On the Waterfront
Elia Kazan / US, 1954 / 108 min.
In memoriam Eva Marie Saint, who won an Oscar for this great film classic. Marlon Brando is also at the peak of his acting powers as the tragic has-been boxer and dockworker Terry Malloy who decides to confront a mob boss. The film won eight Oscars.
Terry faces a deepening emotional crisis inOn the Waterfront. He has to decide whether to remain loyal to union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J.Cobb), a man who has ties with the mafia, and Johnny's right hand who happens to be Terry's brother (Rod Steiger). In the meantime the police are on their heels and Terry inadvertently causes the death of a rebellious dockworker.
Elia Kazan turned his lively and naturalistic drama into an indictment against social injustice, peppered with streetwise dialogue. On the Waterfront became a sensation overnight and won eight Oscars, including awards for best film, director, actor, screenplay and supporting actress (Eva Marie Saint).
Leonard Bernstein wrote the score for this masterpiece of urban poetry about personal failure and institutional corruption.
Brando’s celebrated monologue still tugs at the heart:
"I coulda' had class. I coulda' been a contender. I could've been somebody..."
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Special screenings
Details
Director
Elia Kazan
Production year
1954
Country
US
Original title
On the Waterfront
Length
108 min.
Language
English
Subtitles
NONE
Format
DCP
Part of
Eye Classics
Eye’s collection includes a wealth of classics. With the Eye Classics series, Eye brings film history even closer. Every week, we screen at least three classics from the collection under one recognisable name: Eye Classics.
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