On the Waterfront

               

            I am always open to watching new movies, especially ones that I have never heard of before.  In the case of On the Waterfront I was a little bit skeptical about how good this film could be due to how old it was.  I kept an open mind and was actually pretty impressed with how good the movie was, even while lacking the effects that a current movie would posses. Marlon Brando definitely brought the depth to the movie that modern day movie effects could have replaced.

I believe that the directors as well as the writer of this film were trying to focus on ideas.  And if I had to summarize what idea they were trying to focus on in one word it would be bravery.   It could also fall into the category of human dignity and social struggle.   Being that the film is based on a bunch of articles about twisted unions in New York.  It shows the struggle in standing up to these corrupt gangs and showing bravery by doing what is right instead of what everyone conforms to.  And in the case of human dignity it is shown when Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) who dreams of being a prize fighter tries to overcome everyone’s perspective of him being a bum by doing the right thing.  The “right thing” in this film being to follow in the footsteps of Christ and to prevail as a good Christian worker on the docks. 

                Watching the film at home on my 42” television had both adverse and positive aspects.  For example in the opening sequence of the film they toss Edie of the roof.  You can clearly tell that it is a dummy and for that I think keeping it as scaled down as possible helps to keep that image less significant.  At the same time I think the speech by Barry to the dock workers to rally up against the mob would have been even more impactful on the big screen.   In conclusion I feel the film’s aspects pertained to the idea of the common working man stepping up to the ideals of society and doing what is right by following in the footsteps of Christ.  This is portrayed very well and I think taps into the emotions of people even in today’s society.