On the Waterfront (1954), directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg, stars Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy — a washed-up boxer working as a longshoreman under a corrupt union boss who finds his conscience after his brother is murdered. Eva Marie Saint plays his love interest.
Why It Matters
- Won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Supporting Actress
- Brando's I coulda been a contender speech is the most studied piece of screen acting in American film history
- Kazan's use of location shooting and naturalistic performance established the template for American dramatic realism
The film was controversial from the start — Kazan had recently named names before the House Un-American Activities Committee, and many saw the film as a self-justification for informing. Whatever its politics, it contains some of the greatest acting ever committed to film.
Reference:
TaskLoco™ — The Sticky Note GOAT
