On the Waterfront

I thought the movie was good but not great.  I think it would have been more interesting if it would have shown more of Marlon Brando's,Terry Malloy, boxing days.  I found myself loosing interest and wishing I could have fast forward some parts of the movie.  I did love the ending of this movie, Terry standing up after the fight and walking onto the ship with his fellow union workers following him.

According to The Art of Watching Films, Boxers are often treated in films with the dignity theme.  In On the Waterfront, Terry Malloy achieves his dignity by leading the dock workers to rebel against a corrupt union, but Malloy's summary of his boxing career echoes clearly his personal struggle.  I do agree the theme of this film is the struggle for human dignity but I also think moral implications would apply.  The character, Terry Malloy does not agree with the corruption of the union but he follows their actions anyways, he accepts the money from them, while laying around on the job. 

The actors in the movie did a great job for the time period of the 1950's. The actors in the movie were more stiff and less relate able compared to actors nowadays.  The mood of the film was perfect for the time period showing the struggles to make money and the corruption of the Mob.  The example of the fight between the non chosen union workers when money was thrown into the crowd;  situations like that really do happen and did happen in those days.  The style of the movie stands out and withstands time because of the varying aspects of the movie relating to the audience.  It contained people that were wronged by others, the disadvantaged, a love story-falling in love with opposite side, the Father standing with his people, the corruption and the people who lose a sense of their morals.

I found this article very interesting, to read a point of view that was published back in 1954.
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9403e6df113ee53bbc4151dfb166838f649ede