Tweet
On Easter I watched "The Wild One" again with some friends who had never seen it. I tried to catch the Brando character "Johnny's" LAST name. I have seen it printed as "Strabler" in articles, and as "Stabler" in one book. Another source (a movie script) gives it as "Johnny Donato." Huh?
But listening to the actual film again where the sheriff says Johnny's name out loud towards the very end, I would spell it as: Johnny "Straebler" because that is EXACTLY how it sounds. The only other possible spelling would be "Straybler" but I don't think that name even exists.
I don't know for sure if the film gives Johnny's last name on the credits because I forgot to double check this time but in previous viewings I think I looked and it was NOT given. Until there's better verification about this, I'm gonna spell it as John Straebler.
Again, I gotta say that I like that movie alot. It's even pre rock & roll it's so old! I'd say that only 1 out of maybe 6 bikes is a Harley.
The "menace" is clearly identified early on in the movie as this pack of black leather clad motorcyclists roar into town. Being filmed so soon after WWII (and in black and white) the scene is evocative of wartime German newsreels showing the Wehrmacht on motorcycles storming into a defenseless Polish village!
The unshaven motley Harley-riding Lee Marvin thug character is indeed the more modern seeming "biker" type with Brando's character distinctly period 1950s "cool" with his Triumph, rolled up jeans, traditional black leather motorcyclist jacket, and what looks to be a chauffeur's cap worn at a jaunty angle.
Johnny is the epitome of 1950's "coolness" (i.e. "juvenile delinquent") on two wheels!
I esp. liked the scene where after the town folk beat Johnny Straebler up and he gets away he doesn't run first to find his buddies, but instead runs to find his bike! That was totally in character I thought to how a real motorcyclist would act.
First thought: "My bike! My bike!"
The end is good too. Johnny comes back and gives the "gold" (AMA?) trophy to the girl Kathy and (gasp!) he cracks a smile. The first time in the whole movie that he actually smiles. He also came back alone which makes you wonder if he didn't break with the gang/club scene and was now a lone wolf riding solo into the sunset on his Triumph Thunderbird.
All in all still a good flick!
But listening to the actual film again where the sheriff says Johnny's name out loud towards the very end, I would spell it as: Johnny "Straebler" because that is EXACTLY how it sounds. The only other possible spelling would be "Straybler" but I don't think that name even exists.
I don't know for sure if the film gives Johnny's last name on the credits because I forgot to double check this time but in previous viewings I think I looked and it was NOT given. Until there's better verification about this, I'm gonna spell it as John Straebler.
Again, I gotta say that I like that movie alot. It's even pre rock & roll it's so old! I'd say that only 1 out of maybe 6 bikes is a Harley.
The "menace" is clearly identified early on in the movie as this pack of black leather clad motorcyclists roar into town. Being filmed so soon after WWII (and in black and white) the scene is evocative of wartime German newsreels showing the Wehrmacht on motorcycles storming into a defenseless Polish village!
The unshaven motley Harley-riding Lee Marvin thug character is indeed the more modern seeming "biker" type with Brando's character distinctly period 1950s "cool" with his Triumph, rolled up jeans, traditional black leather motorcyclist jacket, and what looks to be a chauffeur's cap worn at a jaunty angle.
Johnny is the epitome of 1950's "coolness" (i.e. "juvenile delinquent") on two wheels!
I esp. liked the scene where after the town folk beat Johnny Straebler up and he gets away he doesn't run first to find his buddies, but instead runs to find his bike! That was totally in character I thought to how a real motorcyclist would act.
First thought: "My bike! My bike!"
The end is good too. Johnny comes back and gives the "gold" (AMA?) trophy to the girl Kathy and (gasp!) he cracks a smile. The first time in the whole movie that he actually smiles. He also came back alone which makes you wonder if he didn't break with the gang/club scene and was now a lone wolf riding solo into the sunset on his Triumph Thunderbird.
All in all still a good flick!
Comment