Thursday, August 29, 2013

The Wild One

After winning a biking competition, a rough and tumble motorcycle gang takes over and terrorizes a small California town while their leader (Marlon Brando) falls for the daughter (Mary Murphy) of the local bar owner. Laslo Benedek's The Wild One features crisp black and white cinematography from Hal Mohr, and is remembered for the early, brash performance from a defiant Brando, who is excellent and appealing in his part (A young Lee Marvin is also entertaining as a rival gang leader). Although the film is noted as a generation defining work of its time, besides these noted assets, it isn't anything more than a glorified public service announcement.