On the Waterfront

Rating:
Summary: Just Wow
Review: I am a moviebuff. I love any type of movie but I am a huge action fan. This is definitly not an action flick, but it is possibly of of the 3 greatest movies of all time. My eyes were watering and it is really not a sad movie. Go see it if you want to see a movie you will want to watch a million times. Once I saw it I immedietly had to go buy it. You will love this movie until the end of time.

Rating:
Summary: Simply The Best
Review: On the Waterfront, in many ways, is a profound, deep and provocative picture. The acting is superb, led by Brando, who reaches out beyond any acting in any other movie. He is so natural to an extent that you will forget that this is a movie but reality.
I have seen this movie many times, with each viewing I tend to indulge more and more in each and every tiny detail. Elia Kazan has a done a wonderful job. Also the casting is unparalleld.

This is a timeless classic that is essential to any movie library.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie!
Review: Brando fans need to have this one in their collection! Consider it a MUST. Since so many have given a synopsis, I will not bother to. But suffice it to say that this movie is entering the hearts of the third generation since it was originally released in 1954. Does not matter if you are young or old, this is one of the best out there.

Want another recommendation? Try Citizen Kane. Younger people may not care much for it; but it is also worthy if a look.

Rating:
Summary: On The Water Front
Review: Excelant show as close to being street wise as hollywood can get.
Good acting by Brando
Well worth seeing a couple of times.
Have seen it I believe five times and still enjoy it
Highly rate this movie wothwhile

Rating:
Summary: VERY DISAPPOINTING TRANSFER OF AN AMERICAN CLASSIC
Review: Columbia continues its downward spiral where its classic DVD output is concerned. "On The Waterfront" is not only a great Academy Award winning film, it's an American icon. The plot concerns itself with a union stooge (Marlon Brando) who finally realizes that the intimidation racket he's got himself into is all wrong. Also stars Eva Marie Saint, Rod Steiger and Carl Malden.
Quite simply: this transfer is worn. Contrast levels are extremely low, fine details are lost in video noise reduction enhancements and digital grit, grain and noise are detected throughout. Scratches, chips and distortions in the original camera negative still stick out like a soar thumb. The audio is mono and undistinguished. It's not a bad mix, though there are moments where a slight background hiss crops up. No extras! Oh, come on Columbia. This is one of your BEST PICTURES and it gets this kind of treatment on DVD?!? It could'a been a contenda'!!!

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant on every count
Review: On the Waterfront neatly captures its historical and political context of mob corruption on the New Jersey waterfront, its screenplay is tight and lucid, and of course Marlon Brando's performance is truly electric (comparing favourably, in my view, with his highly over-rated contemporary James Dean - Brando can only have missed out on equivalent icon status by not having the foresight to plough his car into the back of a truck). The deftness of touch with which Brando has his knuckle-headed ex-boxer seeing the light and turning to a working class hero is truly outstanding. As is the sublety with which the film treats this unlikely hero theme: cinematic history is replete with ham fisted, corny variations of this theme: On the Waterfront is never even slightly suspect in that regard.

Also well worth a mention is Karl Malden, latterly of the Street of San Francisco, who infused what might have been a particularly corny part with gravitas. Terrific film.

Rating:
Summary: They're dustin' off the hotseat for me!!
Review: While Brando is of course the star of this picture, its Lee J. Cobb as mob boss Johnny Friendly who i feel perhaps had his best role of all time. While everyone who will see this movie has seen it i will just comment on the quality of the DVD which is quite good and plays cleanly with good sound quality.

Rating:
Summary: brilliant execution of a simple plot
Review: This is the best film I've ever seen and definitely my favorite.

A lot of people base their praise of this movie on the popular opinion of Brando's portrayal of Terry Malloy. Brando's portrayal is generally the most respected among the cast. I am nitpicking when I say that I would agree that Brando gives a marquis performance; however, his performance is not ideal and is not as strong as that of Lee Cobb, Rod Steiger, or Eva Marie Saint. It is the strength of the supporting cast that makes this film a marvel.

My problem with Brando's portrayal of Malloy is that he sticks out like a sore thumb. He has to many things going for him to play the role of a broken down bum. He is slightly unbelievable. He is the best looking guy I've ever seen (coming from a heterosexual male perspective) with intense emotional development prior to meeting Eva Marie Saint's character. The power of the transformation and awakening of his character is undermined by these qualities.

When I think of the Terry Malloy character, I think it would have been played better by someone more everyday like Carl Malden. That would have not sold as many tickets however.

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Summary: Interpretation of "On the Waterfront"
Review: One always learns. Until now I have taken OTW at face value: That is, a brilliant film about labor unions that contains Marlon Brandos best performance and, alas, his last really good performance before he started to scorn his job (he was well paid nonetheless) and his more naive admirers (those who paid). Here we still get honest Brando, but the same cannot be said of his director. I knew, of course, that Kazan was one of the "Hollywood ten" and named names in order to save his career, but somehow I failed to link this fact to the making of this film. All this happened half a century ago and I would not have brought this subject up again, if it were not important for the understanding of this film. A few days ago I read an interesting interpretation by Jeffrey Meyers. In "Gary Cooper - American Hero" (The actor was a friendly witness in 1947) Meyers wrote:

"On the Waterfront was written by Budd Schulberg and directed by Elia Kazan who had both appeared before HUAC in 1951 and named names. This political allegory justified their own betrayals by having the stevedore hero, Marlon Brando, inform on and condemn his former friends and union comrades. A friendly witness, he testifies against Johnny Friendly and other racketeers ( a false analogy to the communists) before the Waterfront Crime Commission (HUAC) for the greater good of society. In a self-serving effort to vindicate their own behavior, the traitor becomes a hero. As Victor Navasky wrote, Schulberg and Kazan created a context in which the naming of names is the only honorable thing to do - the maximum case for informing."

I'm really grateful that Meyers made me finally understand this side of the film, and, after having seen it again I must also mention that the portrayal of union leaders as criminals added another ingenious touch: Workers - don't unite. Your boss knows best what is good for you...A worker who is not organized in a union cannot go on strike to get a minimum wage, health isurance, pension - away with all this social security stuff achieved during the last century. No wonder that right-wingers love this film! In my country there is a word for well made propaganda films: "Meistermachwerk", which means a masterly concoction (in contrast to a genuine masterpiece). OTW was a big oscar-winner. Watch it, but don't let yourself be deceived by its artistic merits. You may exclaim: "Brando!" and "Oh!" and "Ah!" , but never forget that the message you get is that treason is honorable and solidarity among workers wrong. It may be great filmmaking, but not as great as it is calculating.

Rating:
Summary: On Location In Hoboken.
Review: ON THE WATERFRONT is about the evil caused by a corrupt dock union and one man's courageous struggle against a brutal union boss (Lee J. Cobb) and his goons. Of course the hero (Marlon Brando) does not stand entirely alone as he receives a lot of support from his girl friend (Eva Marie Saint) and a Catholic priest (Karl Malden) in particular. The climactic scene near the end of the movie is unmatched in terms of impact and emotion.

The film dominated the Oscar competition in 1954 garnering awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), Best Director (Elia Kazan) and Best Supporting Actress (Eva Marie Saint). Nominations were also given for Best Supporting Actor (Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Karl Malden).

Brando's performance in the role of Terry Malloy is one of his very best. It is hard to find an example of better acting than his impersonation of the speech, movement and idiosyncracies of a prize fighter. Brando's effort adds much to the authentic atmosphere which pervades the movie. The casting of ex-fighters Tami Mauriello and Tony Galento as union muscle adds to this effect. Mauriello and Galento share the distinction of both being knockout victims of Joe Louis.