"On The Waterfront" is a classic film that nearly measures up to its reputation. While the characters are too neatly divided into good and evil, and the drama is sometimes overdone, there's never a dull moment, and the cast and cinematography is excellent.
Marlon Brando stars as a dense washed-up boxer who works on the waterfront as a flunkie for corrupt union boss Lee J. Cobb. Brando's older brother, Rod Steiger, is Cobb's attorney. Cobb has a policy of murdering workers who inform. Brando unwittingly assists in a union-ordered murder, and gets a subpoena to testify against Cobb. Aggressive priest Karl Malden and goody two-shoe new girlfriend Eva Marie Saint want him to testify. Cobb tells Steiger that Brando had better not, or else.
"On The Waterfront" is most famous for Brando's
performance, especially the scene where he tells
Steiger that "I coulda been a contender, I coulda
been somebody." Brando is fine, but almost anyone
could have played the palooka. Malden is a bit
hammy, but his energy is still welcome. Cobb is
excellent as the menacing union boss.
Academy Awards and nominations were showered on
the cast and crew of "On The Waterfront". The
film won Best Picture, Best Writing, Best Actor
(Brando), Best Director (Elia Kazan), Best
Cinematography and Best Art Direction (sets). Eva
Marie Saint won Best Supporting Actress, while
Malden, Cobb and Steiger had to settle for Best
Supporting Actor nominations.
It was Marie Saint's first feature film, although
she was already a veteran television performer.
She is proof that a great production contributes
more to receiving an Oscar than one's performance.
Kazan and Malden must have worked well together,
since Malden had a starring role in four of
Kazan's films. (82/100)
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