{"id":79098,"date":"2021-12-24T11:50:26","date_gmt":"2021-12-24T18:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79098"},"modified":"2021-12-24T17:33:51","modified_gmt":"2021-12-25T00:33:51","slug":"edge-of-the-city-1957","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79098","title":{"rendered":"Edge of the City (1957)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Look, T &#8212; I&#8217;m trouble!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poster-189x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"189\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-79099\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poster-189x300.png 189w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poster-81x128.png 81w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poster-170x270.png 170w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poster.png 545w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 189px) 100vw, 189px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA troubled young army deserter (John Cassavetes) who is being bullied by a vicious stevedore (Jack Warden) befriends a fellow worker (Sidney Poitier) and starts hanging out with Poitier&#8217;s wife (Ruby Dee) and their friend (Kathleen Maguire). Poitier tries to help Cassavetes regain his confidence and stand up to Warden &#8212; but tragedy soon strikes.\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>Friendship<\/li>\n<li>John Cassavetes Films<\/li>\n<li>Martin Ritt Films<\/li>\n<li>Racism and Race Relations<\/li>\n<li>Ruby Dee Films<\/li>\n<li>Sidney Poitier Films<\/li>\n<li>Waterfront <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nMartin Ritt made his impressive cinematic directorial debut with this adaptation of Robert Alan Arthur&#8217;s television play <em>A Man is Ten Feet Tall<\/em>. We&#8217;re not at all sure where things will head as we see young Cassavetes enter the dockyards looking for work: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Opening.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Opening-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Opening-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Opening-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Opening-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Opening-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Opening-1536x833.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Opening-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Opening.png 1651w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When he finally encounters the man whose name he&#8217;s been told to give as a contact (Warden&#8217;s &#8220;Charlie Malick&#8221;), we can tell that Cassavetes has a rough history which we&#8217;ll presumably learn more about: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Warden2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Warden2-1024x556.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79109\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Warden2-1024x556.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Warden2-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Warden2-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Warden2-768x417.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Warden2-1536x834.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Warden2-497x270.png 497w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Warden2.png 1659w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re especially kept in suspense when Cassavetes befriends Poitier, and ends up being taken under his wing: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location-Car.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location-Car-1024x561.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"351\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location-Car-1024x561.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location-Car-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location-Car-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location-Car-768x421.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location-Car-1536x842.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location-Car-493x270.png 493w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location-Car.png 1651w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In a most refreshing change of pace (at least for films of this era), Poitier and Cassavetes develop a meaningful cross-racial friendship, with Poitier listening closely as Cassavetes gradually shares details about his past. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship.bmp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship-1024x566.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79111\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship-1024x566.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship-128x71.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship-768x425.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship-1536x850.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship-488x270.jpg 488w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship-1038x576.jpg 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Friendship.bmp 1647w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Soon Poitier is encouraging Cassavetes to take risks with dating, and introduces him to a friend of his wife&#8217;s (Maguire): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Awkward.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Awkward-1024x552.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"345\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Awkward-1024x552.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Awkward-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Awkward-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Awkward-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Awkward-1536x829.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Awkward-500x270.png 500w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Awkward.png 1659w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Things take a dark turn, however, when Warden &#8212; a pathological bully &#8212; decides to push an issue to its limits, at which point Cassavates must make a challenging decision. To that end, many have pointed out the similarities between this film and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2971\"><em>On the Waterfront<\/em> (1954)<\/a>, with both taking place on the docks of New York and featuring a protagonist who must decide whether to &#8220;squeal&#8221; or not &#8212; however, they are different enough to watch and consider on their own merits, and this one, too, remains worth a look.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>John Cassavetes as Axel<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes-1024x567.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79103\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes-1024x567.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes-768x426.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes-1536x851.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes-487x270.png 487w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Cassavetes.png 1655w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sidney Poitier as Tommy<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poitier.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poitier-1024x564.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"353\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poitier-1024x564.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poitier-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poitier-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poitier-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poitier-1536x846.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poitier-490x270.png 490w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Poitier.png 1651w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ruby Dee as Lucy<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Dee.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Dee-1024x561.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"351\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79101\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Dee-1024x561.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Dee-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Dee-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Dee-768x421.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Dee-1536x841.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Dee-493x270.png 493w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Dee.png 1663w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine use of location shooting<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location4-1024x563.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79110\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location4-1024x563.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location4-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location4-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location4-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location4-1536x845.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location4-491x270.png 491w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Location4.png 1645w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Phone-Call.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Phone-Call-1024x571.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Phone-Call-1024x571.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Phone-Call-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Phone-Call-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Phone-Call-768x429.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Phone-Call-1536x857.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Phone-Call-484x270.png 484w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Edge-of-the-City-Phone-Call.png 1647w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a good and unusual show. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0050347\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/2999\/edge-of-the-city#articles-reviews?articleId=18776\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/edge-of-the-city\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1957\/01\/30\/archives\/screen-on-brotherhood.html\">NY Times Original Review (spoiler alert) <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Look, T &#8212; I&#8217;m trouble!&#8221; Synopsis: A troubled young army deserter (John Cassavetes) who is being bullied by a vicious stevedore (Jack Warden) befriends a fellow worker (Sidney Poitier) and starts hanging out with Poitier&#8217;s wife (Ruby Dee) and their friend (Kathleen Maguire). Poitier tries to help Cassavetes regain his confidence and stand up to Warden &#8212; but tragedy soon strikes. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Friendship John Cassavetes Films Martin Ritt Films Racism and Race Relations Ruby Dee Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79098\"> 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":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79098","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=79098"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79165,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79098\/revisions\/79165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=79098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=79098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=79098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}