‘On the Waterfront’, directed by Elia Kazan, written by Budd Schulberg, and starring Marlon Brando in his first Academy Award winning-role, was the Oscar winner for Best Picture in 1954.
The film is concerned with the problems of trade unionism, corruption, and racketeering. It is set on New York’s oppressive waterfront docks.
In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prize-fighter, now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt union boss, Johnny Friendly. One day, Malloy inadvertently participates in the murder of a dockworker who had planned to expose Mr. Friendly’s illegal activities. As he comforts the dead man’s sister Edie, Malloy meets a kindly priest. Malloy is urged to help expose Friendly’s crimes before someone else is murdered.
‘On the Waterfront’ won critical acclaim and commercial success, and received twelve Academy Award nominations. It won eight, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Brando, Best Supporting Actress for Saint, and Best Director for Kazan.
Picture Credit : Google
