult classic the original motorcycle film with a young Marlon Brando in a renowned superstar performance, as Johnny the leather-jacketed leader of a vicious biker gang which invades and terrorizes a small town. When a rival motorcycle gang shows up at the… More
  A powerful '50's cult classic the original motorcycle film with a young Marlon Brando in a renowned superstar performance, as Johnny the leather-jacketed leader of a vicious biker gang which invades and terrorizes a small town. When a rival motorcycle gang shows up at the same town lead by a psychotic named Chino played by Lee Marvin in forceful performance all hell breaks loose! Gritty well-acted by the entire cast, with good cinematography by Hal Mohr and solid direction by Laslo Benedak. A striking film. Highly Recommended.

• Mike T

  
  It's a shame, but this movie has lost a lot of its appeal with the passing of time. Marlon Brando is astounding, as always, but all he has to work with is a formulaic, silly script and the wooden actors he's surrounded with. It's worth it for the lead performance and… More
  It's a shame, but this movie has lost a lot of its appeal with the passing of time. Marlon Brando is astounding, as always, but all he has to work with is a formulaic, silly script and the wooden actors he's surrounded with. It's worth it for the lead performance and mild entertainment value.

• Anastasia B

  
  It would be perfect... if it weren't trying to teach a moral lesson at times. Excellent acting, great photography, good direction and an interesting story. Truly loved it

• Lizzy B

  
  There were a lot of really great, believable performances in this film, but I felt the story was a little odd. I get that it was based of an actual event, but I don't understand why they thought it would be an entertaining film plot. It seemed a little anti-climactic, though… More
  There were a lot of really great, believable performances in this film, but I felt the story was a little odd. I get that it was based of an actual event, but I don't understand why they thought it would be an entertaining film plot. It seemed a little anti-climactic, though worth watching for the classic shots of Brando.

• Dimitris S

  
  I suppose it's one of the few times I am not exaggerating about a classic film.Don't get me wrong,I adore Brando.It's just that Lee Marvin always stole the show and to be honest,Benedek is lousy as a director with today's standards,just because you have a film on… More
  I suppose it's one of the few times I am not exaggerating about a classic film.Don't get me wrong,I adore Brando.It's just that Lee Marvin always stole the show and to be honest,Benedek is lousy as a director with today's standards,just because you have a film on your roster doesn't mean it proves you're worthwhile. Fabulous lighting choice but the script fades in the last 15 minutes.

Read all 13 featured audience ratings