This week’s movie is On the Waterfront (1954).
The crime drama is about Terry
Malloy, a former prize-fighter who has a crisis of conscious when a friend of
his is killed by the corrupt union boss that controls the waterfront. Terry
rustles with whether or not he should stand up against the man he works for and
the corruption of the system. It is directed by one of the great directors of
the era Elia Kazan (who also
directed Gentleman’s Agreement,
A Streetcar Named Desire, East of Eden, and A Face in the Crowd). Kazan
worked with composer Leonard
Bernstein, cinematographer Boris
Kaufman and art director Richard
Day on the film. On the Waterfront has a wonderful cast, all of which give
fantastic performances. It stars Marlon
Brando and features Eva Marie
Saint, Lee J. Cobb, Karl Malden, and Rod Steiger in support. It won
eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Art Direction, Cinematography,
Supporting Actress, and Leading Actor. On the Waterfront, along with being one
of the greatest from of the 1950s, is probably best known for Brando’s
performance, which many consider to be the best of his career. To some extent,
the film could be considered part of the gangster genre, as it deals with a
mafia-like figure controlling the waterfront. However, Brando’s Terry does not
seem like a typical gangster genre protagonist, as there is no rise to power
and fall. The film is much more a character piece looking at a man struggling
with peer pressure and his own morals. He is an anti-hero who ends up being
very heroic. It is a must-see for those who enjoy great character pieces and
those looking to watch all the great American films in cinema history. Check
out the trailer.
No comments:
Post a Comment