On the Waterfront
1954 · Movie · NR · 108 min · ★ 7.9 · 95% critics
A former boxer turned dock worker wrestles with conscience as corruption and violence spread through a powerful union on the waterfront. He faces pressure to stay silent, but his decision puts him on a collision course with the people running the operation.
Based on news article
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Details
- Years
- 1954
- Release date
- 1954-06-22
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.9/10 (1,785 votes)
- Box office
- $9,600,000
- Budget
- $910,000
About
You’ll likely like On the Waterfront if you enjoy intense, gritty crime dramas with conscience-driven stakes and strong performances; Not for you if you dislike old-fashioned melodrama or want a lighter, more purely entertaining story like The Killing.
Pros: gritty waterfront drama; standout performances; powerful moral conflict | Cons: plot can drag; melodramatic moments; heavy message
Themes
- corruption
- new jersey
- murder
- mafia
- black and white
- union
- dock
- longshoreman
- pigeon
- ex-boxer
- excited
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Art Direction, Black and White · 1955
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 1955
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1955
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1955
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1955
Show all 20 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1955
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1955
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1955
- National Board of Review Award — Best Film
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1955 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1955 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score · 1955 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Art Direction, Black and White · 1955 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1955 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1955 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 1955 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1955 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1955 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1955 · nominated
Cast & crew
Marlon Brando
as Terry Malloy
Eva Marie Saint
as Edie Doyle
Karl Malden
as Father Barry
Lee J. Cobb
as Johnny Friendly
Rod Steiger
as Charley Malloy
Pat Henning
as Kayo Dugan
Leif Erickson
as Glover
James Westerfield
as Big Mac
Tony Galento
as Truck
- TM
Tami Mauriello
as Tillio
Directed by Elia Kazan