On the Waterfront: 1954

Marlon Brando won an Oscar as Best Actor in On the Waterfront, and after seeing the film, it's really no surprise to me. Brando was so completely convincing as Terry, a dockworker who, due to a difficult childhood, has connected with the mob yet feels at odds with his decisions in life. Terry's conscience almost becomes another character in the film he struggles with what he has done in the past and what he should do in the future.

Typically, I'm not a fan of mob movies. I'm not looking forward to venturing into the 1970s on this blog and watching The Godfather, again, or then having to watch The Godfather 2. I get that these films appeal to audiences and create interesting conflicts for filmmakers, but it's just not a genre that interests me. On the Waterfront becomes less about the mob, though, and more about doing what is right even when it's difficult. Terry knows what is right, but his entire life he has looked out only for himself. And it's kind of understandable. Terry was an orphan and lived in a children's home (which he says wasn't much of a home), so to simply survive, he's had to look out for his own best interests. Terry hasn't even been that successful in life. Most of the characters call him a bum, and as far as his role in the local mob, he has little power. He simply does what they tell him to do for a little cash. It doesn't make what he does okay, but it does put him on the border. He's not exactly part of the mob but he's also not a regular dockworker. As a result, he becomes isolated because neither group fully accepts him. In a way, Terry is a sympathetic character despite his selfishness.

One pleasant surprise in On the Waterfront was the chance to hear the original "I coulda been a contender" line:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBiewQrpBBA

Terry is speaking to his brother about a fight he had to throw. I had heard the line quoted many times, but I didn't know the context of the original or the power with which Brando delivered it. The line has become a cliche, but in the original, the line seems so genuine and real. It conveys Terry's disappointments in life and how much he wants his brother to understand what he's given up.

On the Waterfront does have a romantic storyline as well, with Edie (Eva Marie Saint) as Terry's love interest. Their romance faces multiple obstacles and functions primarily to heighten the drama as opposed to providing some hope in a dark world.

Terry with Edie

Although On the Waterfront was worth watching to see Brando's performance and a well-written story in which justice prevails, it's not a film I'll revisit. Most of the film is dark, and while the ending is hopeful, I don't think I need to see it again.