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On the Waterfront (1954) Rank 5 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
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Poor
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Reviews by Score:
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 3.75 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 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 3.50 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 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 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 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 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 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 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)
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 3.25 out of 4 stars for Moviegnome.comMoviegnome.com
his film may be seen as the justification for Elia Kazan's testament against the Communist party. This motivation gives the film an added momentum and honest urgency. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Moviegnome.com
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Moviemom's reviewMoviemom's review
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. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Moviemom's review
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for filmsgraded.com (Brian Koller)filmsgraded.com (Brian Koller)
"On The Waterfront" is a classic film that nearly measures up to its reputation. While the characters are too neatly divided into good and evil, and the drama is sometimes overdone, there's never a dull moment, and the cast and cinematography is ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at filmsgraded.com (Brian Koller)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
This one's still a contender in anyone's book. Screenwriter Budd Schulberg's exposé of the corruption in the dock workers' unions won eight Oscars and remains as stirring as ever - as does the performance of Marlon Brando. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for DVD MovieGuideDVD MovieGuide
For its day the RCA/Columbia release didn't look bad. The Columbia TriStar release, however, appears super, with a crisp and finely detailed black-and-white image. Except for a stray scratch and one or two speckles, the picture is spotless and provides ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at DVD MovieGuide
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Movie-Vault.com (Aaron West)Movie-Vault.com (Aaron West)
Kazan's life had been changed forever due to his controversial decision to give testimony to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Not only did Kazan testify about his own prior ties to the Communist party, but he named other people in the ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Movie-Vault.com (Aaron West)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Village Voice (J. Hoberman)Village Voice (J. Hoberman)
Re-released on the occasion of its golden anniversary, On the Waterfront is the supreme success story of '50s Hollywood-eighth on the AFI poll of the "greatest American movies," ahead of Schindler's List but behind The Graduate. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Village Voice (J. Hoberman)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Classic Film GuideClassic Film Guide
This Best Picture Oscar winner was Best Director Elia Kazan's justification for "ratting" on friends and colleagues to the House Un-American Activities Committee. This crime drama's (thinly veiled) story is about the onset of the Waterfront Crime ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Classic Film Guide
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for eFilmCritic.com (Jay Seaver)eFilmCritic.com (Jay Seaver)
Ten minutes' difference in getting out of work, and this is a completely different review, because it means I catch the train instead of the bus, I reach Kendall Square an hour earlier, meeting up with L plenty early enough to take in the preview we had ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Jay Seaver)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)
One scene from On the Waterfront is all you need to see to appreciate the magnificent talent of Marlon Brando - and to regret how he largely wasted his skills in the 1970s, '80s and '90s. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Apollo Movie Guide (Brian Webster)Apollo Movie Guide (Brian Webster)
Marlon Brando's performance as ex-boxer Terry Malloy is widely considered to be one of the great performances of all-time, in this story of guilt and redemption on the wrong side of the tracks. Elia Kazan directed this multi-Academy Award winner. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Apollo Movie Guide (Brian Webster)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Parent/Teacher Learning Guides at teachwithmovies.org Parent/Teacher Learning Guides at teachwithmovies.org
This classic movie is about organized crime's penetration of a longshoreman's union in New York in the 1950s. Several men break the community's code of silence to stand up to the gangsters and expose the murder of a friend. Marlon Brando's ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Parent/Teacher Learning Guides at teachwithmovies.org
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader ReviewsThe BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews
A dockworker struggles against his corrupt union bosses. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Doug Pratt's Laserdisc ReviewDoug Pratt's Laserdisc Review
For its day the RCA/Columbia release didn't look bad. The Columbia TriStar release, however, appears super, with a crisp and finely detailed black-and-white image. Except for a stray scratch and one or two speckles, the picture is spotless and provides ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Doug Pratt's Laserdisc Review
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for DVD TimesDVD Times
For a ceremony that will go to any lengths to avoid controversy, the Academy Awards has done pretty well over the years in ruffling more than a few feathers . Whether it be politicos like Michael Moore or the Sarandon/Robbins pair using the show as a ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at DVD Times
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)
It is all the more grim and hard-hitting because of the steel-gray look of cinematographer Kaufman's startling, neo-documentary approach. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Guardian at Cannes 2003 The Guardian at Cannes 2003
Ah memories! Can it really be a year since firefighters had to pump oxygen into 20 people who had passed out a screening? "In 25 years in my job, I've never seen this sort of thing at the festival," said Lieutenant Gerard Courtel of the Cannes fire ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at The Guardian at Cannes 2003
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for CineScene.com (Chris Dashiell)CineScene.com (Chris Dashiell)
A former prizefighter (Marlon Brando) is caught up in a corrupt union headed by a mobster (Lee J. Cobb), but starts to question his beliefs when he falls for the sister (Eva Marie Saint) of a man who was murdered for informing. Kazan's boldly ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at CineScene.com (Chris Dashiell)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Big House Film (Roger Westcombe)Big House Film (Roger Westcombe)
There is a love story at the center of On The Waterfront and it constitutes the film's best quality. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Big House Film (Roger Westcombe)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
On the Waterfront is a hard-hitting but pretentious melodrama about union corruption on the New York docks. It is directed by Elia Kazan ("A Streetcar Named Desire") and penned by Budd Schulberg. This colorful story of Mob informers was based on a ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
Brando made one of his most indelible impressions in this relentlessly dramatic, ever-controversial tale of loyalty and betrayal in the world of working-class unions, first released in 1954. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Savant (Glenn Erickson)DVD Savant (Glenn Erickson)
Here's an acknowledged classic whose reputation perhaps rides a bit too much on its superstar Brando performance. Savant is a big fan of Elia Kazan's work overall, but thinks this indictment of racketeering is a very entertaining show, with some ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at DVD Savant (Glenn Erickson)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Film Journal (Daidria Curnutte)The Film Journal (Daidria Curnutte)
The climate of paranoia that existed in Hollywood in the early 1950s had reached an almost frenzied point by the time of legendary Elia Kazan's damaging testimony against fellow filmmakers who had "named names". At that time, America was in the midst ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at The Film Journal (Daidria Curnutte)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.com (Sarah Chauncey)Reel.com (Sarah Chauncey)
There's something uncomfortably humbling about reviewing a movie that is textbook-perfect. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Reel.com (Sarah Chauncey)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for BBC FilmsBBC Films
Director Elia Kazan was shunned by many of his Hollywood peers for naming names during McCarthy's communist witch hunts of the early 1950s. When his "On the Waterfront" was released in 1954 it was seen by many as a defiant attempt to justify his ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at BBC Films
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for LYTRules.com (Luke Y. Thompson)LYTRules.com (Luke Y. Thompson)
Do the politics make it bad? Not at all. It's a fictional story, not a soapbox. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at LYTRules.com (Luke Y. Thompson)
On the Waterfront (1954) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
It's hard to deny that Marlon Brando's performance as a dock worker and ex-fighter who finally decides to rat on his gangster brother (Rod Steiger) is pretty terrific. ...read the complete On the Waterfront movie review at Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
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On the Waterfront (1954) Reviews
On the Waterfront (1954)

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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
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