The producers wanted to film The Wild One on location, but Columbia Studios chief Harry Cohn nixed this idea and ordered them to shoot it on Columbia's ranch in Burbank. He also wanted the film made in black-and-white.

Marlon Brando was not enthusiastic about making The Wild One. He reportedly took the role only out of respect for Stanley Kramer, the producer of Brando's film debut, The Men (1950).

To prepare for his role in The Wild One, Marlon Brando renewed his love for motorcycles, practicing his cycling technique and selecting his own wardrobe, which he wore to and from the studio. Brando also spent time with the real-life biker gangs to absorb their mannerisms and speech.

Lee Marvin was cast as a substitute for Keenan Wynn, whom MGM had refused to release after he'd already spent weeks in pre-production on The Wild One. Marvin proved to be a natural in the role; he was actually drunk in several of his scenes, and his on-screen rivalry with Marlon Brando continued off-camera as well.

Many actual biker gang members were hired by producer Stanley Kramer to play themselves in The Wild One. When Kramer asked one of them what they were rebelling against, one cyclist cracked, "Well, what ya got?" That was incorporated into the script and became one of the film's most quoted lines.

Columbia Studios chief Harry Cohn imposed a strict shooting schedule on The Wild One with little time for changes or revisions, much as he had done with a previous Columbia picture, From Here to Eternity (1953).

by Scott McGee