The Wild One (1954)
 This
is the original motorcycle gang film, and far and away the best.
It is based on a true story in which members of a motorcycle club
terrorise a small California town.
What makes this film is Marlon Brando's performance as the
moody, mumbling, leather-jacketed leader of the 'Black Rebels'.
Underneath Brando's tough guy act he's basically a decent
fella, and he falls for the sheriff's daughter, Mary Murphy. Rival
gang leader Lee Marvin is just plain mean and the final clash
between the two is fun to watch.
The movie was felt to be so alarming when it was first released
that it was banned in Britain for several years, where it was
feared its glamorisation of violent hoodlums would inflame
audiences into emulation.
Seen today, it is nowhere near as disturbing as it was feted to
be.
The Wild One is believed to have been responsible for
starting the (still) popular craze of wearing leather jackets.
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