Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

On the Waterfront

  • 1954
  • Approved
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
159K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,367
598
On the Waterfront (1954)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for On the Waterfront
Play trailer1:36
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaThriller

An ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of ... Read allAn ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of the syndicate's victims.An ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of the syndicate's victims.

  • Director
    • Elia Kazan
  • Writers
    • Budd Schulberg
    • Malcolm Johnson
    • Robert Siodmak
  • Stars
    • Marlon Brando
    • Karl Malden
    • Lee J. Cobb
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    159K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,367
    598
    • Director
      • Elia Kazan
    • Writers
      • Budd Schulberg
      • Malcolm Johnson
      • Robert Siodmak
    • Stars
      • Marlon Brando
      • Karl Malden
      • Lee J. Cobb
    • 392User reviews
    • 169Critic reviews
    • 91Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #186
    • Won 8 Oscars
      • 30 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    On the Waterfront: The Criterion Collection
    Trailer 1:36
    Watch On the Waterfront: The Criterion Collection

    Photos160

    Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954)
    Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954)
    Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954)
    Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954)
    Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint in On the Waterfront (1954)
    Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint in On the Waterfront (1954)
    "On The Waterfront" Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger 1954 Columbia
    "On The Waterfront" Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint 1954 Columbia
    "On The Waterfront" Marlon Brando 1954 Columbia
    "On The Waterfront" Marlon Brando 1954 Columbia
    "On The Waterfront" Karl Malden, Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint 1954 Columbia
    Marlon Brando in "On The Waterfront" 1954 Columbia

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • Terry Malloy
    Karl Malden
    Karl Malden
    • Father Barry
    Lee J. Cobb
    Lee J. Cobb
    • Johnny Friendly
    Rod Steiger
    Rod Steiger
    • Charley Malloy
    Pat Henning
    Pat Henning
    • Kayo Dugan
    Leif Erickson
    Leif Erickson
    • Glover
    James Westerfield
    James Westerfield
    • Big Mac
    Tony Galento
    • Truck
    Tami Mauriello
    • Tillio
    John F. Hamilton
    • 'Pop' Doyle
    • (as John Hamilton)
    John Heldabrand
    • Mott
    Rudy Bond
    Rudy Bond
    • Moose
    Don Blackman
    • Luke
    Arthur Keegan
    • Jimmy
    Abe Simon
    • Barney
    Eva Marie Saint
    Eva Marie Saint
    • Edie Doyle
    Martin Balsam
    Martin Balsam
    • Gillette
    • (uncredited)
    Dan Bergin
    • Sidney
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Elia Kazan
    • Writers
      • Budd Schulberg
      • Malcolm Johnson
      • Robert Siodmak(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    A Streetcar Named Desire
    7.9
    A Streetcar Named Desire
    The Bridge on the River Kwai
    8.1
    The Bridge on the River Kwai
    All About Eve
    8.2
    All About Eve
    The Deer Hunter
    8.1
    The Deer Hunter
    Gone with the Wind
    8.2
    Gone with the Wind
    Ben-Hur
    8.1
    Ben-Hur
    It Happened One Night
    8.1
    It Happened One Night
    The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
    8.2
    The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
    The Apartment
    8.3
    The Apartment
    Rebecca
    8.1
    Rebecca
    The Third Man
    8.1
    The Third Man
    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
    8.1
    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As part of his contract, Marlon Brando only worked until 4:00 every day and then would leave to go see his analyst. Brando's mother had recently died and the conflicted young actor was in therapy to resolve his issues with his parents. Interestingly, for the film's classic scene between Rod Steiger and Brando in the back of the cab, all of Steiger's close-ups were filmed after Brando had left for the day, so Brando's lines were read by one of the crew members. For many years Steiger, who had actually stayed during Brando's close-ups to help him put in a better performance, remained very bitter that Brando didn't return the favor, and often mentioned it in interviews.
    • Goofs
      When Father Barry (Karl Malden) gets hit in the head with a beer can, he gets a cut on his forehead, which bleeds visibly in the scene. In subsequent scenes, there is no sign of the cut or of a bandage to show that he had been hurt.
    • Quotes

      Charlie: Look, kid, I - how much you weigh, son? When you weighed one hundred and sixty-eight pounds you were beautiful. You coulda been another Billy Conn, and that skunk we got you for a manager, he brought you along too fast.

      Terry: It wasn't him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and you said, "Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson." You remember that? "This ain't your night"! My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me just a little bit so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money.

      Charlie: Oh I had some bets down for you. You saw some money.

      Terry: You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown over a bamboo-type mat background.
    • Alternate versions
      Criterion Collection Blu-ray Disc release exhibits the film in 1.66:1, which is widely regarded to be the "correct" aspect ratio for the film. However, a second disc includes the film in 1.33:1 AND 1.85:1, so that viewers can watch the film in the different ratios.
    • Connections
      Edited into Un Américain nommé Kazan (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Here Comes the Bride
      (uncredited)

      Written by Richard Wagner

    User reviews392

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Kazan's film constitutes an extraordinary tour de force of fluid direction and nervous, edgy acting
    "On the Waterfront" is basically the story of one man, Terry Malloy, a young dock worker with a little, and unsuccessful, experience as a boxer but not much intelligence or purpose… He wastes his time around the docks, vaguely discontented about his life and revealing a tender trace in his otherwise tough manner as he tends his pigeons caged on the roof of his modest building…

    His brother Charley (Rod Steiger), a suave opportunistic lawyer, works for the local dockers' union, headed by Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb), the arrogant mob boss…

    Friendly takes affectionate interest in Terry and tries to make things easy for him… He also takes advantage of Terry by involving him in the killing of an uncooperative docker… Unaware of their murderous intentions, Terry sets the trap for the man who is thrown from a roof top because he allowed himself to be interviewed by a crime investigating commission…

    Terry's alienation from the crooked union leaders starts when he meets the dead man's sister, Edie (Eva Marie Saint), and realizes the grief he has brought into her life… She asks his help in bringing the racketeers to justice, as does Father Barry (Karl Malden), a priest of complete goodness and rightness…

    Brando's moral dilemma was superbly drawn in the film… He's an ordinary man finding the courage to stand up and be counted… As portrayed by Brando he is touchingly believable…

    The rest of the cast is excellent:

    Cobb is extremely good as the brute fury boss who intimidates the workers into silence, stopping at nothing to maintain his position of power on the docks...

    Rod Steiger gives his finest performance as the clever and suave opportunistic lawyer who works for the local docker's union...

    Eva Marie Saint manages to make the blood go through Brando's valves reviving and creating a heart that never existed before...

    Karl Malden is hard and clear as the activist Catholic priest who continue encouraging other longshoremen to testify, inciting Brando to fight for his rights—regardless of the cost—rather than be a pawn in a ruthless system of bribes and killings...

    "On the Waterfront" is one of the great American films, not only because it bravely spreads a strong light on the violation of justice, but because it is a powerful piece of cinema, which push forward a classic study of man's responsibility to his fellow man...

    The film won eight Academy Awards...
    helpful•134
    24
    • Nazi_Fighter_David
    • May 4, 2008

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ12

    • What is 'On the Waterfront' about?
    • Is "On the Waterfront" based on a book?
    • When do the events in "On the Waterfront" take place?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 22, 1954 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Bottom of the River
    • Filming locations
      • St Peter and St Paul Church - 400 Hudson Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA(interiors: church)
    • Production company
      • Horizon Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $910,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 1.66 : 1
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    On the Waterfront (1954)
    Top Gap
    What was the official certification given to On the Waterfront (1954) in Japan?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.