On the Waterfront (1954)
Country: US
Technical: bw 108m
Director: Elia Kazan
Cast: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger
Synopsis:
When an ex-prizefighter turned bum gets involved with the sister of the man he helped the mob silence, he finds himself torn between his loyalty to his brother and his criminal employers, and his newfound conscience about the situation of the longshoremen under the thumb of corrupt unions.
Review:
One of Brando's best and most typical roles, but also a fabulous showcase for other talents: direction, music and performances combine to produce a moving and excoriating exposé of the situation obtaining in the East coast docksides up to that time. That aside, the film can also be seen as an act of expiation and self-justification on the part of Kazan who like Terry Malloy, but in very different circumstances, had named names before the HUAC. His 'crime', of which he never spoke openly, is to be found both in Terry's setting up of his 'brother', Jimmy Doyle, and his ultimate testimony against Johnny Friendly, his dignifying love for Edie and his confrontation of the gang redeeming his earlier betrayal. All of which makes On the Waterfront one of the most authentically personal works in American cinema.
Country: US
Technical: bw 108m
Director: Elia Kazan
Cast: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger
Synopsis:
When an ex-prizefighter turned bum gets involved with the sister of the man he helped the mob silence, he finds himself torn between his loyalty to his brother and his criminal employers, and his newfound conscience about the situation of the longshoremen under the thumb of corrupt unions.
Review:
One of Brando's best and most typical roles, but also a fabulous showcase for other talents: direction, music and performances combine to produce a moving and excoriating exposé of the situation obtaining in the East coast docksides up to that time. That aside, the film can also be seen as an act of expiation and self-justification on the part of Kazan who like Terry Malloy, but in very different circumstances, had named names before the HUAC. His 'crime', of which he never spoke openly, is to be found both in Terry's setting up of his 'brother', Jimmy Doyle, and his ultimate testimony against Johnny Friendly, his dignifying love for Edie and his confrontation of the gang redeeming his earlier betrayal. All of which makes On the Waterfront one of the most authentically personal works in American cinema.
Country: US
Technical: bw 108m
Director: Elia Kazan
Cast: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger
Synopsis:
When an ex-prizefighter turned bum gets involved with the sister of the man he helped the mob silence, he finds himself torn between his loyalty to his brother and his criminal employers, and his newfound conscience about the situation of the longshoremen under the thumb of corrupt unions.
Review:
One of Brando's best and most typical roles, but also a fabulous showcase for other talents: direction, music and performances combine to produce a moving and excoriating exposé of the situation obtaining in the East coast docksides up to that time. That aside, the film can also be seen as an act of expiation and self-justification on the part of Kazan who like Terry Malloy, but in very different circumstances, had named names before the HUAC. His 'crime', of which he never spoke openly, is to be found both in Terry's setting up of his 'brother', Jimmy Doyle, and his ultimate testimony against Johnny Friendly, his dignifying love for Edie and his confrontation of the gang redeeming his earlier betrayal. All of which makes On the Waterfront one of the most authentically personal works in American cinema.