On the Waterfront: Key Facts

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Full Title On the Waterfront

Director Elia Kazan

Leading Actors/Actresses Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Rod Steiger, Lee J. Cobb

Supporting Actors/Actresses Pat Henning, John Hamilton, James Westerfield, Leif Erickson

Type of work Motion Picture

Genre Gritty gangster film; authentic social reality film

Language English

Time and place produced 1954; Hoboken, New Jersey, and New York City

Awards 1955 Academy Awards:

Date of release July 1954

Producer Sam Spiegel

Setting (time) 1950s

Setting (place) Hoboken, New Jersey

Protagonist Terry Malloy

Major conflict Terry Malloy must decide whether to inform the Waterfront Crime Commission about the corrupt leadership of the Longshoreman’s Union, which would risk his employment and his life, or to stay silent, which would poison his conscience and have untold effects on his life.

Rising action As Terry Malloy struggles with his decision, his blossoming relationship with Edie Doyle, the passionate support of Father Barry, and the revealing taxicab conversation with his brother Charlie all push him toward realizing that he has only one choice for his own conscience.

Climax When Johnny Friendly’s gang murders his brother Charlie, Terry realizes the inescapable cycle of union corruption and vows to make the union pay whatever the cost, now that he’s felt the pain personally.

Falling action Though in his rage Terry wants to murder all the goons he can find, Father Barry convinces him to rise above their level and testify in court to the Waterfront Crime Commission the next day, which he does. He then goes down to the docks to confront Friendly.

Themes Informing as the correct moral choice; the transforming power of faith; power corrupts

Motifs The rooftop as retreat from the world; Crucifixion dialogue; “D & D”: Deaf and Dumb

Symbols Hudson River; pigeons; hooks; gloves

Foreshadowing Joey Doyle sticks his head out of his apartment window to answer Terry Malloy’s call from the street, and that answer brings his death. Much later, Malloy finds himself in the same position, sticking his head out of Edie’s window to answer a dark call from the street, which leads to the discovery of his brother’s corpse.