Year of Release: 1954Country of Origin: USA
Director: Elia Kazan
Cast: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger
Plot outline: A young stevedore takes on the mobster who rules the docks (IMDb).
In many ways, On the Waterfront is a movie about redemption and standing up against the wrongs with the world. The screenplay is based from a series of articles by Malcolm Johnson about the dirty corruption that is going on in the docks from mob-controlled unions. It is filled with great dialogue, amazing development, and lots of heavy drama that goes on throughout the movie. Yet, it's Elia Kazan's direction that really shapes the story into something far more powerful with its imagery and grittiness. Shot on location in Hoboken, New Jersey, there's a beauty and ugliness to the location as he doesn't sugarcoat it one bit. At the same time, the camera is engaging with its close-up of characters and the locations they're in. With striking compositions that are memorable, Kazan's direction is definitely top-notch. What he does overall is create a movie that is engrossing in every scene and performance that goes on as he makes a movie that is truly solid. The casting is brilliant. Lee J. Cobb is magnificent as Johnny Friendly, the no-holds-barred, hard-talking mob boss who wants to have total control of everything. Rod Steiger is excellent as Charley, Friendly's right hand man. Karl Malden is brilliant as tough but sympathetic Father Barry. His best scene is in the ship where he talks about a man's death and the monologue he brings with such authority and passion. In her debut, Eva Marie Saint is great as Edie Doyle. A determined young woman seeking justice for her brother's death while finding the soft, caring side of Terry Malloy underneath his quick-talking, street-wise demeanor. Saint's performance is dazzling as a woman who is a bit tough but also who doesn't know much about the dark world of the streets. Finally, there's Marlon Brando in one of his iconic performances of his career. In the role of the tormented Terry Malloy, Brando exudes all of the charm, wit, and struggle of that character along with someone who is troubled by demons and the fact that people call him a bum. Brando's performance is filled with a tough guy attitude who can talk fast, be tough, and not be someone to messed with. Yet, there's a softness in him as he deals with guilt and the fact that there's someone like Edie who he wants to connect with. Brando has great rapport with all of his co-stars while he manages to make Terry Malloy an unlikely hero. What Brando brings to the screen is charisma and a vulnerability that makes him connect with the audience as he has one of the movie's most famous lines in cinema about what he could have been. It's truly one of the most marvelous performances captured in cinema. (SF)
My judgement: **** out of 4 stars
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