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On the Waterfront (re-release)

EMAILPRINTSony Pictures Repertory

On the Waterfront (re-release) reviews
88
7.8 User Score:

Movie Info

Genre(s): Classic  |  Crime  |  Drama  |  Romance

Written by: Budd Schulberg (also story)
Malcolm Johnson (suggested by articles)

Directed by: Elia Kazan

Release Date:
Theatrical: November 5, 2004
DVD: October 23, 2001

Running Time: 108 minutes, B/W

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, James Westerfield, and Eva Marie Saint

Marlon Brando gives one of the screen's most electrifying performances as Best Actor in this 1954 Academy Award winning Best Film as Ex-fighter Terry Malloy, who could have been a contender but now toils for boss Johnny Friendly (Cobb) on the gang-ridden waterfront. (Sony)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The acting and the best dialogue passages have an impact that has not dimmed; it is still possible to feel the power of the film and of Brando and Kazan, who changed American movie acting forever.

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100

Boston Globe Ty Burr

The chance to watch a four-star classic the way it was meant to be seen -- fresh print, big screen -- is so rare as to be worth the trip.

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100

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

As unspoiled in its key elements as the day it was made, "On the Waterfront" is indisputably one of the great American films, its power undiminished. Even more today than half a century ago, it demands to be seen.

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90

TV Guide Staff (Not credited)

A draining experience from beginning to end, relentless in its portrayal of inhumanity.

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88

ReelViews James Berardinelli

On the Waterfront may have baggage, but that doesn't prevent it from being one of the great American productions of the mid-20th century.

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80

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

It's hard to deny that Marlon Brando's performance as a dock worker and ex-fighter who finally decides to rat on his gangster brother (Rod Steiger) is pretty terrific.

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80

The New York Times A.H. Weiler

Moviemaking of a rare and high order. (Review of Original Release)

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80

Variety Staff (Not credited)

Under Elia Kazan's direction, Marlon Brando puts on a spectacular show, giving a fascinating, multi-faceted performance.

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80

Village Voice J. Hoberman

Like many cult films, it is also less than the sum of its parts.

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75

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Brando made one of his most indelible impressions in this relentlessly dramatic, ever-controversial tale of loyalty and betrayal in the world of working-class unions.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mart B. gave it a9:
They don't make 'em like this anymore.

Jonathan F. gave it an8:
This is a superbly acted movie. Marlon Brando delivers the character of a tough ex-prize fighter, and he does it with beautiful grace. What I liked about this film, is that no one died at the end. Although Brando's character, Terry, walks "with the cross", in a Jesus style, he doesn't die, and become a mortar. And on the other side, the bad guy ,Johnny Friendly, isn't killed for his crimes. He's just pushed away. This movie is a message movie, against organized crime and mobs. How a person should listen to his conscience. However, I think the Christian - "Jesus is with you" monlogue was way over the line. The most remembered scene is in the car, where Terry's brother tries to convince Terry to work for the mob and not testify for the police. The acting there was truly touching. As an animal rights activist, I hope that the scenes with the dead pigeons was made with dummies and not real dead pigeons. 8/10

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