Critic Reviews

share

On the Waterfront (1954) Rank 4 Reviews

Expert Review Summary
Movie critics combined give On the Waterfront (1954) a score of 3.4719 out of 4
based on (73) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Excellent
4
Excellent
(46)
Very Good
3
Very Good
(26)
Good
2
Good
(0)
Fair
1
Fair
(1)
Poor
0
Poor
(0)
Reviews by Score:
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
The difference between pre- and post-1950s cinema - before and after Brando - is as pronounced as moving from black and white to color. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for eFilmCriticeFilmCritic
It's a little like that for Marlon Brando's Terry Malloy in On The Waterfront. He's made some bad decisions, and the easiest thing might be just to do nothing, but there's a girl, Edie (Eva Marie Saint), and she deserves something. Of course, she's ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at eFilmCritic
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Ted PriggeTed Prigge
But first, the story of "On the Waterfront" deals with an uneducated dock worker named Terry Malloy (Brando, when he was young and thin), who's motto for life is basically "Do it to him before he does it to you." Everyday, he and hundreds of dock ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Ted Prigge
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Ed Blank)Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Ed Blank)
How things work out. Frank Sinatra wanted the part of Terry Malloy in "On the Waterfront" (1954) more than he did any leading role before or since. And he had it. To understand how much it mattered, you have to go back to 1950-52 when ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Ed Blank)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Boxoffice MagazineBoxoffice Magazine
he first thing that has to be said about the DVD for "On the Waterfront" is that the copious extras discussing both the film and the career of Elia Kazan do not overly wallow in the controversy surrounding the director's congressional testimony during ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Boxoffice Magazine
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)
We're being spoiled these days, what with the release of big classics like this and Citizen Kane on DVD. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely!SynopsisTerry Malloy (Marlon Brando in arguably his greatest role) is dock worker. He does the odd job for ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at UpcomingDiscs.com (David Annandale)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Decent Films - faith on film (Steven D. Greydanus)Decent Films - faith on film (Steven D. Greydanus)
"A Going My Way with substance" is how Elia Kazan's classic, controversial On the Waterfront was recently described in a lecture at Boston College. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Decent Films - faith on film (Steven D. Greydanus)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for FilmHead.com - Video PickFilmHead.com - Video Pick
The first film this week lives up to its title; Rod Lurie's The Contender is up for two Academy Awards this year. The first nominee is Joan Allen, who plays a senator that has been selected by the president (Jeff Bridges, the other nominee) to be the ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at FilmHead.com - Video Pick
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for New York Times (A.H. Weiler)New York Times (A.H. Weiler)
An uncommonly powerful, exciting and imaginative use of the screen by gifted professionals. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at New York Times (A.H. Weiler)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Minneapolis Star Tribune (Colin Covert)Minneapolis Star Tribune (Colin Covert)
You miss this, you're buyin' a one-way ticket to Palookaville. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Minneapolis Star Tribune (Colin Covert)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)
Marlon Brando is outstanding as a former boxing champ torn between family and duty in the magnificent On the Waterfront ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)
What's most amazing is to realize that the most important moments of this is something that director Kazan allowed the actors to improvise. Some of the best scenes, including the "contender" scene is all from the heart. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
It's a sign of Marlon Brando's gifts as an actor that his talent never used up all the air in the room. Brando was in fact a remarkable ensemble player, a skill he never used to greater effect than in "On the Waterfront," now playing at the Nuart in West ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Boston GlobeBoston Globe
Classic movies can get encrusted by their own legend: It's hard to watch "Gone With the Wind" without thinking about the search for Scarlett or to take in "Casablanca" without musing on the myth of Bogart. One reason for this is that ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Boston Globe
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Film Freak CentralFilm Freak Central
There is a moment in the middle of Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront that stands for me as one of the defining in my love for the movies. Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) confesses to his girlfriend Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint) that he was involved in the ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Film Freak Central
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Bullz-Eye.comBullz-Eye.com
Old movies don't come much better than this. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Bullz-Eye.com
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
The film is shot on location in black-and-white, semi-docu style, which suits the realistic subject and commonplace characters, particularly Brando's Terry Malloy, the passive dock worker forced to become a crusader-fighter against the union's tyranny ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Jay's Movie BlogJay's Movie Blog
Ten minutes' difference in getting out of work, and this is a completely different entry, because it means I catch the train instead of the bus, I reach Kendall Square an hour earlier, meeting up with Laurel plenty early enough to take in the preview of ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Jay's Movie Blog
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for homevideo.about.com (Ivana Redwine)homevideo.about.com (Ivana Redwine)
"On the Waterfront" (1954) won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director (Elia Kazan), and the acting in the movie is at such a high level that five actors (Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Rod Steiger, and Lee J. Cobb) ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at homevideo.about.com (Ivana Redwine)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for GoneMovie.comGoneMovie.com
A powerful drama with the flavor of Shakespearean tragedy, On the Waterfrontis a timeless story of corruption and those who fight it. Terry Malloy (a mesmerizing Marlon Brando) is a former boxer who works as a goon for union racketeers running the docks ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at GoneMovie.com
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for At-A-Glance Film ReviewsAt-A-Glance Film Reviews
What was arguably director Elia Kazan's masterpiece was also, curiously enough, a staunch defense of his testimony at the House of Unamerican Activities during the McCarthy era. This mars the film for some, but others are quick to point out that many ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at At-A-Glance Film Reviews
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
So says Terry Malloy, the longshoreman who testifies against his union in ``On the Waterfront.'' The line, said by Marlon Brando, resonates all through the picture because the story is about conscience--and so is the story behind the story. This was ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Parent PreviewsParent Previews
Down on the murky waterfront, steady work for the longshoremen ebbs and flows according to union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee Cobb) and his motley litter of well-heeled thugs. Talk too much, step out ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Parent Previews
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for MichaelVoxMichaelVox
A story which at first glance appears to be about a strong-arm union, is actually the story of a man and his reaction to missed opportunities. Marlon Brando is at his droopy-eyed best as Terry Malloy, a former young boxer-turned-errand boy for the local ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at MichaelVox
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for DVD JournalDVD Journal
"I coulda been a contender." With those words one of the signature moments of '50s cinema, indeed all cinema, reaches its climax. In On the Waterfront (1954), Terry Malloy, played by Marlon Brando in his sixth film, leans back in the secluded rear ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at DVD Journal
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for ReelViews (James Berardinelli)ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
The recipient of eight Oscars (including Best Picture), On the Waterfront represented a defining moment in the careers to two key participants: actor Marlon Brando and director Elia Kazan. A gritty, uncompromising look at union corruption on the docks of ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Movie Reviews UKMovie Reviews UK
A crusading indictment of corruption and those who, by keeping silent, abet such acts, On the Waterfront impresses through all-round superb performances. In the New York docks, the Union is all-powerful. A handful of crooks, led by the misnamed Johnny ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Movie Reviews UK
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for digitallyOBSESSED.com (Jesse Shanks)digitallyOBSESSED.com (Jesse Shanks)
In the decade following the mass introduction of color into Hollywood films, it seemed that the choice was often to go with color for musicals and major films or go with black & white for smaller films and "gritty" dramas. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at digitallyOBSESSED.com (Jesse Shanks)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Reel.comReel.com
Columbia TriStar's DVD of On the Waterfront is more than a contender. It's a winner. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Reel.com
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
A powerful drama with the flavor of Shakespearean tragedy, On the Waterfrontis a timeless story of corruption and those who fight it. Terry Malloy (a mesmerizing Marlon Brando) is a former boxer who works as a goon for union racketeers running the docks ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Film as ArtFilm as Art
Much has been made of Marlon Brando's famous, career-making speech in On the Waterfront, in which his character, Terry Malloy, sadly tells his brother, "I coulda' had class. I coulda' been a contender. I coulda' been somebody, instead of a bum. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Film as Art
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Moments of melancholyMoments of melancholy
Elia Kazan's defense of his decision to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee[1] and "name names", On the Waterfront is a deeply personal film about finding your priorities and convictions and having the courage to stand up for them. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Moments of melancholy
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for DVD Verdict (Barrie Maxwell)DVD Verdict (Barrie Maxwell)
"I could've been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum—which is what I ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at DVD Verdict (Barrie Maxwell)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for CinemaZone.dkCinemaZone.dk
Gangstere findes i alle afskygninger, og i Elia Kazans meget fine skildring af et miniature-gangstervælde i New Yorks havn møder vi en ret uglamourøs udgave af det hårde liv i en verden, hvor de stærkeste håndhæver loven. Johnny Friendly er ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at CinemaZone.dk
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")
The docks have been a place filled with violence, unfair practices, and for most of the men who work there, broken dreams. One man with shattered dreams is Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) and while he used to be a talented prizefighter, he has found new ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for The Palace (Michael Mills)The Palace (Michael Mills)
"On the Waterfront" was based on magazine articles by Malcolm Johnson; it was to be filmed in New York, partly because the locations demanded it. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at The Palace (Michael Mills)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for The Greatest Films (Tim Dirks)The Greatest Films (Tim Dirks)
On the Waterfront (1954) is a classic, award-winning, controversial film directed by Elia Kazan - a part drama and part gangster film. The authentic-looking, powerful film is concerned with the problems of trade unionism, corruption and racketeering. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at The Greatest Films (Tim Dirks)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for LeisureSuit.netLeisureSuit.net
But ah, was he glorious in On the Waterfront! As Terry Molloy, he could have been a contender once upon a time, but now, having been betrayed by his own brother, he's nothing but a two-bit hood, and a bum who works down on the waterfront. But with the ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at LeisureSuit.net
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)
Marlon Brando delivers one of his strongest performances here as Terry Maloy, the flawed hero of this riveting drama. Maloy and his brother Charlie were "bought" at an early age by local mobster Johnny Friendly, who tempted them with easy money and ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for DVD Net (Gavin Turner)DVD Net (Gavin Turner)
What can I possibly say about On the Waterfront that hasn't already been said? And by those far more eminently qualified than I? One of Hollywood's most famous and influential films, winner of eight Academy Awards. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at DVD Net (Gavin Turner)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)
Early on, there's a scene in On The Waterfront where the union boss chooses who will work that day; he does this by handing out these little coins. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Time OutTime Out
Superb performances (none more so than Brando as Terry Malloy, the ex-boxer unwittingly entangled in corrupt union politics), a memorably colourful script by Budd Schulberg, and a sure control of atmosphere make this account of Brando's struggles ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Time Out
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)
Based on a true story (with a less satisfying conclusion), this is the story of the men who had the courage to stand up to the corrupt longshoreman's union. The union is controlled by Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). He and his men decide who will work ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Chris JarmickChris Jarmick
The newly released DVD of On the Waterfront does not bring us a pristine looking version of the film that has been meticulously restored as happened with Citizen Kane. It looks okay over-all and does have some interesting extras. It's also a bit ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Chris Jarmick
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for MediaScreen.comMediaScreen.com
By NICK ZEGARAC Columbia continues its downward spiral where its classic DVD output is concerned. "On The Waterfront" is not only a great Academy Award winning film, it is an American icon. The plot is concerned with a union stooge, Terry ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at MediaScreen.com
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Collector's Corner (Wes Marshall)Collector's Corner (Wes Marshall)
Marlon Brando spent countless hours on the psychoanalyst's couch, trying to reconcile his success with his insecurity -- a classic symptom of having been raised by alcoholic parents. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Collector's Corner (Wes Marshall)
Compare On the Waterfront (1954) Prices
from $9.99 (20 sellers)

User Reviews

Write a Review

User Comments

Add a Comment
 
TopTenREVIEWS
RSS Feed
Share
Newsletter
Newsletters
Home
Software
Electronics
Web Services
Science Tech
Small Business
Mobile
Movies
Music
Video Games
Gift Ideas
Header arrow
Top Movie Lists
All Time Movie Reviews
Header arrow
Blogs
Become A Reviewer
Movie Reviews: Crime
On the Waterfront (1954) Reviews
On the Waterfront (1954)

RANKINGS:

Expand All | Close All
Ratings and rankings are based on number of movie, review scores, awards & other criteria.
Overall Rating:
3.5998
On the Waterfront (1954) is ranked overall as out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
3.4719
On the Waterfront (1954) is ranked overall as out of 4 stars
Learn More ...
Critic Reviews  |  User Reviews  |  Comments  |  Movie Facts  |  Cast
Awards  |  Deals & Prices
Ads by Google
Quick Links
Shop & Compare
Rebates
TopTenREPORTS
RSS Feed
See our Feeds
Sponsored Ad:
Related Videos
Sponsored Ad:
Related Review Sites
Video Editing Software
DVD Player Software
DVD to iPod Software
 
TopTenREVIEWS.com
Copyright © 2003 - 2009 TopTenREVIEWS, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of TopTenREVIEWS, Inc. is prohibited