On the Waterfront

Rating:
Summary: AFI top 100-8 Oscars -Best Picture 1954-Best Actor Brando!!
Review: With the famous quote: "I could-ha been a contend-ha. I could have been somebody!!"
AFI (American Film Institute) voted "On the Waterfront" into the top 100 films in the last 100 years. Winner of 8 Oscars including the "BIG 3" - Picture, Director-Elia Kazan and Actor-Marlon Brando. This Remastered Sight and Sound DVD gives us an outstanding Full-Screen Black & White Classic presentation. Fantastic cast - Marlon Brando, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Karl Malden And Eva Marie Saint (first starring role).
Shot on location "On the Waterfront" in New York / New Jersey during the winter time. Actually done outside on location!! This added to the realism of the rough neighborhoods surrounding the waterfront.
In Summary: Terry Malloy (Brando) an ex boxer tries to fit into the longshoreman union "On the Waterfront". Treated as a patsy by Union Leader crook (Cobb) and protected by his brother (Steiger) Union strong arm. He is set up in a union troublemakers death. The sister (Saint)of the slain troublemaker and Priest (Malden) try to befriend Terry (Brando) into betraying the corrupt union boss and turning states evidence.
A brilliant cast performs flawlessly (especially the famous "Contender Scene between Brando & Steiger")and shows us the rough, crude world of the waterfront of the 1950's. This DVD is a remastered Black & White picture and sound presented in a Full Screen format. Many extras including "Contender" explain and reveal many background facts regarding this Classic Film.
This movie shows us what was happening "ON THE WATERFRONT".

Rating:
Summary: The quintessential Brando performance...
Review: Marlon Brando's performance alone justifies watching this movie. Without mentioning any of On the Waterfront's other merits, it could be given 5 stars simply because of his brilliant interpretation of his role as Terry Malloy, the confused and inarticulate former prize-fighter. In addition to Brando's performance, On the Waterfront features great performances from the other actors, a compelling and realitic situation, and some really moving scenes and speeches.

In On the Waterfront, Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) moves from an apathetic, cynical bum to a fighter who stands up for what he believes in. At first, in order to get work, Malloy cooperates with the corrupt union (it really is more like a gang) that runs things in the waterfront area. Although the union has murdered several people, the police cannot break it up because nobody has the courage to stand up and testify against it. But by the end, through the guidance of a passionate priest and the beautiful, idealistic daughter of his murdered friend (Eva Marie Saint, who gives an excellent, Oscar winning performance in her first movie), Malloy finds the courage to testify against the union's boss, Johnny Friendly.

Admittedly, the film does have its faults - the soundtrack, for instance, is overdone, and sometimes the director, Elia Kazan, gives the impression that he is trying to make certain scenes very deep (which strangely enough takes away from them). Overall, however, On the Waterfront is a great film - a classic in the true meaning of the word. Again, it is worth seeing for Brando's performance alone!

Rating:
Summary: To be, or not to be (a rat)
Review:

You don't rat on your friends to the law. That's the primary message here...EXCEPT when they ought to be ratted on, of course.

Elia Kazan directed this movie shortly after he "ratted" on a bunch of communist sympathizers whom he worked with in Hollywood to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Marlon Brando, playing the hero (Terry Malloy), a washed up boxer in the movie, ratted on his boss, Johnny Friendly, played by Lee J. Cobb. His only excuse for being a rat was that Friendly had his brother and his girlfriend's brother killed, along with a bunch of other folks.

One gets the feeling that maybe Kazan was making an apology, in his own way, for tattling on the left-wingers who controlled Hollywood (and still do?).

The movie is good entertainment, and it won several oscars, including one for Kazan and one for Brando. In my opinion they were well earned.

This is an old one, in black and white, and I've seen it now several times. It is still impressive. Some think it was Brando's best screen performance. Karl Malden and Eva Marie Saint also turned in good performances. Probably the least convincing was the part of the priest played by Malden. His dialogue was sacharin, but that is the fault of the script, rather than Malden's.

If you like movies with a heavy message, you'll like this one.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Rating:
Summary: wow. just wow.
Review: I just saw this movie for the first time today, and I was really blown away by it. The only thing I regret is that a DVD doesn't exist in widescreen format! The cinematography was beautiful, and I wanted to be shown everything captured by the camera, not less than half of it (which is what you get in the fullscreen transfer). I'll buy this DVD as soon as a widescreen version is released.

In reply to the person who said that the studios should release it in color: the filmmakers made an artistic decision. Releasing this in color would be like painting a veil on the Mona Lisa. It's okay to release goofy b&w musicals in color, but I don't think it would be okay for On the Waterfront.

Rating:
Summary: A re-edit of my April 8, 2002 review
Review: This story, about a dockworker named Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) and his battle against union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb), is I consider one of the best movies ever made. Despite this, some have criticized scenes of the movie and even present debatable underlying themes. Above all else, its said that Elia Kazan used this as an excuse to show why he testified to the House Un-American Activities Committee on communists. But this movie does much more than justify such actions.

Now I don't know about politics, so I will sidestep that minefield as much as possible. Though this movie is excellent, I do have however have some quibbles. First, most of the battle lines are too clearly drawn. It's obvious who's good (Father Berry, played by Karl Malden and Edie Doyle, played by a debuting Eva Marie Saint) and who's bad (Friendly and the other union bosses). But there are a few exceptions. For example, Terry's brother Charlie the Gent (Rod Steiger), has been and is working for Friendly when Terry is subpoenaed. This puts Terry in a hole, since he knows that Father Berry is right in having him testify on crimes that have occurred, yet his own family is involved with the managers he will bring down. Thus, Terry is uncertain about who his real friends are until after he testifies. Another problem with the movie is that some of the actor's try too hard. Cobb and Malden overact quite a bit, with many conversations erupting into argument (Cobb and Malden shout about 50% of their lines). But, in my view, they are all superior to today's stars who can't act out of bed. And most of their melodrama occurs in scenes where their characters are or are trying to be the center of attention.

Until recently, my biggest grudge would have been with the film's ending, which I originally considered too upbeat, confusing and out of place. But, some recent comments I have received have caused me to reconsider it. Terry's walking back to work following his beating can be paralleled with the story of Christ when he was crucified only to come back to life. The others following him back in is similar to Christ's followers ascending with him into heaven. And, to those who still find it confusing and out of place (Beside myself), the ending is foreshadowed by Malden's speech in the freighter hull after a dockworker is killed. Also, a similar event almost occurred in real life: According to an e-mail I received, a vote was taken among the real life dockworkers as to whether they wanted to replace their corrupt union. They failed, but narrowly. The ending surprised many film critics since it didn't match with the grim mood and most would have preferred to see Terry die at the end or fall down or something. While I too thought the ending would be more downbeat, could these people have done better?

Now, to the film's morals. I know that it's hard to sympathize with a snitch, especially to snitch on one who was so good to you. But, this is a film about conscience and, as Terry says, "That stuff can drive you nuts". Let's first understand what the situation is: If Terry didn't rat out Friendly and the other union bosses, he would have more friends but working conditions on the waterfront would have gotten worse and others would get killed. If he does rat Friendly out, it will isolate him from his friends and make life dangerous, but it might help improve working conditions. It was just like when Kazan was forced to testify. If he named names, he would lose respect and if he didn't he would be condemned as a communist himself. Either way, Terry was stuck.

But, out of ten points, the above detracts only about ½ or 1. The good far outweighs the bad. Scenes were filmed on actual location on docks in New Jersey, giving a gritty, realistic and overall beautiful look that no soundstage could have done. And let's not forget the performances: While Malden and Cobb can be very melodramatic, they are both all right, especially when Malden gives the speech in the freighter. (I'm also tired of people complaining his character's smoking and drinking, since that's not outlawed by the church and some real life priests are doing worse). Steiger gets to share the screen during the "contender" speech. And Saint, for her debut, won Best Supporting Actress (But, she is the main female lead and should have been nominated as such).

But, as many stated before, nobody tops Brando. One critic on the website Epinions stated that anybody could have played Malloy. While others were considered for the part (Frank Sinatra was originally cast), I don't think one of cinema's great performances could have been played by anybody. Anyone can say the lines, but can they be said with the same feeling? It's an understatement to say Brando gets involved with his character. If you didn't know who it was onscreen, you would think the actor was also uneducated and dense. Terry is explosive and doesn't think through, a throwback to his boxing days. When confronted with problems, the solution is violence ("Do it to him before he does it to you").

"Waterfront" won eight academy awards and was placed at number eight on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest American movies. While it deserves to be on the list, I was surprised it ranked so high considering the controversy that has surrounded it. But, while it may be overly simplistic in it's depiction of good and evil and manipulative, this is still a great movie. The film's documentary style and the brilliant, dynamic work of Brando are still studied today by up and coming actors. Oh and look carefully to spot character actor Martin Balsam as a waterfront detective.

Rating:
Summary: A dramatic triumph!!!
Review: "On the waterfront" is one of my favourite movies of all time. Marlon Brando is superb in this film and the dramatic tension throughout the entire production is a testament to the filmaker's skills. The acting, cinematography and script are all top-notch here.

To the guy who wants this in widescreen, widescreen was not used greatly in 1954, the previous year saw the first use of it with "the Robe" so I wouldn't be holding my breath to see this one released in widescreen! For the other guy who won't watch it unless it's in colour, I hope your joking!! Talk about spoiling a great film.

Thanks for reading and buy and enjoy this dvd.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Stories Ever Told
Review: "On the Waterfront" is a truly remarkable film . The cast is excellent and the acting could not have been more stellar, but it is the performance of Marlon Brando as Terry Mallory that not only makes for an outstanding performace, but that Marlon Brando proves that he is a true contender .

Rating:
Summary: Worth seeing for Brando's performance.
Review: Much has been written pro and con about this classic film. One thing seems certain -- Marlon Brando gives the performance of a lifetime as Terry Malloy, the down and out fighter turned longshoreman. His brother Charlie, played superbly by Rod Steiger, is accountant for the gang that runs what might be loosely called a union. Brando's performance is an acting clinic. James Dean in East of Eden shows us what he has learned from watching Brando. Dean's acting is also a revelation. Later Robert De Niro will come close to matching Brando's bravura performance as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver and then as Jake La Motta in Raging Bull.

The screenplay of On the Waterfront by Budd Schulberg, based on his previously published story, strains our credulity. As the film opens Terry Malloy calls to his friend Joey Doyle to meet him on the roof to give back a pidgeon which has gone astray. Doyle, an informer, is thrown fron the roof to his death by thugs acting for Johnny Friendly, played well, given the constraints of the screenplay, by Lee J. Cobb. Terry later confesses to Doyle's sister, in an academy award winning performance by Eva Marie Saint, that he knew nothing of the plan to murder Joey. Terry's guilt over his complicity in Doyle's murder prompts him to testify against Johnny Friendly and the union gang.

Only Johnny Friendly and his gang behave consistently in this film. The federal agents, police, longshoremen, and the parish priest, played by Karl Malden, all seem confused about what action to take to break the hold of the union gang over the longshoremen. Additionally, no one seems prepared for the violence unleashed by the gang against informers.

Elia Kazan directed On the Waterfront and some reviewers have suggested that the film is self-serving; that is, Kazan, an informer himself during the McCarthy era, attempts to justify his cowardly behavior by likening his actions to Malloy's informing on the mob that he once belonged to. To compare Kazan with a dim witted ex-fighter seems absurd to me. If this was Kazan's intent, he fails miserably.

If the story of On the Waterfront seems far fetched at times, then why give it a five star rating? Again, Brando's performance, for which he was justly given an academy award, seems to me to be a defining moment in American film. Brando sets a benchmark for actors that is high and secure. He is truly a great actor and this film demontrates his power and versatility.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Stories Ever Told
Review: "On the Waterfront" is a truly remarkable film . The cast is excellent and the acting could not have been more stellar, but it is the performance of Marlon Brando as Terry Mallory that not only makes for an outstanding performace, but that Marlon Brando proves that he is a true contender .

Rating:
Summary: A dramatic triumph!!!
Review: "On the waterfront" is one of my favourite movies of all time. Marlon Brando is superb in this film and the dramatic tension throughout the entire production is a testament to the filmaker's skills. The acting, cinematography and script are all top-notch here.

To the guy who wants this in widescreen, widescreen was not used greatly in 1954, the previous year saw the first use of it with "the Robe" so I wouldn't be holding my breath to see this one released in widescreen! For the other guy who won't watch it unless it's in colour, I hope your joking!! Talk about spoiling a great film.

Thanks for reading and buy and enjoy this dvd.