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Amazon.com Essential Video
Marlon Brando's famous "I coulda been a contenda" speech is such a warhorse by now that a lot of people probably feel they've seen this picture already, even if they haven't. And many of those who have seen it may have forgotten how flat-out thrilling it is. For all its great dramatic and cinematic qualities, and its fiery social criticism, Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront is also one of the most gripping melodramas of political corruption and individual heroism ever made in the United States, a five-star gut-grabber. Shot on location around the docks of Hoboken, New Jersey, in the mid-1950s, it tells the fact-based story of a longshoreman (Brando's Terry Malloy) who is blackballed and savagely beaten for informing against the mobsters who have taken over his union and sold it out to the bosses. (Karl Malden has a more conventional stalwart-hero role, as an idealistic priest who nurtures Terry's pangs of conscience.) Lee J. Cobb, who created the role of Willy Loman in Death of Salesman under Kazan's direction on Broadway, makes a formidable foe as a greedy union leader. --David Chute
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
VERY DISAPPOINTING TRANSFER OF AN AMERICAN CLASSIC
Mar 10 2003
Format:DVD
Columbia continues its downward spiral where its classic DVD output is concerned. "On The Waterfront" is not only a great Academy Award winning film, it is an American icon. The plot is concerned with a union stooge, Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) who eventually realizes that the intimidation racket of his boss, Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) is an evil and destructive force in his community. Eva Marie Saint costars as Edie Doyle, the sister of a man who was thrown off of a rooftop on Friendly's orders. It is partially through her love and the stoic commitment of Father Barry (Carl Malden) that Terry reforms his ways. Rod Steiger is particularly effective as Charley Malloy, Terry's brother.
Quite simply: this transfer is a let down. Contrast levels are extremely low, fine details are lost in video noise reduction enhancement and digital grit, grain and noise are detected throughout. The gray scale is poorly balanced. Scratches, chips and distortions in the original camera negative stick out like a soar thumb. The audio is mono and undistinguished. It's not a bad mix, though there are moments where a slight background hiss crops up. No extras! Oh, come on Columbia. This is one of your BEST PICTURES and it gets this kind of treatment on DVD?!? It "could'a been a contenda'!"
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
I LOVE THIS FILM
July 14 2004
Format:DVD
It is unfortunate that it took Brando's death for me to realize the acting genuis he was. In this movie he brought forth such a vulnerability that you wanted to root for him. His acting is brilliant, I can understand why he won an Oscar for this performance. I now know what true acting genius is, it was Brando. Highly recommend this movie.
Walk like a man
Oct 30 2010
Format:DVD
This is a movie about pidgins, both literally and figuratively. Local priest (Karl Malden) goes up against cabal.
This might be entertainment for some and was a type of movie art that came and passed. This presentation is a good variant of the genre. People that enjoy "Citizen Kane" will enjoy this film. The acting is touted as great, however everyone acted the same as it is a 1954 style; if it is so good out of its time and place there would be movies like this today. I suggest that a better variant is "Funeral in Berlin".
For people that look at other film dimensions the music is over the top heavy handed. The one plus is that the music (Leonard Bernstein) usually does not compete with the dialog. Unfortunately the one exception is the "I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender." statement where all the violins break out next the rush of horns and whatnot.
I will not go into detail on the movie as there is just the chance you have only heard about this movie and haven't seen it yet, but be prepared for stool pigeons and dead pigeons.
After 50 plus years the film is sort of out of place. So to gain a good perspective on why it is so popular you will need to watch the commentaries and other DVD extras. Then re-watch the movie.
The Teahouse Of The August Moon (DVD) Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford
Absence of Malice ~ Paul Newman
This might be entertainment for some and was a type of movie art that came and passed. This presentation is a good variant of the genre. People that enjoy "Citizen Kane" will enjoy this film. The acting is touted as great, however everyone acted the same as it is a 1954 style; if it is so good out of its time and place there would be movies like this today. I suggest that a better variant is "Funeral in Berlin".
For people that look at other film dimensions the music is over the top heavy handed. The one plus is that the music (Leonard Bernstein) usually does not compete with the dialog. Unfortunately the one exception is the "I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender." statement where all the violins break out next the rush of horns and whatnot.
I will not go into detail on the movie as there is just the chance you have only heard about this movie and haven't seen it yet, but be prepared for stool pigeons and dead pigeons.
After 50 plus years the film is sort of out of place. So to gain a good perspective on why it is so popular you will need to watch the commentaries and other DVD extras. Then re-watch the movie.
The Teahouse Of The August Moon (DVD) Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford
Absence of Malice ~ Paul Newman
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Most recent customer reviews
Brilliant
This is by far the greatest performance ever recorded on film by an actor. Marlon Brando was an icon as an actor, he made many great films, but not as great as this one. Read more
Published on Dec 7 2008 by Tomas Volanek
Some hammy acting but still good.
I love this film cause of it's message. It's sad that Marlon Brando went on to later play a character in a film that's message is the opposite of this one. Read more
Published on Aug 18 2004 by Antonio Giusto
Somewhat dated but still compelling classic drama
I recently re-watched Elia Kazan's ON THE WATERFRONT in honor of its late star, Marlon Brando. His performance as Terry Malloy is often considered one of his greatest (and he won... Read more
Published on July 13 2004 by Kenji Fujishima
Greatness Never Flags
When director Elia Kazan unveiled ON THE WATERFRONT in 1954, both critics and the public agreed that this was a special film. Read more
Published on July 12 2004 by Martin Asiner
Don't Hold Your Breath Waiting for a Widescreen Release
PLEASE! Try to understand, post-Gen X-ers: widescreen was NOT the norm in 1954. To pontificate about seeing "less than half" of OtW's image is a laughable betrayal of... Read more
Published on July 11 2004
One of the major achievements of Elia Kazan!
Elia Kazan was one of the challenging directors in his time. This film meant a true landmark in the category of movies which showed with merciless the underworld linked with the... Read more
Published on July 5 2004 by Hiram Gomez Pardo
One of the Greatest Stories Ever Told
"On the Waterfront" is a truly remarkable film . The cast is excellent and the acting could not have been more stellar, but it is the performance of Marlon Brando as... Read more
Published on May 13 2004
A dramatic triumph!!!
"On the waterfront" is one of my favourite movies of all time. Marlon Brando is superb in this film and the dramatic tension throughout the entire production is a... Read more
Published on May 10 2004 by J. Botha
A True Marlon Brando Classic
On the Waterfront is a showcase of Marlon Brando's amazing acting ability in its finest .
Published on May 8 2004
A True Marlon Brando Classic
On the Waterfront is a showcase of Marlon Brando's amazing acting in its finest .
Published on May 8 2004
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