Marlon Brando's famous "I coulda been a contenda" speech is such a warhorse by now that a lot of people probably feel they've seen this picture already, even if they haven't. And many of those who have seen it may have forgotten how flat-out thrilling it is. For all its great dramatic and cinematic qualities, and its fiery social criticism, Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront is also one of the most gripping melodramas of political corruption and individual heroism ever made in the United States, a five-star gut-grabber. Shot on location around the docks of Hoboken, New Jersey, in the mid-1950s, it tells the fact-based story of a longshoreman (Brando's Terry Malloy) who is blackballed and savagely beaten for informing against the mobsters who have taken over his union and sold it out to the bosses. (Karl Malden has a more conventional stalwart-hero role, as an idealistic priest who nurtures Terry's pangs of conscience.) Lee J. Cobb, who created the role of Willy Loman in Death of Salesman under Kazan's direction on Broadway, makes a formidable foe as a greedy union leader. --David Chute
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Among the greats Probably the only good thing produced by "McCarthyism"; in the end it is the story of "ratting out" by Kazan, who testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee, naming his friends. But it is also the story of standing up to evil. It is a post-WWII commentary on that achievement. And, in this regard Brando creates a hero for the ages in a remarkable picture in which I see something new every time I watch it. Look, for example, for the New Testament parables, The "cloak" in the form of... more info
Brando at his best I hate to admit it, but I never really got the whole Brando thing. Then again, I really only had The Godfather to base that on-and I'm not really a mafia-movie chick. This is film making at its finest. Brando shines-and was clearly a pretty boy in his time. Strong script and great performances by both Brando and Steiger. While I like the "contender" scene, I think it paled to the scene when Terry is trying to connect with Edie in the bar/cafe scene. Overall-great film. If you haven't had a chance to see... more info
one of the best ever This is absolutely a must see film. It has history (created by Kazan to be an answer to Miller's The Crucible), reality (was shot on the docks with many of actual long shoremen as actors), and great acting. There are four acting oscar nominations for this film. (Brando, Saint, Malden, Cobb)It is one of those films that make you stand and cheer. Even my students who are seniors in high school broke into applause when I showed it to them.
One of the Best of All Time! Too Bad About the DVD! This is one of my favourite movies of all time for its very powerful message about doing the right thing despite the consequences and about sins of omission being just as or even more damning then sins of commission. The screenplay was excellent and the acting especially of Brando and Steiger was even better. This was Brando's best ever performance on screen and this film is among the top ten ever made. The only problem is with the dvd which had few special features worth mentioning and had many... more info
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