On the waterfront

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On the waterfront
Kelly Goier Fall 2008
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Arguably the best movie ever released by
Columbia Pictures Among the finest movies
ever made in America
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Marlon Brando, Eva Saint Marie, Lee J. Cobb,
Rod Steiger, Karl Malden, and real
dockworkers. Directed by Elia Kazan
who? what? where? when?
A classic, award-winning, controversial
film Authentic-looking, powerful film concerned
with the problems of trade unionism, corruption
and Racketeering earned more than 10 million
on a 1 million budget
This movie is set in New Yorks oppressive
waterfront docks Was filmed on-site in New
York and New Jersey
This movie was released October 1, 1954 54
years ago
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brief plot summary

• Classic story of mob-corruption, violence and
  heroism
• Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) rules the docks on
  the waterfront
• Responsible for many murders, but all witnesses
  will not admit to
• knowing anythingplay deaf and dumb

• Beginning of movie, Joey Doyle is killed and
  Johnny Friendly is responsible
• Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) witnesses this
  murder, but agrees to keep his
• mouth shut and not tell the police
• Joey was killed because he was going to testify
  against Friendly and other
• corrupt waterfront leaders to crime commission
• Terry feels half-responsible for death (he played
  a small part in it), especially
• after meeting Joeys sister (Edie Doyle)
  because he couldve stopped it
• Movie is about Terry trying to put a stop to
  Johnny Friendlys corruption
• and the injustice done to innocent people

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director Elia kazan

• Many of his works have social or political themes
  to them
• Didnt like how Hollywood sweet-coated some
  films, liked his to be realistic
• Communists were blacklisted and banned from the
  film industry, Elia Kazan wanted to save his
  career
• Admitted to HUAC his early involvement with the
  communist Party
• was foolish, no longer involved
• Those who refused to name names to the government
  were often sent to prison, if not just
  blacklisted from working in the film industry
• Named 8 former colleagues as dangerous
  Communist spies
• Was criticized by many for giving into the
  government hunt for
• Communists
• Started studio for method acting

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political background

• Has ties to American current events of the time
  House of Un-American activities
• After Kazan leaked to HUAC (1952), Kazan directed
  On the Waterfront had parallel to his life
• Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) testifies against
  the corrupt labor
• leaders on the docks
• In movie Brando yellsIm glad what I done-you
  hear me?-glad what I done!
• Kazan admits that was his telling everyone he was
  glad he had testified to the HUAC what he did
• Budd Schulbergs screenplay was seen as an
  allegory of naming names, against suspected
  Communists during the anti-Communist
  investigations in recent events and defense of
  Kazans actions
• But, moviegoers didnt caregreatly enjoyed the
  film full of moral awakening

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Taken from Kazans 1988 autobiography A
Life (written after the film won eight Oscars)
I was tasting vengeance that night and enjoying
it. On the Waterfront is my own story, every day
I worked on that film, I was telling the world
where I stood
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historical background
 

• Idea for movie started with expose series written
  for The New York Sun (1949)
• 24 articles
• Exposed the killings and deceit of everyday life
  on the New York
• waterfront
• Brandos character was based off of reali-life
  longshoreman Anthony
• DiVincenzo
• DiVencenzo testified before a Waterfront
  Commission on the facts of
• corruption on the docks of Hoboken
• Was ostracized for doing so
• Was filmed in 36 days on the docks of Hoboken in
  New Jersey

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marlon brando
One of the most celebrated and influential
screen and stage actors of the post-war era
Marlon Brando
1924-2004

• Was rebellious as a child, expelled from military
  school, first career was a
• ditch-digger
• went into acting because his mother ran a local
  theater group
• Called argumentative and contradictory
• Expressed dislike for Hollywood, film industry
  and celebrities but
• Often used his fame to draw attention to
  political causes
• Accepted any role as long he was paid enough

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brando in on the waterfront

• One of the meatiest lead roles in American movie
  history
• Convincing in his role as conflicted and
  misguided character
• His acting helped make the movie a timeless
  classic
• Initially turned down role
• Was going to be played by Frank Sinatra but
  Brando changed his mind
• before Sinatra signed
• Voted in 2005 by the American Film Institute as
  the 3rd most memorable line
• in cinema history

You don't understand! I coulda had class. I
coulda been a contender. I could've been
somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am."
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method acting

• In 1947, Kazan opened an acting studio that
  promoted this
• Method actors did not use techniques of time
  (loud and stagy movements)
• that clarified emotions for the audience
• Method actors emoted in ways they would privately
• Used smaller gestures, pauses and hesitancies
• Encouraged to think of past memories,
  experiences, pains and pleasures
• of their own lives
• This type of acting creating real-life complex
  individuals with depth
• Marlon Brando was method actor
• Part of reason his role in this film is so
  memorable
• This acting was not-received well at first

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eva marie saint

• On The Waterfront was her first film
• Studied acting at Bowling Green State
• University
• Won Oscar for Best Supporting Role in On The
  Waterfront
• Has performed on Broadway, in television shows
  and in films

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The music

• Written by Bernstein
• Bernsteins only film score
• Was nominated for an Oscar for best score,
• but did not receive it
• Score begins with opening music of film in solo
• horn Terrys theme, which also ends the piece
• Bluesy tones and rhythmic episodes help create
  the urban setting of the film
• Presto Barbaro section is connected with scenes
  of violence the meter
• creates frightening and frantic effects
• Love theme is played by flute

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a cinema classic
Although plot issues not relevant, acting was
timeless and impacted film industry, strong and
memorable dialogue

• Nominated for 12 Oscars and Won 8!
• Best Picture
• Best Director
• Best Adapted Screenplay
• Best Actor for Marlon Brando
• Best Supporting Actress for Eva Marie Saint
• Best Cinematography
• Best Art Direction
• Best Editing