On The Waterfront (1954) Columbia Pictures Director: Elia Kazan Producer: Sam Spiegel Cast: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Pat Henning, Eva Marie Saint. Awards ceremony: -27th Academy Awards: March 30, 1955. RKO Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California & NBC Century Theatre, New York City, New York. Other films nominated for Best Motion Picture this year: -The Caine Mutiny. -The Country Girl. -Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. -Three Coins In The Fountain. Plot summary: MARLON BRANDO is an ex-prizefighter working as a longshoreman in a mob-controlled New Jersey docks when one of the guys is murdered. A police investigation follows but nobody wants to talk. Those who attempt to testify in the matter end up suffering similar fates. Brando, however stands up to the corrupt union boss (LEE J. COBB) who is running things and gives evidence in court but by doing so he loses the respect of his co-workers. In the end Brando confronts Cobb and the two men slug it out. Brando's bravery wins the men over who refuse to go back to work unless he is reinstated. Standout scene: The confrontation between Malloy and Johnny Friendly. For me this was Brando's best moment in the film. Facts: -The 27th Academy Awards. -Nominated for 12 Academy Awards, it won 8: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), Best Supporting Actress (Eva Marie Saint), Best Writing/Story & Screenplay, Best Art Direction (black & white), Best Cinematography (black & white), Best Film Editing. -This was the first Best Picture winner to be presented in a screen ratio of anything other than the standard 4:3/1.33:1 (it's 1.66:1). -The second Best Picture to be directed by Elia Kazan, after Gentleman's Agreement. Personal opinion: The film gets off to a flying start (sorry, couldn't resist) with Joey's death from the rooftop, so that definitely grabbed my attention early on. Unfortunately the film gets bogged down with long dialogue-heavy scenes (mostly Marlon Brando with Eva Marie Saint in their long scene on the rooftop followed immediately by their long scene in the bar). The pace crawls to an almost stand-still until later on when Brando confronts Lee J. Cobb and the two men go at it. Some interesting smaller roles for Lee J. Cobb's "12 Angry Men" co-star Martin Balsam as a detective, as well as future Oscar winner Rod Steiger and a pre-Munsters outing for Fred Gwynne. Some striking black & white cinematography does help the atmosphere of the film. The best performance comes from preacher Karl Malden who is the best thing about the entire film, with Lee J. Cobb giving another impressive display of his abilities as the mob boss. Brando is average at best and I really cannot see why he is so regarded by film fans? I believe his Oscar win for this film was a sympathy vote owing to the fact that for the previous three years he lost every time. At the times the film was incoherent and confusing, to say nothing of the fact it just lacked interest for me. Average. Did it deserve the Oscar? NO. Just watch Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW instead. 5/10

Review date: 02 March 2025