Review of The Wild One (1953) by James D — 11 Jun 2009
I'm a huge Brando fan and really want to like this movie, but for all its iconic imagery it's still disposable trash. Though many of the teen movies of the 1950's can still be appreciated, either for the sheer quality of the writing (Rebel Without a Cause), or for pure kitsch value (I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Dragstrip Girl), 'The Wild One' is a particularly inept piece of filmaking that has B-Movie amateurishness stamped all over it. Everything about the film, from the clichéd script to the lackluster performances to the pedestrian direction keep the entire enterprise as dull as possible, with even Marlon Brando giving the only boring performance of his career. The dialogue in particular, which very well may have been daring in it's day, is particularly laughable - like a bad parody of Kerouac - all Digging-it-daddio-swing-baby-swing nonsense.
Needless to say, the whole biker thing cannot be looked at without thinking West Hollywood leather bar...which doesn't help in taking the movie seriously.
Iconic imagery, to be sure, but not all icons make for quality films.
This review of The Wild One (1953) was written by James D on 11 Jun 2009.
The Wild One has generally received positive reviews.
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