Top 1,000 Challenge - #94 - On The Waterfront (1954)

[Celticrugby]

http://www.soccer24-7.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=43526&stc=1&d=1272476700

Directed By: Elia Kazan

Starring: Marlon Brando (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlon_Brando), Eva Marie Saint (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Marie_Saint), Rod Steiger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Steiger), Karl Malden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Malden) and Lee J. Cobb (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_J._Cobb).

Plot: An ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses.

Possible Questions / Topics of Discussion

What did you think of the film?

What made you go and want to see the film?

How many times have you seen it?

Out of 10 what would you rank this?

Could this have been better with a different director or actors?

Who for you, was the best Actor in this film, and why?

Who was the worst?

Did you think the premise of the film was good?

Were you affected by the film in any way?

What’s the thing or factor you didn’t like the most about the film?

What’s your favorite quote?

What's your favorite scene or scenes?

What would you have done in Terry's situation? Would you have done what he did?

If you were Charlie, would you have made the same decision?

Do you think Charlie knew he would die based on letting his brother go? and if so, do you think he did it because he knew it was right? or because he couldn't have a hand in killing his own flesh and blood?

What did you think of the ending? Would you have wanted perhaps more back story into what happened next? or is Terry leading people back to work good enough?

What justice was better in this situation? The Street? or the court room?

Had someone killed your brother, which way do you think you would go about exacting revenge?

Did you know a large part of this was based on a true story? Does that make the film have more of an impact?

Should this film be rated higher than #94 in the Top 1000 list?

Please feel free to add any other questions for the group as well.

People who rated the film:

Celticrugby - 9.35
Switchblade - 7.5

24-7 rating so far: 8.425 (2 votes)

Enjoy!

Cheers,

Celticrugby

[Celticrugby]

I'll get this going.

What did you think of the film?

First off, let me say that I thought this film lived up to the hype in many ways. Brando's performance for one, the film for another, and the "famous" I could have been a contender scene.

For me, it definitely deserve the praise it gets.

What made you go and want to see the film?

I have wanted to see it for some time, just because I've heard so many good things and it won Best Picture in 1954. The Top 1000 list got me motivated enough to finally sit down and watch it though, as I had it downloaded some time ago.

How many times have you seen it?

Just the once, although this is a film I would buy and watch again.

Out of 10 what would you rank this?

I posted before between a 9/2 and 9.5, so I went with 9.35/10

Could this have been better with a different director or actors?

No.

Who for you, was the best Actor in this film, and why?

It's got to be Brando. However, I think Malden was superb. His speech after they kill Duggan was spectacular.

Who was the worst?

I don't really think there was a worst. It was funny to see some old heavyweight fighters like Galento in the film though.

Did you think the premise of the film was good?

Yes. Reminded me a lot of season 2 of the Wire with Polish/Catholic ethnic group dockworkers.

Were you affected by the film in any way?

Reminds me of all the fighters out there who don't have pensions and live lives they wouldn't have to if we had a federal boxing commission and union.

What’s the thing or factor you didn’t like the most about the film?

If I had to pick one thing, it would be that they never really developed the relationship between Terry and Charlie. Its mostly people talking about Charlie, and then the famous scene.

What’s your favorite quote?

Obviously: Terry (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000008/): It wasn't him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and you said, "Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson." You remember that? "This ain't your night"! My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me just a little bit so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money.

Charlie (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001768/): Oh I had some bets down for you. You saw some money.

Terry (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000008/): You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley

What's your favorite scene or scenes?

The "famous" scene in the cab. The end, where he confronts Friendly. The priest's speech in ship.
What would you have done in Terry's situation? Would you have done what he did?

I would like to think so. You could tell he realized that the situation was proper ****ed and it wasn't benefiting the people it should. If he had to be the martyr to save the longshoremen, then he had to.

If you were Charlie, would you have made the same decision?

Yes. No way would I have killed my brother. I actually might have tried to take down friendly myself. He was faced with the same situation Terry was in the beginning with Joey. He thought they could just lean on him and it would be fine, but he knew it would end with death.

Do you think Charlie knew he would die based on letting his brother go? and if so, do you think he did it because he knew it was right? or because he couldn't have a hand in killing his own flesh and blood?

I think so. He had to know there would be repercussions.

What did you think of the ending? Would you have wanted perhaps more back story into what happened next? or is Terry leading people back to work good enough?

I don't think any more closure was needed. I guess if I had to make up some back story ending I'd say that Terry ends up being president and cleans up the Longshoreman's union.

What justice was better in this situation? The Street? or the court room?

I'm not sure. If someone killed my brother, I don't know if that person going to jail would be good enough for me.

Had someone killed your brother, which way do you think you would go about exacting revenge?

Same as above, I'm not sure I could let the police deal with it.

Did you know a large part of this was based on a true story? Does that make the film have more of an impact?

I had no idea it was until I read IMDB. I think it makes the film more powerful, because these characters were all based on real people who actually had to deal with these problems.

Should this film be rated higher than #94 in the Top 1000 list?

I think at least for me its going to be hard to find many of the films on this list to be better than this one, but we'll see in the end.

[Switchblade]

What did you think of the film?

It was great. Marlon Brando is as good as that Best Actor Oscar win says.

What made you go and want to see the film?

It was a class screening after a lecture about Marlon Brando.

How many times have you seen it?

One time.

Out of 10 what would you rank this?

7.5/10

Could this have been better with a different director or actors?

Elia Kazan is a brilliant director. Have rented out Panic in the Streets from the library because of this film. As for the acting, well, it's Brando. One funny thing though, the guy who played the boss reminded me a lot of Chandler's boss in Friends. But that's not his fault. :D

Who for you, was the best Actor in this film, and why?

Brando. His "I could've been a contender" speech alone is enough reason.

Who was the worst?

Can't really remember who was bad. Maybe the kid he hangs out with around the pidgeons?

Did you think the premise of the film was good?

Yes. I really enjoy redemption films.

Were you affected by the film in any way?

Nah. It was good, but not amongst the greatest films which I would consider the best.

What's your favorite scene or scenes?

That scene where Brando finds his brother dead. The way he approaches the body, with his mannerisms and expressions, is magnificent.

Do you think Charlie knew he would die based on letting his brother go? and if so, do you think he did it because he knew it was right? or because he couldn't have a hand in killing his own flesh and blood?

Definately the latter. If it were the other reason, then he wouldn't have even considered the orders given.

What did you think of the ending? Would you have wanted perhaps more back story into what happened next? or is Terry leading people back to work good enough?

I love ambiguity (sp?). Giving away too much is like taking the audience for granted. The whole arrangement is that the people watching infer and discuss the possible outcomes.

Should this film be rated higher than #94 in the Top 1000 list?

No. Like previously stated. Good, but no masterpiece. Many films which I considered masterpieces, such as Cat on the Hot Tin Roof from the top of my head, aren't even in the list. But it's all subjective anyway.

[Rorge]

What did you think of the film?

Very good. It was a lot more powerful than I thought it would be. I usually am quite skeptical of the praise lavished on old films, as many really can't live up to the scrutiny of a modern audience. This one did, for the most part.

What made you go and want to see the film?

Well, it's one of the most famous films I've never seen, with a star making performance from Brando

How many times have you seen it?

Once, but I'm pretty sure I'll watch it again

Out of 10 what would you rank this?

8

Could this have been better with a different director or actors?

Actors? No. But the director made some odd choices, and the action scenes were quite disjointed.

The music, in particular, was very distracting at times. I don't know who was in charge of that, but if it was Kazan, he should be ashamed of himself.

Who for you, was the best Actor in this film, and why?

Brando, of course. But Malden was very good, and I echo what DK said about the speech after Duggan's murder.

Who was the worst?

Hmm. Eva Marie Saint wasn't quite as powerful a leading lady as she should have been.

Quite a few of the background characters seemed to be simply reading some of their dialogue directly off the page.

Did you think the premise of the film was good?

Definitely. Union corruption has always been a hot topic in American films. And there's a good reason for that. It makes for a damn good story.

Plus, you've got the old trope of one man standing up for what he believed in. Keeping his morals when everyone around him was losing theirs. That could apply to both Terry and the Priest, of course.

Were you affected by the film in any way?

Actually, yes. The cab scene wasn't how I used to picture it in my head. It was a lot sadder, more downbeat. And, knowing now how it affected Charlie, well that just makes it more effective

What’s the thing or factor you didn’t like the most about the film?

The courtroom scene should have been an opportunity to really showcase the acting talents of Brando. Instead, it was glossed over in a couple of minutes.

What’s your favorite quote?

Apart from the obvious, I really liked Malden's diss of Terry's lingering affection for Friendly:

Terry: Johnny Friendly used to take me to ballgames when I was a kid.

Father Barry: Ballgames, don't break my heart. I wouldn't care if he gave you a life pass to the polo grounds!



What's your favorite scene or scenes?

The cab scene, obviously. But I was also quite touched by the scene where he finds all of his pigeons dead. The only things in the world he seemed to enjoy, at the beginning of the film.

What would you have done in Terry's situation? Would you have done what he did?

If someone killed my brother, I'd definitely have stood up to them in court. As to whether I'd have the courage to go and face a hundred dock workers who now hated me, I don't know.

If you were Charlie, would you have made the same decision?

Difficult. He knew he was sacrificing his life by letting Terry go, but he figured he owed him, for not looking out for him as he should have. I'd like to say I'd have done the same, but I don't know.

Do you think Charlie knew he would die based on letting his brother go? and if so, do you think he did it because he knew it was right? or because he couldn't have a hand in killing his own flesh and blood?

I think he did know. Perhaps not for certain, but he was definitely aware of what Friendly did to people he didn't like.

And I definitely think he did it because Terry was his brother. He knew what he was doing was wrong, and it never really bothered him before.

What did you think of the ending? Would you have wanted perhaps more back story into what happened next? or is Terry leading people back to work good enough?

Cheese-tastic. The whole 'let him walk' thing was very heavy handed, and that was where the religious allegory became a bit too on the nose.

There was no definite comeuppance for Friendly, though one has to assume he was going to end up going to jail. Especially now the dock workers had all turned against him.

What justice was better in this situation? The Street? or the court room?

The court room is always better, if it's honest. If we'd seen that Friendly was going to bribe people to get off, then perhaps I'd favour street justice.

Had someone killed your brother, which way do you think you would go about exacting revenge?

Court room.

Did you know a large part of this was based on a true story? Does that make the film have more of an impact?

I didn't know that before, but do now, after reading about it on wikipedia. It doesn't really give it more of an impact, because, as I said earlier, corrupt unions have been a staple of American life, both fiction and fact, for a long time.

Should this film be rated higher than #94 in the Top 1000 list?

Hard to say. I know that I'd rather watch this again than some of the films that are higher than it.