On the Waterfront (1954)

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writers:

Malcolm Johnson (suggested by articles)
Budd Schulberg (story)

Release Date:

24 June 1954 (Japan)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A story as warm and moving as GOING MY WAY...but with brass knuckles!

Plot:

An ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses.

Plot Keywords:

Confrontation | Irish American | Atmospheric | Brooklyn New York | Shipyard

Awards:

Won 8 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Terry Malloy
Karl Malden	...	Father Barry
Lee J. Cobb	...	Johnny Friendly
Rod Steiger	...	Charley 'the Gent' Malloy
Pat Henning	...	Timothy J. 'Kayo' Dugan
Leif Erickson	...	Glover
James Westerfield	...	Big Mac
Tony Galento	...	Truck
Tami Mauriello	...	Tullio
John F. Hamilton	...	'Pop' Doyle (as John Hamilton)
John Heldabrand	...	Mutt
Rudy Bond	...	Moose
Don Blackman	...	Luke
Arthur Keegan	...	Jimmy
Abe Simon	...	Barney

Also Known As:

The Hook (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Iceland:12 | Mexico:A | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1954) | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1985) | USA:Approved (PCA #16916) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Court Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Horizon Pictures

Trivia:

In his biography of Elia Kazan, Richard Schickel describes how Kazan used a ploy to entice Marlon Brando to do the movie. He had Karl Malden direct a scene from the film with an up-and-coming fellow actor from the Actors Studio playing the Terry Malloy lead role. They figured the competitive Brando would not be eager to see such a major role handed to some new screen heartthrob. The ploy worked, especially since the competition had come in the form of a guy named Paul Newman.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: As the scene in which Terry coaxes Edie into walking home with him dissolves, it's obvious Kazan yelled, "Cut!" because before the picture has fully dissolved, Eva Marie Saint abruptly stops and turns around to head back towards the crew area near the camera.

Quotes:

Father Barry: Some people think the Crucifixion only took place on Calvary. Well, they better wise up!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Even Stevens: Louis in the Middle (#1.6)" (2000)

Top-heavy with importance and prestige, but a well-performed actors' piece...

Best Picture Oscar winner about good-hearted but dim longshoreman in New York who discloses underworld corruption in the waterfront union. Hard-bitten, cynical film based on a series of magazine articles by Malcolm Johnson somehow manages an upbeat finale, this despite a roundly depressing scenario, seedy atmospherics and baleful black-and-white cinematography. The blue-collar angst is incredibly vivid and gritty, and Marlon Brando turns in a tightly-controlled leading performance which won him his first Best Actor Oscar. Entire supporting cast is solid, though Eva Marie Saint is the stand-out as Brando's girl. Winner of eight Academy Awards in all, and a primer for Actors' Studio enrollees. The lack of levity makes itself present, but the locations and characters are immediate and well-captured. **1/2 from ****