The Wild One
"The Wild One," released in 1953, is a film that explores themes of youthful rebellion and the generational divide. The story follows a group of young men from the Black Rebels Motorcycle Club, led by Marlon Brando's character, as they travel through small towns in California on their motorcycles. They wear distinctive black leather jackets adorned with their club logo, symbolizing their identity and defiance. The film's narrative begins with the gang disrupting a local motorcycle race, which sets off a chain of confrontations with the townsfolk, highlighting societal tensions.
Despite its relatively mild depiction of violence and primarily well-meaning characters, the film was controversial upon its release and sparked concern regarding juvenile delinquency. The interactions between the gang and the local community culminate in a violent backlash against Brando's character, leading to a critical examination of the fears surrounding youth culture at the time. Although "The Wild One" may seem tame by today’s standards, it remains a significant cultural artifact that reflects the anxieties of the 1950s regarding the youth and their perceived threats to social order.
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The Wild One
Identification Film about a motorcycle gang
Date Released in 1953
Director László Benedek
Inspired by a real-life incident in a California town, The Wild One intensified negative public perceptions of motorcyclists while contributing to actor Marlon Brando’s image as a rebel.
Key Figures
László Benedek (1905-1992), film director
By the standards of the films about youthful rebellion of later generations, The Wild One is comparatively tame. Its violence is relatively mild, and its characters are mostly well meaning. However, at the time of the film’s release, its subject matter seemed shocking, and the film was perceived as a document of the growing rift between the younger and older generations.
The film opens with a group of about fifteen young men riding motorcycles along a California country road. Members of the Black Rebels Motorcycle Club, they wear black leather jackets, on the backs of which their club logo appears: “B.R.M.C.” above a human skull and two crossed piston rods—reminiscent of the crossbones of pirate flags. The leader of the gang is played by Marlon Brando, who narrates the voice-over that gives the film structure. The gang’s first stop is in a small town in which motorcycle races are being held on the main streets. The gang members disrupt the races and get into a verbal altercation with the local officials but clear off quickly when a policeman orders them to leave.
At the next town at which the gang stops, it becomes apparent that the group has no particular destination or purpose. Its members would probably be content simply to continue their riding; however, after one of its members is injured in a collision with a car and taken to a hospital, Brando decides the gang will not leave until the injured biker is returned to it. His real motive for staying, however, is his infatuation with an attractive young waitress at the local diner. Meanwhile, the gang members hang out in the tiny business district, drinking beer at the diner and flirting with local girls.
Trouble develops when members of an apparently rival gang, led by Lee Marvin, arrive, and several fights erupt. Eventually, the townsfolk become panicky about their own safety, turn on the bikers, and savagely beat Brando.
Impact
Apart from the beating that the law-abiding townsfolk unjustly administer to Brando’s character, there is little serious violence in The Wild One, and the only biker who even seems mildly menacing is Lee Marvin. Nevertheless, the film alarmed many communities because it seemed to betoken a rise of juvenile delinquency, and it was banned in some communities.
Bibliography
Lavigne, Yves. Hells Angels: Into the Abyss. Toronto: HarperCollins, 1996. Study of late twentieth century motorcycle gangs.
Osgerby, Bill. “Sleazy Rider: Exploitation, ’Otherness,’ and Transgression in the 1960’s Biker Movie.” Journal of Popular Film and Television 31, no. 3 (2003): 98-108. This essay focuses on motorcycle gang films of the 1960’s but also discusses films of the 1950’s.
Schickel, Richard. Brando: A Life in Our Times. New York: Atheneum, 1991. Insightful portrait of Brando’s acting career that includes a discussion of The Wild One.
Seate, Mike, and Matthew J. Gagnon. Two Wheels on Two Reels: A History of Biker Movies. North Conway, N.H.: Whitehorse Press, 2000. Brief illustrated history of the impact of motorcycle films on public attitudes toward bikers. Seate is a professional writer on motorcycles and a film buff.