Review of The Wild One (1953) by Richard K — 22 Aug 2010

"What are you rebelling against, Johnny?".

"Whaddya got?".

One of the most iconic movies and performances of all time.

It can be hard to really rate a movie made made nearly 60 years ago.

Times have changed. People's views on the world have changed. Morals have changed. Cinema has changed.

But one thing that hasn't changed is people's fear of youth and how to deal with foreign behavior by a new generation.

Every generation rebels in some form and people's reactions to this can be scary but it all stems from the byproduct of fear. Change.

In 1954 this movie shocked people to the core. Men roaming America on motorcycles, drinking, fighting and chasing the girls. Despicable behavior in minds of many...but what's changed? Nothing.

And that is why for me, The Wild One will always be important and will still be talked about in another 60 years or so...

Brando wasn't at his best but it didn't matter...it was Brando, one of the first bad boys of Hollywood and a pin up to a generation of girls.

People like Brando are responsible for women wanting the bad boy...it's a legacy left by the pioneers of tough guys on screen.

If you want to see Brando at his best look no further then the movie he followed this up with the following year...On The Waterfront, another iconic movie is Brando at his finest but maybe this still speaks to the youth of today unlike his other great performances.