Review Summary and Plot Commentary about On The Waterfront
Terry Malloy (Brando) is a young ex-prizefighter who tends to his pigeons and runs errands for the corrupt boss of the longshoremen's union, Johnny Friendly (Cobb). Terry's older brother Charley (Steiger) is a confederate of the boss. Terry witnesses a murder committed by a couple of Friendly's thugs, visits the victim's sister Edie (Saint), and feels partly responsible. A tough priest, Father Barry (Malden), urges Terry to go before the Waterfront Crime Commission and provide information that will crack the union racketeers. This 1954 classic, directed by Elia Kazan and written by veteran screenwriter Budd Schulberg based on a 1949 Pulitzer Prize-winning series of articles in the New York Sun by Malcolm Johnson, won 8 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Actor for Brando, and Best Supporting for Saint. It also generated controversy as a tale which, in a sense, honors "stool pigeons," which many regarded Kazan to be after he went before the 1952 House UnAmerican Activities Committee and named names that helped ruin many Hollywood careers. Even when he received an honorary Oscar in 1999, there were fierce protests. But the film, with its exciting camerawork, a thrilling score by 36-year-old Leonard Bernstein, and great acting (watch for uncredited appearances by Martin Balsam and Fred Gwynne, as well), stands on its own.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
ex-boxer attracted to girl whose brother was killed by his mob associations.
--Joe Pugarelli, Resident Scholar
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Analysis of On The Waterfront
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie Actual chase scenes or violence - 30% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- athlete
- blue collar worker
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- short/standard straight (man)
Body type
- muscular (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
- caring
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- bulging muscles
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- blonde
Hair style
- (woman) short/butch/lez
Body type
- very skinny (woman)
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- a criminal organization
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- accused criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Water?
Yes
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
- Dirty, grimy (like New York)
- dangerous
Misc setting
- building
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately messy visuals of dead
- gory visuals of torture
Movie makes you feel...
- encouraged
- concerned
How many deaths in film?
- 1
- 2
Kind of violence:
- hand to hand
- guns
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
