On the Waterfront (1954)
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100% of critics liked it
(55 reviews) -
93% of users liked it
(48,965 ratings)
This classic story of Mob informers was based on a number of true stories and filmed on location in and around the docks of New York and New Jersey. Mob-connected union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) rules the waterfront with an iron fist. The police know that he's been responsible for a… More This classic story of Mob informers was based on a number of true stories and filmed on location in and around the docks of New York and New Jersey. Mob-connected union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) rules the waterfront with an iron fist. The police know that he's been responsible for a number of murders, but witnesses play deaf and dumb ("plead D & D"). Washed-up boxer Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) has had an errand-boy job because of the influence of his brother Charley, a crooked union lawyer (Rod Steiger). Witnessing one of Friendly's rub-outs, Terry is willing to keep his mouth shut until he meets the dead dockworker's sister, Edie (Eva Marie Saint). "Waterfront priest" Father Barry (Karl Malden) tells Terry that Edie's brother was killed because he was going to testify against boss Friendly before the crime commission. Because he could have intervened, but didn't, Terry feels somewhat responsible for the death. When Father Barry receives a beating from Friendly's goons, Terry is persuaded to cooperate with the commission. Featuring Brando's famous "I coulda been a contendah" speech, On the Waterfront has often been seen as an allegory of "naming names" against suspected Communists during the anti-Communist investigations of the 1950s. Director Elia Kazan famously informed on suspected Communists before a government committee -- unlike many of his colleagues, some of whom went to prison for refusing to "name names" and many more of whom were blacklisted from working in the film industry for many years to come -- and Budd Schulberg's screenplay has often been read as an elaborate defense of the informer's position. On the Waterfront won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor for Brando, and Best Supporting Actress for Saint. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Elia Kazan
- Written By
- Budd Schulberg
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Classics
- In Theaters
- Jul 28, 1954 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures
Critic Reviews
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, TIME Magazine
On the Waterfront has a script that is a work of love and shows it.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Under Elia Kazan's direction, Marlon Brando puts on a spectacular show, giving a fascinating, multi-faceted performance as the uneducated dock walloper and former pug, who is basically a softie with a special affection for his rooftop covey of pigeons.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
It's hard to deny that Marlon Brando's performance as a dock worker and ex-fighter who finally decides to rat on his gangster brother (Rod Steiger) is pretty terrific.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It's pretty electrifying.
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Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
You miss this, you're buyin' a one-way ticket to Palookaville.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Marlon Brando
as Terry Malloy
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Karl Malden
as Father Barry
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Lee J Cobb
as Johnny Friendly
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Rod Steiger
as Charley Malloy
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Pat Henning
as "Kayo" Dugan
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Martin Balsam
as Gillette
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Eva Marie Saint
as Edie Doyle
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James Westerfield
as Big Mac
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Tony Galento
as Truck
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Leif Erickson
as Glover
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John Hamilton
as "Pop" Doyle
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John Heldabrand
as Mott
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Rudy Bond
as Moose
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Don Blackman
as Luke
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Arthur Keegan
as Jimmy
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Abe Simon
as Barney
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Barry Macollum
as J.P.
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Mike O'Dowd
as Specs
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Fred Gwynne
as Slim
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Anne Hegira
as Mrs. Collins
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Pat Hingle
as Waiter
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Nehemiah Persoff
as Cab Driver
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Rebecca Sands
as Police Stenographer
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Tami Mauriello
as Tillio


