Based on a series of articles by Malcolm Johnson for the New York Sun in 1948 titled Crime on the Waterfront which won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting, On the Waterfront follows ex-boxer Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando), who is drifting through life without a clear direction. He does not mind doing odd jobs to make ends meet because he does not have any goals or ambitions. When he feels lonely, he heads to the pigeon coop he has built on the roof of his apartment building. Terry's life changes dramatically when he realizes that he has been tricked to set up the murder of a man who has threatened to expose the shady dealings of local union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). Initially, Terry remains silent because for years Johnny's men have been giving him the easiest jobs on the docks and because his brother Charley (Rod Steiger) is also Johnny's right-hand man. But when he meets the murdered man's sister, Edie Doyle (Eve Marie Saint), he changes his mind. Charley immediately warns Terry that going against Johnny would be a terrible mistake that would cost him not only his gigs at the docks but possibly even his life. The majority of the film focuses on Terry's struggle to make a decision. Early on he feels that remaining silent is the right one – not only will he continue to get the easiest jobs on the docks, but Johnny would also own him a big favor. Then he meets a local priest, Father Barry (Karl Malden), who has been trying to organize the longshoremen and bring down Johnny's organization and, with Eddie next to him, begins to question his loyalty to Johnny and Charlie.
Assisted by Father ‘Pete’ Corrigan, a labor priest and associate director of the Xavier Institute of Industrial Relations, investigative journalist Malcolm Johnson was able to expose the dirty dealings of the man who controlled the entire New York waterfront in the beginning of the century, Big Bill McCormack, an Irishman born in New Jersey with many powerful friends, and his trusted associate Joe Ryan, who became the model for Johnny Friendly.
Filmmaker Elia Kazan completed On the Waterfront in 1954. Surrounded by controversy – most of it fueled by the fact that Kazan, once a member of the American Communist Party, appeared as a ‘friendly witness’ before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1952 and testified against many former colleagues. The film was released on July 28th, 1954, where it became a critical and commercial success. On March 30th, 1955, On the Waterfront won 8 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Elia Kazan), Best Actor (Marlon Brando), Best Supporting Actress (Eva Marie Saint), Best Screenplay (Budd Schulberg), Best Art Direction-Black & White, Best Cinematography-Black & White, and Best Film Editing.
Filmmaker Elia Kazan completed On the Waterfront in 1954. Surrounded by controversy – most of it fueled by the fact that Kazan, once a member of the American Communist Party, appeared as a ‘friendly witness’ before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1952 and testified against many former colleagues. The film was released on July 28th, 1954, where it became a critical and commercial success. On March 30th, 1955, On the Waterfront won 8 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Elia Kazan), Best Actor (Marlon Brando), Best Supporting Actress (Eva Marie Saint), Best Screenplay (Budd Schulberg), Best Art Direction-Black & White, Best Cinematography-Black & White, and Best Film Editing.