The Wild One: Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando rode his personal Triumph Thunderbird 6T in 1953's The Wild One. The two-time Academy winner portrayed Johnny Strabler in the movie and became a cultural phenomenon among motorcycle enthusiasts. Famed for roles like Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront (1954) and Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972), Brando, an avid motorcyclist, played the rebellious biker, influencing generations of riders.

The Triumph Thunderbird 6T, developed by Triumph Chief Designer Edward Turner, was introduced in 1949. Based on the 500cc Speed Twin model, the motorbike featured a 649cc parallel-twin engine that delivered an output of 34bhp at 6,300rpm. The Triumph Thunderbird 6T's top speed of 100 mph (160.93 kph), along with its sleek design, tear-shaped gas tank, chrome accents, overhead valves, high-performance telescopic front forks, and dual exhaust system, was one of a kind for its time. The motorbike perfectly matched Brando's on-screen persona, oozing independence and nonconformity.

Brando's rebellious style as the gang leader in a leather jacket, a tilted cap, and jeans perfectly fit Thunderbird's rugged power. Inspired by real-life motorcycle events like the 1947 Hollister Riot, The Wild One cemented motorcycles as a symbol of freedom and defiance. The film blended the Thunderbird's power with Marlon's brooding aura and established him as the cultural icon for cultural contemporaries like James Dean and Elvis Presley to follow. The rebellious motorcyclist archetype was later followed by Steve McQueen, who refined the hot-blooded, adventure-seeking, tough-but-good-at-heart anti-hero image on the American silver screen.

Brando's portrayal in The Wild One remains a cultural milestone where Triumph Thunderbird symbolizes freedom and rebellion, influencing motorcycle culture and American cinema for future generations. The image of motorcycles, previously limited as a means of transportation, got a new spotlight as a symbol of rebellion, brotherhood, power, anarchism, and American values. The impact of The Wild One inspired the makers to explicitly use motorcycles and their relevant themes for the silver screen. Some notable movies include Easy Rider (1969), Born to Ride (1991), Beyond the Law (1993), The Motorcycle Diaries (2004), and Freebird (2008).

The on-screen appearance of the Triumph motorcycle, which started with Brando's personal Triumph Thunderbird 6T, was followed by a series of notable appearances on various TV shows and movies. Be it Triumph's TR6 Trophy in The Great Escape (1963) and Coogan's Bluff (1968), Triumph Trophy 500 in Happy Days (1974-84), Speed Triple T595 and Daytona 955i in Mission Impossible 2 (2000), 1960s Bonneville Chopper in The Walking Dead (2010-22), or Street Triple 1200 RR in Heart of Stone (2023), the longevity and relevancy of Triumph's motorbikes in movies and TV series has spanned over eight decades. The elegant design and style of Triumph have always been appreciated and highlighted in the entertainment industry for glamor, speed, and timeless appeal. The likes of Henry Winkler, Tom Cruise, Norman Reedus, Chris Pratt, Idris Elba, and Gal Gadot have ridden Triumph and personified the themes of adventure, freedom, and adrenaline.