On The Waterfront [1954]

See Larger Image	Manufacturer: Uca Starring: Marlon Brando, Nehemiah Persoff, John Hamilton, James Westerfield, Don Blackman Directed By: Elia Kazan Average Customer Rating:


Audience Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Binding: DVD EAN: 5050582427073 Format: Black & White Label: Uca Manufacturer: Uca Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Uca Region Code: 2 Release Date: 2007-04-16 Running Time: 103 Studio: Uca Theatrical Release Date: 1954
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: "On the WaterFRONT" of Film History Comment: "On the Waterfront" - Elia Kazan's third artistic collaboration with Method giant Marlon Brando - emerged from the twentieth-century as one of the era's landmark films. As with "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) and "Viva Zapata!" (1953), Kazan offered audiences cinematic realism on a level unseen on the American screen. "On the Waterfront", in particular, presented post-war American audiences with a gritty, uncomprising look at union corruption on the docks of Hoboken, New Jersey, loosely basing itself on real-life events and politics of the 1950s. The film centres around Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando), an ex-boxer who runs various errands for Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb), the crooked boss of the docker's union. Terry's brother, Charley the Gent (Rod Steiger), is a member of Johnny's inner circle, and, in large part because of his influence, Terry is trusted. When a longshoreman threatens Johnny's position, the boss has him murdered - with Terry's unwitting assistance. Once Terry realises that he was inadvertently involved in the killing, he begins to reassess his life and position in Johnny's organisation. Meanwhile, the local priest, Father Barry (Karl Malden), attempts to organise the longshoremen to speak out against the corruption around them by appearing before the Waterfront Crime Commission. Terry is torn between loyalty to Johnny and his brother, and the unease of his conscience and his growing infatuation for the murdered man's sister, Edie (Eva Marie Saint). From this evolves a masterstroke in filmmaking, and one of film history's most celebrated scenes. In the back of the now-famous taxi cab, Brando and Steiger perform a powerful one-on-one that will ultimately decide the future of either one of them. In trying to convince Terry to not go in front of the Crime Commission, Charley pulls out a gun and points it at his brother in a moment of pure desperation. Instead of reacting as many other actors of his generation would, Brando simply pushes away the gun, disappointed, somewhat ashamed, embarassed, by his brother's actions. What follows is one of film's most memorable lines: "I coulda been a contender" as Terry tells Charley of his disappointment in becoming a "bum" and how he should've "looked out" for his little brother "a little better". Charley, upset by his brother's revelations, lowers his gun and lets Terry out of the car, unwittingly sealing his own fate. Charley's fate, as we witness later on in the film, is death; and having discovered this, Terry, bloody-yet-unbowed, struggles to his feet and completes his quest for redemption that he began when he realised he had been used to lure Edie's brother to his death. The final act is more meaningful in the context of completing Terry's character than it is in closing the story of union corruption. Johnny Friendly is outed by Terry and his fellow longshoremen with the help of Father Barry and Edie. All is restored on the waterfont, for now. From twenty-first century eyes, "On the Waterfront" still hits all the right notes. Although they do not carry the immediacy they once had, Kazan's interpretation of his own personal and political struggles delivered on screen by Brando, Malden and Saint reverberate as strongly as they did in the 1950s. A recommended watch! Customer Rating: Summary: THE BEST FILM OF ALL TIME Comment: A true classic, Brando plays a "bum" who makes a living out of working the docks, under the watchful eyes of the dock "mafia", headed by the marvelous Lee J Cobb. Brando is handed a dilema when the "mafia" murder a fellow dockman and the sister of the deceased, played by the enchantingly beautiful Eva Marie Saint, turns up to find the truth behind her brothers murder. Brando must choose between his loyalty to the "mafia" and Eva Marie Saint. The finlae remains one of the most memorable in movie history. EXCELLENT. Customer Rating: Summary: The most over rated film ever Comment: This is without a doubt one of the most over rated and boring films I have ever seen (out of the 16,000 or so I have seen to date). Unfortunately, it has gained a cult status mainly from clueless critics, assorted luvvies and people who think only 'serious' films are good. Since it stars the King of the Method Actors (Marlon Brando), it was always going to be of dubious quality - indeed most of Brando's films were naff apart from possibly the first Godfather film! This film won 7 Oscars but this is meaningless as Hollywood usually rewards serious drama (read boring) films and ignores everything else. Truely dreadful! Customer Rating: Summary: Definitely a Contender !!! Comment: Gripping, powerful drama of corrupt unions for dock workers and how one man Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) fights back. This movie is a definite must-see. The story is pretty simple and has been done before but the script is superb and all the actors are at the height of their powers. Brando is unbelievable as Malloy--he portrays his innocence and hurt so easily--I actually started to get a lump in my throat when he comes to grips about the corruption. Rod Steiger is great in a small role as his brother. The taxicab sequence between him and Brando has become a legend--rightfully. Lee J. Cobb is frightening as the leader of it all. Eva Marie Saint (in her first theatrical role) is gorgeous and just great as a woman who falls in love with Brando. The scenes between them are incredible Customer Rating: Summary: Surprisingly good Comment: Okay, so it's black and white, half a century old and I wasn't expecting much, but On The Waterfront still packs the punches. You certainly don't have to be a film buff or a Brando fan to see why he was such a heart throb and the film won eight oscars. The plot doesn't always go where you might expect it to, the action moves along at a rollicking pace, the denouement keeps you guessing up to the last seconds and the acting is great throughout. The only thing that didn't match up to modern standards was an awful "special effect" of a man falling off a roof early on, but once you get past that it is pretty gritty and realistic, even the blood and violence. On the upside, it has one of the most famous lines in cinema history, which is worth waiting up for. This is not one of those "classic" films that is actually a big outdated yawn. It's just a classic. More Reviews