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1954
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ON
THE WATERFRONT
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STARRING:MARLON
BRANDO,EVA MARIE SAINT,KARL MALDEN,LEE J.COBB,ROD STEIGER,PAT
HENNING,LEIF ERICKSON,JAMES WESTERFIELD,TONY GALENTO,TAMI MAURIELLO,JOHN
F.HAMILTON
BASED
ON THE "CRIMES ON THE WATERFRONT" ARTICLES WRITTEN
BY MALCOLM JOHNSON
SCREEN
STORY AND SCREENPLAY BY BUDD SCHULBERG
PRODUCED
BY SAM SPIEGEL
DIRECTED
BY ELIA KAZAN
GENRE:CRIME/DRAMA/ROMANCE
RATED:AUSTRALIA:PG/UK:PG/USA:APPROVED
RUNNING
TIME:108 MIN
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On
The Waterfront was based upon a series of articles entitled "Crime
on the Waterfront", which was written by Malcolm Johnson and
published in the New York Sun. The articles revealed how the mob put
the squeeze on dockworkers who worked at the Manhattan and Brooklyn
waterfronts.
Marlon Brando stars as Terry Malloy, a former prize fighter who was
roped in to play muscleman for ruthless crime boss and labour leader
Johnny Friendly (Lee J.Cobb) by his older brother Charlie (Rod Steiger).
After a dock worker who was poised to testify to the Waterfront Crime
Commission ismurdered by Friendly's crew, Terry experiences conflicting
feelings of guilt which are enhanced by said dockworkers sister Edie
(Eva Maire Saint) and parish priest Father Barry (Karl Malden) who
urge Terry to stand up and fight for justice, which is not an easy
feat in a world where silence is a virtue and those who break that
silence are ostracized.
On that note, there is no doubt that On the Waterfront was
a retaliation to the scorn Kazan received for naming names at the
House of Un-American Activities, which he still receives criticism
for till this day. Regardless, what Kazan and screenwriter Budd Schulberg
did with On the Waterfront was exceptional, as faith, politics,
corruption and justice blend to create an electrifying film.
A big reason for the films acclaim was Marlon Brando's heartbreakingly
powerful performance, as his natural charm and sensitivity is bestowed
upon an -at first glance - brutish, blue collar man conflicted by
his loyalty to his brother, his love for his girl, and his duty to
tell the truth.
It is a common conception that there was acting before Brando and
acting after Brando, and after viewing his earlier work (also reviewed
this week is A
Streetcar Named Desire) it is an opinion which
I totally agree with. For budding thespians, a study of Brando's earlier
performances is essential. Here is an actor who not only brought dedication
to his character, but also had the instinct and knowledge to also
leave himself open to whatever surprises a particular scene had in
store for him. Cue to the infamous sequence between Brando and Eva
Marie Saint, where the latter mistakenly dropped her glove only for
Brando to pick it up and implement it into the scene, never breaking
his stride in the process. This is the stuff which inspired the likes
of Pacino, De Niro, Nicholson, Hoffman, Streep, and a slew of others.
But there can only be one Brando.
Surrounding Brando is an exceptional cast who deliver career defining
performances: Karl Malden gives an impassioned turn as the resolute
Father Barry; Lee J. Cobb's patented rage is brought forth at the
right moments in his role as the intimidating Johnny Friendly; Rod
Steiger drives home his characters conflicted dilemma in an extremely
naturalistic performance; and the angelic Eva Marie Saint provides
beauty, grace, and tenderness amidst the films grim and chaotic surroundings.
Along with the previously mentioned exchange between Brando and Saint,
On the Waterfront features other memorable scenes: Saint asking
a conflicted Brando to help her find who killed her brother; Malden's
rousing speech where he challenges the dock workers to stand up to
the mob; and the famous confrontation between Steiger and Brando which
is followed by the "I could have been a contender" line
delivered by Brando.
The film is elevated by Leonard Bernstein's percussion driven and
at times mournful score.
A strong morality tale about corruption and redemption, On the
Waterfront is a timeless classic that features two masters at
the top of their craft. |
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