JOE'S SUMUP: a classic 50s act
(1953) Nothing like a good cat-and-mouse thriller, I tell ya. No, not the stalker/horror genres---it's a dime a dozen, that lot. I need not remind a soul of my great love for worlds of Steven Spielberg, and he is a mastermind in this genre. His greatest cat-and-mouse films begin with "Duel" and don't end with "Catch Me If You Can". It's possible though that Spielberg and other greats got a hint of inspiration from this catchy provocative classic, "The Wild One".
I'd never heard of the film until listening to a review of "Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull". While the masses approved less of that one, no one can overlook its themes lifted from the 50's. Packed with sundry icons such as flying saucers, A-bombs tests, and the KGB, I give the film some credit for these tributes. But I digress. Mutt Williams (played by Shia LaBeouf) was based so closely on Johnny Strabler that it's really plagiarism for the screen. And it was no mistake.
Strabler (played by the almighty Brando, in only his fourth role) is a classic hoodlum from the moment he enters. And he's not the only wild one. His gang-on-wheels might just as well belong to Brando's mob in "The Godfather". Writing their own laws, muscling anyone who threatens their plans, they live to live, with no thought of what comes next. They just go---as do their rivals. And just like in every good story, there's a supple smalltown girl who can't resist muddying up the waters.
No denying it, I love a good quality romance as much as I love a good crime drama. This flick's among the early classics in the
romance genre, but the tone it sets through primordial genderal tension is antiquitous. Something every male can relate to: a woman they cannot resist. Not all of us possess the looks, power, and charisma of Strabler. But for all their clout, they leave him powerless in her presence. Mary Murphy's sugarsweetness is mesmerizing, to actor and audience alike---it is these elements combined which kept me on edge. Who is cat and who is mouse, as the simple plot thickens. Who is in control. "The Wild One" offers up many surprising plot twists in this way.
It's far from my favorite old-timey film, but this one's worth a look if you're itching for a classic with vintage Brando at the helm. Its black-and-white tones only enhance its characters and caricatures. Its script is rich, smooth, and perfectly delivered. It may be a drama, but it's not meant to be taken seriously, coming with all the glitches and impossibilities associated with the films of its day. Just fun, worth enjoying, especially for Brando's and Murphy's chemistry. Running time: 79 min.
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