The Wild One poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Marlon Brando, Mary Murphy, Robert Keith, Lee Marvin, Jay C. Flippen ... see more see more... , Hugh Sanders , Peggy Maley , Ray Teal , John Brown , Will Wright , Robert Osterloh , Robert Bice , William Vedder , Yvonne Doughty , Darren Dublin , John Tarangelo , Jerry Paris , Alvy Moore , Harry Landers , Don Anderson , Angela Stevens , Bruno Ve Sota , Pat O'Malley , Wally Albright , Timothy Carey , Ted Cooper , Eve March , Mary Newton , Gil Stratton

"What are you rebelling against?" asks someone. "What've you got?" responds surly, leather-jacketed motorcycle punk Marlon Brando. It comes as a disappointment to discover that The Wild One, the quint... read more read more...essential Brando "rebel" film, is at base a traditional "misunderstood youth vs. the nasty system" effort, with a particularly banal finale. Based on a true incident, the film begins with Brando and his motorcyle gang invading a small town after having been kicked out of a cycle competition (but not before stealing the second-prize trophy). Brando's bikers raise hell all day, but some of the townsfolk are shown to be little better than the invaders. Sheriff Robert Keith, whose daughter (Murphy) has gone fond of Brando, finally responds to the bikers' destructiveness by jailing Lee Marvin, leader of a rival gang. When Marvin's buddies goes on a rampage, Brando exhibits his essential decency by safely escorting the sheriff's daughter out of the melee. The townsfolk misunderstand, assuming that Brando intends to rape the girl. He is attacked by a vigilante mob led by town hothead Ray Teal, who uses this excuse to exercise his own sadistic tendencies. Keith breaks up the mob and suggests that Brando leave; he tries to do so, but another angry response from the mob causes him to inadvertently strike and kill a pedestrian. At the subsequent hearing, the girl rushes to Brando's defense. Though grateful for the unexpected kindness, Brando is constitutionally unable to say "thank you" and rides out of town alone. The image of Marlon Brando astride his Triumph has entered movie folklore, just like King Kong on the Empire State Building or the billow-skirted Marilyn Monroe standing over a subway grating; it's too bad that The Wild One isn't a more worthy vehicle for Brando's talents. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

8,715 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

20 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 19 min.

Directed by: Laslo Benedek

Release Date: January 1, 1954

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 10, 1998

Get It:

Stats: 564 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Marlon Brando The Wild One The Wild One The Wild One The Wild One The Wild One The Wild One Caricature by Al Hirschfeld The Wild One Poster
Upload a Photo | View All The Wild One Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (564)

  • ajv2688
    November 8, 2010
    ajv2688
    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.
  • webalina
    June 16, 2010
    webalina
    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 f... read moreind 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.
  • ythelastman89
    December 29, 2009
    ythelastman89
    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 ... read moreshould therefore be taken out.
  • sanjurosamurai
    August 26, 2009
    sanjurosamurai
    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... read more fun and silly film that misses the mark.
  • sononothing
    December 19, 2008
    sononothing
    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. ... read more

    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.
  • garyX
    March 28, 2007
    garyX
    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... read more, but viewed as a whole, the film is not great. Cinematically "important", but not great.
  • SarahG1988
    December 26, 2006
    SarahG1988
    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 th... read moree 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.
  • mjgildea
    November 9, 2006
    mjgildea
    Pretty hokey and very dated but at the same time very fun.
  • Dannyrovira
    February 10, 2010
    Dannyrovira
    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 to... read morewn 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.
  • michaelcorleone
    October 24, 2007
    michaelcorleone
    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 enterta... read moreinment value.

View All The Wild One Reviews

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
November 7, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

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. Full Review

November 7, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The first and best biker movie. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 21, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

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. Full Review

Tom Milne
January 26, 2006
Tom Milne, Time Out

Brando's biker seems disarmingly tame by comparison with the wild angels he spawned. Yet the film isn't half bad. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
August 19, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Risible and outdated. Full Review

Douglas Pratt
December 3, 2004
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

Marlon Brando stars as the leader of a motorcycle gang who somewhat inadvertantly cause a great deal of trouble in a small town.

February 10, 2004
Film4

Ultimately The Wild One exploits and patronizes the bikers it depicts, and isn't the youth picture it is made out to be. Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten
March 10, 2003
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle

This Stanley Kramer-produced film is the original biker movie. Full Review

Ken Hanke
November 25, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Once radical, still iconic, but so dated that it's funny.

Christopher Null
September 26, 2002
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

On the whole, The Wild One is now mostly silly. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Chase
    The Chase (100%)
  • The Young Savages
    The Young Savages (100%)
  • Rebel Without a Cause
    Rebel Without a Cause (95%)

More Movies like The Wild One

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Mildred: Hey, Johnny, what are you rebelling against?
    • Johnny: What've you got?
Submit a Fact | View All

The Wild One : Watch Free on TV

The Wild One Trivia

  • Which one of these actresses voices a character in the Wild Thornberry's Movie (2002).  Answer »
  • In The Wild One, a waitress asks Marlon Brando what he is rebelling against. What is his reply?  Answer »
  • Lee Marvin and Marlon Brando starred in this 1953 "rebel" classic.  Answer »
  • I can be described as "A Quiet Man", who has "Reaped The Wild Wind". In my carreer I have played a "Rooster", a "Badman", a "Godfather", and one of "Katie Elder's" sons. I am ofcorse...  Answer »
More The Wild One Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Wild One. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All The Wild One Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add The Wild One to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?