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Waste of time

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

(Movie quote) - "What do you hicks do around here for kicks?" Meet Brando's character, Johnny Strabler, a 29 year-old, lard-assed, delinquent who (get this!) not only thinks he's a real tough-guy (and a total hep-cat, too), but, he's also the gang leader of "B.R.M.C." (which stands for "Black Rebel Motorcycle Club")..... (Now, ain't that cute?) Of course, 1953's The Wild One was all about Marlon Brando. But, unfortunately, I found this "original-outlaw-biker-film" to be a rather feeble attempt to showcase Brando's apparent on-screen virility and animal magnetism.As I carefully studied Brando up close, I quickly began to see that he and his drawing power (viewed 60+ years later) was all a big facade and his so-called "cool" came across to me as being only lukewarm, at best.Besides finding the hip-lingo spoken in this film, by the biker boys, to be ridiculously laughable for the most part, as well as the story's opening "warning" to be downright demented - I also thought that the deliberate attention that was repeatedly being paid to "the trophy" (which everyone seemed to be grabbing for) almost defied logical comprehension.This whole business with the trophy reminded me of the repeated use of the word "rosebud" in "Citizen Kane" (which was in reference to Marion Davis's clitoris) - While here in "The Wild One", the trophy (which was clearly fashioned like an erect phallus) was a subliminal representation of Brando's manhood (aka. penis)..... No?

Here we have THE original biker cinema classic that predated "Easy Rider" by a good decade and a half. Marlon Brando, all swaggering cool, delivers an iconic performance as Johnny, leader of the B.R.M.C. (Black Rebels Motorcycle Club). Johnny and friends come to a small town to raise some Hell; he becomes quite taken with local girl Kathie Bleeker (Mary Murphy), and she with him.Although Johnny is no innocent, and does have a role to play in the events that get out of hand, it becomes clear that he's also not the Devil that hostile and intolerant citizens make him out to be."The Wild One" does firmly date itself in some ways. The dialogue is very much of the time, and the antics of these biker clubs are not as scuzzy as some people might like to see. This is not a biker film for those people who enjoy the exploitative low budget pictures that came out in the wake of "Easy Rider". After a while, it becomes clear that there's not that much of a story here, as a lot of mayhem and destruction takes up the running time. But then, this is just as much of a character study as it is a motorcycle movie.Our main character is something of an enigma. While ostensibly a rebel in outright defiance of every accepted societal norm, he's also a guy who's really not that sure of himself, a guy still in search of an identity. Scenes late in the film with Johnny and Kathie are the real standouts.The excellent cast also includes Robert Keith as Kathie's dad, a surprisingly laid back lawman who doesn't seem to be that cut out for his job, and who is willing to give our gang some amount of leeway. Lee Marvin steals his scenes as rival gang leader Chino. It's also fun to see people like Timothy Carey, Alvy Moore, Jerry Paris, and Bruno VeSota in small, uncredited roles.Nicely shot (by Hal Mohr) and scored (by Leith Stevens), "The Wild One" does merit a viewing for film buffs.Seven out of 10.

Narrator Johnny Strabler (Marlon Brando) recounts leading his gang The Black Rebels Motorcycle Club to watch a race and causing a ruckus. They are sent off by the local sheriff. One of his men had stolen the 2nd place trophy for him. They arrive at Wrightsville, California. The local sheriff Harry Bleeker (Robert Keith) is reluctant to confront them and some of locals are angered. Johnny flirts with waitress Kathie (Mary Murphy) who happens to be the sheriff's daughter. When he finds out, he starts to leave the town but then his rival Chino (Lee Marvin) leads his gang The Beetles into town. Chino steals Johnny's trophy setting off a fight. The situation spirals more and more out of control with local bully Charlie Thomas (Hugh Sanders) getting involved.Modern audiences can fall into the trap of seeing this as a cheesy B-movie with silly lingo and melodramatic mannerism. It still has that cautionary tale aspect to the movie which is holdover from earlier B-movie. Mary Murphy is going overboard with her acting. However this was 1953. It's an era of the new disenfranchised. It's two years before 'Rebel Without a Cause'. Looking at it with modern eyes is a mistake. Simply put, this is the iconic biker movie of its era.

Moody leather-clad Marlon Brando (as Johnny Strabler) and his motorcycle gang arrive to cause mischief in a small California town. Acting tough, Mr. Brando and his "BRMC (Black Rebels Motorcycle Club)" pals put "Wrightsville" on edge. Mainly, they fight and get into accidents. Shapely local girl Mary Murphy (as Kathie Bleeker) catches Brando's eye. She sees the good under his bad-boy exterior. Her father Robert Keith (as Harry Bleeker) is the peace loving sheriff..."The Wild One" is not as good as its reputation. The rebelliousness, including boozy Lee Marvin (as Chino) and his rival gang The Beetles, is laughable. Some datedness is expected, but there are even older films which maintain their cool. Director Laslo Benedek gives the film some energy. He is helped by the black-and-white photography by Hal Mohr. Brando looks good in close-up, with sideburns and just the right touch of make-up; after fighting, he looks even better.***** The Wild One (12/30/53) Laslo Benedek ~ Marlon Brando, Mary Murphy, Robert Keith, Lee Marvin