On the Waterfront (1954)

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writers:

Budd Schulberg (screenplay)
Budd Schulberg (based upon an original story by)
(more)

Release Date:

24 June 1954 (Japan)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

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:

Union | Murder | Dock | Longshoreman | Death

Awards:

Won 8 Oscars. Another 21 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Terry Malloy
Karl Malden	...	Father Barry
Lee J. Cobb	...	Johnny Friendly
Rod Steiger	...	Charley Malloy
Pat Henning	...	Kayo Dugan
Leif Erickson	...	Glover
James Westerfield	...	Big Mac
Tony Galento	...	Truck
Tami Mauriello	...	Tillio
John F. Hamilton	...	'Pop' Doyle (as John Hamilton)
John Heldabrand	...	Mott
Rudy Bond	...	Moose
Don Blackman	...	Luke
Arthur Keegan	...	Jimmy
Abe Simon	...	Barney
Eva Marie Saint	...	Edie Doyle
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martin Balsam	...	Gillette (uncredited)
Dan Bergin	...	Sidney (uncredited)
Zachary Charles	...	Dues Collector (uncredited)
Jere Delaney	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Robert Downing	...	Bit (uncredited)
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Bit (uncredited)
Fred Gwynne	...	Slim (uncredited)
Thomas Handley	...	Tommy Collins (uncredited)
Anne Hegira	...	Mrs. Collins (uncredited)
Pat Hingle	...	Jocko (uncredited)
Scottie MacGregor	...	Mother of a Longshoreman (uncredited)
Barry Macollum	...	Johnny's Banker (uncredited)
Tiger Joe Marsh	...	Longshoreman (uncredited)
Edward McNally	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Mike O'Dowd	...	Specs (uncredited)
Nehemiah Persoff	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Johnny Seven	...	Longshoreman (uncredited)

Directed by
Elia Kazan

Writing credits
Budd Schulberg		(screenplay)
Budd Schulberg		(based upon an original story by)
Malcolm Johnson		(suggested by articles by)

Produced by
Sam Spiegel	....	producer

Original Music by
Leonard Bernstein

Cinematography by
Boris Kaufman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Gene Milford		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Richard Day

Makeup Department
Mary Roche	....	hair stylist
Fred Carlton Ryle	....	makeup supervisor (as Fred Ryle)

Production Management
George Justin	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles H. Maguire	....	assistant director
Arthur Steckler	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Eddie Barr	....	props (uncredited)
Robert Hart	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jim Shields	....	sound (as James Shields)
Ernest Reichert	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Evelyn Rutledge	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Howard Block	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Alan Stetson	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anna Hill Johnstone	....	wardrobe supervisor
Flo Transfield	....	wardrobe mistress
Ed Wynigear	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Gil Grau	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Marlin Skiles	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Roberta Hodes	....	script supervisor
Samuel Rheiner	....	assistant to producer (as Sam Rheiner)
Guy Thomajan	....	dialogue supervisor
Roger Donoghue	....	boxing coach (uncredited)
Dale Tate	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (An Elia Kazan Production)
• Horizon Pictures (as A Horizon Picture)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1954) (USA) (theatrical) (as Columbia)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia Film-Verleih (1955) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2013) (USA) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2013) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Videosonic Arts (1988) (Greece) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Sunset Gower Studios  sound stages

Also Known As:

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

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 (certificate #16916) | West Germany:16 (f) | Mexico:A | Iceland:12 | South Korea:12 | Brazil:14 | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Court Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Marlon Brando would improvise several different lines while filming the famous "I coulda been a contender" scene such as asking Rod Steiger "How's mom?" or "Do you think the Yankees are going to win it this year?". At one point director Elia Kazan said, "Buddy, cut the crap."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Friendly is pushed into the river, the splash, and the sound it makes, are seen and heard twice in succession, instead of just once.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Johnny:[to Terry] You take it from here, Slugger.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Facing the Past (2005) (V)

Still Packs A Wallop

Still powerful after all these years, it's easy to see why this film won so many awards. Even though it isn't classified as "film noir," it might as well be, as it has the earmarks of one: gritty, downbeat with a feeling of dread, magnificent black-and-white cinematography, etc.

It's certainly not a "fun" movie but if you appreciate great film-making, you have to rate this near the top of the list Not only is the direction (by one of the all-time greats, Elia Kazan) superb and the photography striking, the acting also is top-rate.

Marlon Brando was just riveting to watch in here and deserved all the accolades he received for his performance. Talk about a guy with mixed emotions and a tormented soul! Eva Marie Saint, as Brando's "conscience" and love interest, proved to be worthy in her role.

The rest of the characters were angry people, always shouting it seemed, always upset at someone. Even the priest, played by Karl Malden, was that way although one of his passionate speeches was remarkable to hear. How many films does one hear about Jesus Christ being everywhere men are? None I can recall, offhand. He, like Saint's character, also influenced Brando to do the right thing.

Lee J. Cobb filled his bill as the angriest of them all, the labor boss who would have anyone killed who dare speak out against his illegal practices, and Rod Steiger was his normal intense self as Brando's older brother. Hey, almost everyone was intense in this film. It gets you involves and wears you out by the end.

Steiger and Brando's conversation in an automobile fairly late in the film ("I couda been a contenda") is one of the most famous scenes in movie history, but I found many memorable scenes in this movie....too many to recount here.

Suffice to say if you are looking for a hard-nosed drama with great acting and photography, a film that still looks and sounds up-to-date in many respects, don't be afraid to give this "oldie" a look. You'll see why it's considered one of the best movies of all time.