Brando's Contender: The Making of On the Waterfront

On July 29, 1954, the iconic film "On the Waterfront" premiered in New York City. Directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando, the film tells the story of Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter turned longshoreman who becomes embroiled in the corrupt union politics of the New Jersey docks. The film is widely regarded as a classic of American cinema and is known for its gritty realism, powerful performances, and iconic lines, such as "I coulda been a contender."

Marlon Brando's performance as Terry Malloy is considered one of the greatest in film history. He brings a raw vulnerability and intensity to the role, portraying a man torn between his loyalty to the corrupt union boss Johnny Friendly (played by Lee J. Cobb) and his growing conscience. Brando's famous "contender" speech, delivered in the back of a taxi, is a masterclass in acting and has become one of the most quoted and imitated scenes in cinema.

The film's screenplay, written by Budd Schulberg, was inspired by a series of articles in the New York Sun about corruption on the waterfront. Schulberg spent months researching the subject and even worked as a longshoreman to gain firsthand experience. The resulting script is a powerful indictment of corruption and a celebration of the individual's ability to stand up against injustice.

Elia Kazan's direction is also a major factor in the film's success. He brings a gritty, documentary-like style to the film, shooting on location in Hoboken, New Jersey, and using a cast largely made up of non-professional actors. Kazan's use of deep focus and long takes adds to the film's sense of realism and immediacy.

"On the Waterfront" was a critical and commercial success, winning eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Kazan, and Best Actor for Brando. The film's success was all the more remarkable given the controversy surrounding Kazan, who had recently testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee and named names of alleged communists in the film industry.

Today, "On the Waterfront" remains a classic of American cinema, celebrated for its powerful performances, gritty realism, and timeless themes of corruption, redemption, and the struggle for justice. Its influence can be seen in countless films that followed, from the works of Martin Scorsese to the gritty crime dramas of the 1970s and beyond. As a landmark of film history, "On the Waterfront" continues to inspire and captivate audiences nearly 70 years after its initial release.


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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to this moment in film history, and let's get
rolling and find out what happened in film. On July
twenty ninth, nineteen fifty four, the iconic film On the
Waterfront premiered in New York City. Directed by Elia Kazan
and starring Marlon Brando, the film tells the story of
Terry Molloy, a former prize fighter turned longshoreman who becomes

(00:20):
embroiled in the corrupt union politics of the New Jersey Docks.
The film is widely regarded as a classic of American
cinema and is known for its gritty realism, powerful performances,
and iconic lines such as I could have been a contender.
Marlon Brando's performance as Terry Molloy is considered one of
the greatest in film history. He brings a raw vulnerability

(00:42):
and intensity to the role, portraying a man torn between
his loyalty to the corrupt union boss Johnny Friendly played
by Lee J. Cobb, and his growing conscience. Brando's famous
contender speech, delivered in the back of a taxi, is
a masterclass in acting and has become one of the
most quoted and imitated scenes in cinema. The film screenplay,

(01:05):
written by Bud Sholberg, was inspired by a series of
articles in The New York Sun about corruption on the waterfront.
Sholberg spent months researching the subject and even worked as
a longshoreman to gain first hand experience. The resulting script
is a powerful indictment of corruption and a celebration of
the individual's ability to stand up against injustice. Alia Kazan's

(01:27):
direction is also a major factor in the film's success.
He brings a gritty documentary like style to the film,
Shooting on location in Hoboken, New Jersey and using a
cast largely made up of non professional actors. Kazan's use
of deep focus and long takes adds to the film's
sense of realism and immediacy. Left double quotation mark. On

(01:49):
the Waterfront was a critical and commercial success, winning eight
Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Kazan, and
Best Actor for Brando. The film's success was all the
more remarkable given the controversy surrounding Kazan, who had recently
testified before the House un American Activities Committee and named

(02:11):
names of alleged communists in the film industry. To day
one on the water Front remains a classic of American cinema,
celebrated for its powerful performances, gritty realism, and timeless themes
of corruption, redemption, and the struggle for justice. Its influence
can be seen in countless films that followed, from the
works of Martin Scorseesi to the gritty crime dramas of

(02:33):
the nineteen seventies and beyond. As a landmark of film history,
on the Waterfront continues to inspire and captivate audiences nearly
seventy years after its initial release, and that is cut
for this day in film history. This has been a
Quiet Please production. For more check out Quiet Please Dot A.
I thank you for listening.