Review #95
Columbia, 1954
Mov No. 16916
Genre: Drama
Directed by: Elia Kazan
Staring: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Rod Steiger, Lee J. Cobb
Oscars: 8 wins, 12 nominations
AFI 100 years, 100 _____ tributes: Quotes (#3) Movies (#8); Heros & Villains (#23, Terry Malloy)
Runtime: 1h 48min
AFI Quote #3: "You don't understand! I coulda had class! I coulda been a contender! I coulda been somebody Charley, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it! I'm a bum!" - Terry Malloy

Joey Doyle has been killed by the mob because he was about to squeal on them. Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) set up the hit.

Soon the police start snooping around, triing to find out just what happened. But once Terry starts to get friendly with Joey's sister, Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint) he becomes nervous and agitated. He wonders if he should rat out the ones behind the hit: Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) and his brother Charley (Rod Steiger).

Served with a subpoena, Terry doesn't know what to do. On advice and strong words from a priest, Terry is torn between his friends and his family. Finally, Terry decides what he must do. He has made up his mind.

Back together again for the first time since A Streetcar Named Desire, Elia Kazan, Marlon Brando and Karl Malden all come together to create a film that is truely great.

Personal Comments

We start out On The Waterfront with a murder, but the story takes a while to get going and at first it is hard to figure out what is going on, but it becomes clear before too long. I found On the Waterfront hard to get into; then again, maybe it was just me. I don't know.

What I do know is that Marlon Brando was excelent in Waterfront. He was really great. So was most of the whole cast, anyway.

Plot:

Visual Effects:
Black and white cinematography is pretty good.

Sound:
The score is satisfactory and works well in many scenes.

Character Development:
Marlon Brando's Terry Malloy goes through big changes throughout the course of the film, which help to make his performace truely great.

Atmosphere:
I found On The Waterfront hard to get into, even though there is action right off the bat.

Realism:

Warren�s Rating:

Movies it beat out for Best Picture:
The Caine Mutiney, (1954); The Country Girl, (1954); Seven brides for Seven Brothers, (1954); Three Coins in the Fountain, (1954)

FINAL RATING

Is the movie worth your time to watch?

30-05-04

DOB: April 3rd, 1924; DOD: July 1, 2004

Age at win: 29

Nominated for: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Terry Malloy, On the Waterfront

Nomination: 4/8 (acting), 4/8 (total); Win: 1st

Marlon Brando gives a whicked performace in On the Waterfront as the psuedo-mobster Terry Malloy who is torn between his family and friends and weather or not he should do the right thing and rat out those who deserve to be ratted out.

Brando's best scene is the one in the Taxi with his brother, Charlie, right before Charlie is killed. It is a very touching scene that only serves to emphasize the connection between the brothers.

Marlon Brando's performance

30-05-04

DOB: July 4th, 1924; DOD: July 1st, 2004

Age at win: 29

Nominated for: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Edie Doyle, On the Waterfront

Nomination: 1/1 (acting), 1/1 (total); Win: Only

Eva's charater is a contrast to Marlon's terry Malloy. The on-screen chemistry between Brando and Siant was amazing.

She does a great job of being the one triing to get answers to her brother's death, and her manipulation Terry is remarkable. Not much can be said of Eva's performance, but it was truely great.

Eva Marie Saint's performance

30-05-04