On the Waterfront

19541954
PGPG
1h 48m

On the Waterfront (1954)

Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for On the Waterfront

Play trailer1:36

Crime Drama Thriller

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(screenplay)
- Malcolm Johnson(suggested by articles by)
- Robert Siodmak(uncredited)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Top rated movie #183

Won 8 Oscars
- 30 wins & 9 nominations total

Videos1

On the Waterfront: The Criterion Collection

On the Waterfront: The Criterion Collection

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

Director
- Elia Kazan
Writers
- Budd Schulberg(screenplay) (based upon an original story by)
- Malcolm Johnson(suggested by articles by)
- Robert Siodmak(uncredited)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

Terry Malloy dreams about being a prize fighter, while tending his pigeons and running errands at the docks for Johnny Friendly, the corrupt boss of the dockers union. Terry witnesses a murder by two of Johnny's thugs, and later meets the dead man's sister and feels responsible for his death. She introduces him to Father Barry, who tries to force him to provide information for the courts that will smash the dock racketeers. —Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com>

murder longshoreman waterfront ex boxer dockworker 175 more

Taglines
- The Man Lived by the Jungle Law of the Docks!
Genres
Certificate
- PG
Parents guide

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

Top review

10/10

One of the most gripping film with a top notch mesmerizing performance by Brando.

I first saw this in the early 90s. Revisited it recently. I love this masterpiece n Brando's performance is the highlight of the film. While there is no boxing action shown in the film, the film looks very realistic. Brando's performance of that of a broken n tortured soul is mesmerizing.

Terry is a promising boxer and a dockworker whose elder brother is a henchman of the criminal union boss. Terry convinces another dockworker, into an ambush, preventing the fellow dockworker from testifying against the boss. Terry assumed that the boss' henchmen were only going to have a talk with the dockworker to pressure him into not testifying against the boss but is shocked when the dockworker is killed.

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Fella_shibby
Nov 4, 2020

Release date
- June 22, 1954 (Japan)
Country of origin
- United States
Official site
- Sony Movie Channel (United States)
Language
- English
Also known as
- Sur les quais...
Filming locations
- St Peter and St Paul Church - 400 Hudson Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
Production company
- Horizon Pictures
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- $910,000 (estimated)

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

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

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On the Waterfront (1954)

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By what name was On the Waterfront (1954) officially released in India in English?

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