OLDIE GOLDIES: On The Waterfront (1954)

Eva Marie Saint with her Best Supporting Actress Oscar

Oldie Goldies is back this week with a superb film - "On The Waterfront". This film is the perfect blend of brilliant writing and acting. I recently saw this for a 2nd time and it plays even better on repeat viewings. The AMPAS certainly loved it too, giving it a whopping 12 Oscar nominations - Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Picture, Best Writing, Best Score and 3 Supporting Actor nods! In the end, the film went home with 8 of these awards (Actor, Supporting Actress, Art Direction, Cinematography, Director, Editing, Writing and of course, Best Picture).

Classic Quote

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

Classic Scene

Terry schmoozes Edie

Classic Characters

Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando)

Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint)

Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb)

Father Barry (Karl Malden)

Charley Malloy (Rod Steiger)

Classic Music

Did you know?
The film is widely considered to be Kazan's answer to those that criticized him for his identifying eight (former) Communists in the film industry before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) in 1952.