On the WaterfrontInteractive Revision

You will need a pen and paper to participate in this interactive revision.

Write an answer to these questions.

When was On the Waterfront first shown?Who directed On the Waterfront?What was the name of the journalist who wrote the series of articles that On the Waterfront was based on?

Background Information

On the Waterfront was produced and shown for the first time in 1954. The film was directed by Elia Kazan; and the script was written by Budd Schulberg from stories by a New York journalist, Malcolm Johnson, based on events on the New York waterfront in 1949.

Background Information

On the Waterfront is a film about a particular location, a place different from the rest of America. Elia Kazan sets himself the task of creating an enclosed, harsh, frighteningly unpredictable world where good and evil are clearly recognisable.

Write down as many characters as you can and

make brief notes about them.

For example: Terry Malloy – brother of Charlie (the gent) Malloy – former prizefighter – falls in love with Edie Doyle.

Characters

Charlie Malloy – brother of Terry - right hand man to Johnny Friendly

– is murdered by Friendly’s goons.

Characters

Edie Doyle – daughter of Pop Doyle & sister of Joey Doyle - Catholic teacher-in-training - helps Terry to reclaim his

conscience

Characters

Edie’s loyalty to her brother is the driving motivation for all her actions - sexuality is crucial in her involvement with Terry, and their attraction grows, in part, because they are physical opposites.

Joey Doyle – killed by Johnny Friendly’s thugs

Father Barry – catholic priest – the waterfront is his parish

Characters

Johnny Friendly - Corrupt leader of the Longshoreman Local Union

Money and power are his motivationsInitially, Friendly comes across as powerfulAfter Terry Malloy speaks out to the Waterfront Crime Commission and effectively strips Friendly of all his power, Friendly becomes pitiable.

Characters

Write down some of the themes

present in On the Waterfront.

Themes

On the Waterfront tells the story of the emotional and moral growth of Terry Malloy:how he becomes someone who can ‘speak the truth as he knows it’ and who can get his rights.

Informing as the Correct Moral Choice

Terry Malloy obeys moral authority by choosing to inform on the corrupt union officials—that is, he clearly makes the morally correct decision.

The Transforming Power of Faith

Edie and Father Barry, the two characters who most help Terry figure things out, have faith in something intangible.

The Transforming Power of Faith (continued)

Edie maintains faith in her belief that people care about the well-being of others and want to do the right thing.

The Transforming Power of Faith (continued)

Father Barry maintains faith that acting as a representative of God can help

others do the right thing.

Power Corrupts

In the game of power there are no true friends, just the acquisition of more power and the defence of that power

Power Corrupts (continued)Johnny Friendly’s taste for power has left him morally bankrupt

Mr. Upstairs turns on Johnny Friendly in an instant

Power & Control(similar to Power Corrupts)

The film shows us a world controlled by powerful criminals who use threat and bullying to achieve power over people

Friendly is the one in control of the workers

In reality he is a coward who uses brute force to gain control

Power & Control(similar to Power Corrupts)Friendly is defeated by Terry’s courageous stance

at the conclusion

LoveTerry’s attitude to life changes when he falls in love with Edie

Formerly Terry was indecisive and weak

Love (continued)It is love for his brother Terry and the desire to protect him from danger that costs Charley his life

Love and loyalty to his brother Charley moves Terry to take a firm

and final stance against Johnny Friendly

Loyalty & BetrayalEdie’s loyalty to her dead brother Joey is the main driving force motivating all her actions in the film

Her loyalty to Joey’s memory contributes in many ways to the final destruction of Friendly’s corrupt tactics

Loyalty & Betrayal (continued)Friendly gets Terry to betray Joey by luring him out on to the roof at the beginning of the film

Out of loyalty to his dead brother Charley, to Joey and the workers, Terry boldly confronts Friendly and defeats him at the conclusion

You know, I seen you a lot of times before. Remember parochial school out on Paluski Street?

Terry Malloy

Who said that?Memorable quotes

Some people think the Crucifixion only took place on Calvary. Well, they better wise up!

Father Barry

You want to know what's wrong with our waterfront? It's the love of a lousy buck. It's making love of a buck - -the cushy job - -more important than the love of man!

Father Barry

Shouldn't everybody care about everybody else?

Edie Doyle

Isn't it simple as one, two, three? One: The working conditions are bad. Two: They're bad because the mob does the hiring. And three: The only way we can break the mob is to stop letting them get away with murder.

Father Barry

The only arithmetic he ever got was hearing the referee count up to ten.

Father Barry

Look, kid, I - how much you weigh, son? When you weighed one hundred and sixty-eight pounds you were beautiful.

Charlie Malloy

You think you're God Almighty, but you know what you are? You're a cheap, lousy, dirty, stinkin' mug! And I'm glad what I done to you, ya hear that? I'm glad what I done!

Terry Malloy

Where you guys going? Wait a minute! I'll remember this! I'll remember every one of you! I'll be back! Don't you forget that! I'll be back!

Johnny Friendly

I didn't say I didn't love you. I said, "Stay away from me."

Edie Doyle

Conscience... that stuff can drive you nuts!

Terry Malloy

What kind of saint hides in a church?

Edie Doyle

You're getting on. You're pushing 30. You know, it's time to think about getting some ambition.

Charlie Malloy

You know this city's full of hawks? That's a fact. They hang around on the top of the big hotels. And they spot a pigeon in the park. Right down on him.

Terry Malloy

Isn't it simple as one, two, three? One: The working conditions are bad. Two: They're bad because the mob does the hiring. And three: The only way we can break the mob is to stop letting them get away with murder.

Father Barry

The End