On the Waterfront

In today's film world, parts of Waterfront do not work as well as they once did. Occasionally the film seems contrived or overly familiar. At times, the theme was too obvious, going overboard with its preachy tone but the passion comes through. Passion never changes. The films basic theme, heroism, standing up for what one believes in the face of seemingly overwhelming opposition and for trying to change things for the better, is ageless. Even with its few flaws, Waterfront, with its dynamic cinematic conflict and rich, textured characters, is on the AFI list of one of the top best films of twentieth century, holding position eight. Waterfront has withstood the test of time primarily because it is a good story, brilliantly filmed, its overall grittiness, and the remarkable performances of Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger and Lee J. Cobb's. Brando's performance is still widely considered one of the greatest performances ever in film.