BBBBB

(out of 5)

Incredible drama that still crackles with tension after almost fifty years. Marlon Brando is brilliant as a fighter turned longshoreman who gets involved in the strikes going on among his colleagues along New York City’s harbour. Having been brought into this semi-criminal life by his brother, he now desires to turn against his bosses and have them be held responsible to the law for their inhumane business practices. The question that remains is whether or not he’s willing to risk his life for it. Brando couldn’t possibly be better in the extremely well-written lead role (which was originally offered to Montgomery Clift), and he is given ample support by Lee J. Cobb, Karl Malden, Rod Steiger and a debuting (though you wouldn’t know it) Eva Marie Saint.

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Horizon Pictures

USA, 1954

Directed by Elia Kazan

Story and Screenplay by Budd Schulberg, suggested by articles by Malcolm Johnson

Cinematography by Boris Kaufman

Produced by Sam Spiegel

Music by Leonard Bernstein

Production Design by Richard Day

Costume Design by Anna Hill Johnstone, Flo Transfield

Film Editing by Gene Milford

Academy Awards
Best Actor (Marlon Brando as “Terry Malloy”)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Eva Marie Saint as “Edie Doyle”)
Best Art Direction (Black-and-White) (Richard Day)
Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) (Boris Kaufman)
Best Directing (Elia Kazan)
Best Film Editing (Gene Milford)
Best Motion Picture (Sam Spiegel, producer)
Best Writing (Story and Screenplay) (Budd Schulberg)

Nominations
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Lee J. Cobb as “Johnny Friendly”)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Karl Malden as “Father Barry”)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Rod Steiger as “Charles Malloy”)
Best Music (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) (Leonard Bernstein)

Golden Globe Awards
Best Motion Picture-Drama
Best Performance By An Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama (Marlon Brando)
Best Director (Elia Kazan)
Best Cinematography-Black and White (Boris Kaufman)