Given the presence of Murphy and the absence of real law and order, it is a biker's paradise, particularly since the local tavern appears to have an endless supply of ice cold beer. But of course, the conservatives and old timers of the town despise the noisy and unruly biker gang, and the culture clash threatens to descend into a riot. It seems that the local lynch mob is even worse than a drunken biker gang, whose motives (if not their actions) are mere hellraising fun.
How I felt about it. The success of The Wild One aided Marlon Brando's status as an icon of his generation, which was cemented by his performance in his next, even bigger movie, On the Waterfront. Unsuitable roles in Guys and Dolls, The Teahouse of the August Moon, and Sayonara followed, before Brando returned to his confused rebel roots in The Young Lions and One-Eyed Jacks.
The Wild One made a pile of money for Stanley Kramer, who was fond of "message" movies. But the message here is unclear. Brando is a rebel without a cause, but is he wrong for being so? Sheriff Jay C. Flippen states so, and Murphy implies as much. But if they want Brando to be less Brando, surely they don't want him to put on a suit and tie and become a car salesman. Much less become a bully/jerk like Charlie (Hugh Sanders). Without a clear something to be, no wonder Brando would rather be an directionless gang leader.
The movie was influential, and not for any water cooler discussions about the career future of Brando's character. People watched it to see Brando fight the film's true wild one, Lee Marvin. They watched it to see a biker gang run amuck. And to see the smoldering chemistry between Brando and Murphy, who are from different worlds. This makes their love forbidden, and thus closer to irresistible.
What is Murphy to Brando? She is beautiful, which interests him. She is unattainable except by force, which presents a challenge. Likewise, he is a challenge to her. How does one communicate with the Tarzan of the biker scene? How do you make him understand how wrong he is?
But if he is so wrong, then how come her fantasy is for someone to take her away from her dead-end life in the half-dead small town? She is as lost as he is, dimly aware that something is wrong with her life but unable to do anything to change it.