{"id":2971,"date":"2007-04-14T18:59:01","date_gmt":"2007-04-15T01:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2971"},"modified":"2020-12-31T20:50:48","modified_gmt":"2021-01-01T03:50:48","slug":"on-the-waterfront-1954","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2971","title":{"rendered":"On the Waterfront (1954)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been on the docks all my life, boy, and there&#8217;s one thing I&#8217;ve learned &#8212; you don&#8217;t ask no questions, you don&#8217;t answer no questions.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/On-the-Waterfront-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/On-the-Waterfront-Poster-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-22731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/On-the-Waterfront-Poster-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/On-the-Waterfront-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/On-the-Waterfront-Poster.jpg 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA longshoreman (Marlon Brando) stands up to his corrupt union boss (Lee J. Cobb), against the advice of his brother (Rod Steiger).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Character Arc<\/li>\n<li>Corruption<\/li>\n<li>Elia Kazan Films<\/li>\n<li>Eva Marie Saint Films<\/li>\n<li>Karl Malden Films<\/li>\n<li>Lee J. Cobb Films<\/li>\n<li>Marlon Brando Films<\/li>\n<li>Political Awakening<\/li>\n<li>Rod Steiger Films<\/li>\n<li>Romance<\/li>\n<li>Siblings<\/li>\n<li>Waterfront<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nI&#8217;m in complete agreement with Peary&#8217;s assessment of this &#8220;terrific film&#8221;, which remains one of my favorite movies of all time. As Peary notes, <em>On the Waterfront<\/em> &#8212; which won eight Oscars &#8212; possesses &#8220;great acting, a fascinating premise, strong direction by Elia Kazan, tough dialogue by Budd Schulberg, and many classic scenes.&#8221; Marlon Brando (young and sexy) is nothing short of brilliant as Terry Malloy; nearly as impressive (Brando&#8217;s hard to top!) are Eva Marie Saint in her award-winning screen debut as Edie, and Rod Steiger as Terry&#8217;s protective yet misguided older brother. <\/p>\n<p><em>On the Waterfront<\/em> has been criticized on multiple fronts over the years: by those upset about its portrayal of the longshoreman&#8217;s union in the 1950s as corrupt; by those who claim <em>On the Waterfront<\/em> is essentially anti-union (I disagree); and &#8212; most famously &#8212; by those who believe Kazan was trying to offer Terry&#8217;s story as an apologetic for his own name-spilling to the House of Un-American Activities Commission (HUAC). Ultimately, however, I choose to view the film as a fable-like character study about personal redemption, rather than a polemic on unions, corruption, or Kazan himself. <\/p>\n<p>The film&#8217;s primary flaw (as noted by Peary) is the fact that &#8220;too much Christian morality is expounded by the overacting Karl Malden&#8221; &#8212; indeed, the scenes with Father Barry are a major distraction. Fortunately, there are enough memorable moments in <em>On the Waterfront<\/em> &#8212; Terry walking with Edie in the park; Terry&#8217;s poignant talk with Charlie in the taxi cab; the final climactic moments on the docks &#8212; to make up for those which don&#8217;t quite work. Also noteworthy are Leonard Bernstein&#8217;s majestic score (his first), and Boris Kaufman&#8217;s luminous black-and-white cinematography. Ultimately, <em>On the Waterfront<\/em> remains a glorious example of collaborative filmmaking, and merits multiple viewings by film fanatics. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brando5.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Brando5.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2969\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Eva Marie Saint as Edie<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Saint3.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Saint3.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2966\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Rod Steiger as Charley<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Steiger.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Steiger.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2967\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The touching romance between Terry and Edie<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Romance.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Romance.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2965\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Terry and Edie&#8217;s first walk in the park together<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Walk2.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Walk2.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2968\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Terry and Charley&#8217;s taxicab scene<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Car2.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Car2.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2963\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The final climactic showdown between Brando and Cobb<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Final.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Final.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2970\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Boris Kaufman&#8217;s evocative b&#038;w cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Cinema2.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/04\/Cinema2.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2964\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Leonard Bernstein&#8217;s soaring score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nAbsolutely. Despite its flaws, this remains both a personal favorite and a genuine classic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0047296\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.nytimes.com\/www.nytimes.com\/packages\/html\/movies\/bestpictures\/waterfront-re.html?scp=9&#038;sq=dead%2520man&#038;st=Search\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/great-movie-on-the-waterfront-1954\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s351waterfront.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/4749\/on-the-waterfront#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/66145.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been on the docks all my life, boy, and there&#8217;s one thing I&#8217;ve learned &#8212; you don&#8217;t ask no questions, you don&#8217;t answer no questions.&#8221; Synopsis: A longshoreman (Marlon Brando) stands up to his corrupt union boss (Lee J. Cobb), against the advice of his brother (Rod Steiger). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Character Arc Corruption Elia Kazan Films Eva Marie Saint Films Karl Malden Films Lee J. Cobb Films Marlon Brando Films Political Awakening Rod Steiger Films Romance&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2971\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2971"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60836,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971\/revisions\/60836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}