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* DisappointingOlderSibling: Terry Malloy calls out his big brother Charley for not protecting him and undermining his boxing career.
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* DisappointingOlderSibling: During the ICouldaBeenAContender scene, Terry Malloy calls out his big brother Charley for not protecting him and undermining his boxing career.
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* DisappointingOlderSibling: Terry Malloy calls out his big brother Charley for not protecting him and undermining his boxing career.
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* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Charley The Gent is a murderous gangster and Friendly's [[TheDragon right-hand man]], but he does genuinely love his kid brother Terry, [[spoiler: a love that gets him killed.]]
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In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt Union-boss, Johnny Friendly (Creator/LeeJCobb.) One day, Malloy inadvertently participates in the murder of a dockworker that had planned to expose Mr. Friendly's illegal activities. As he comforts the dead man's sister, Edie (Creator/EvaMarieSaint,) and meets a kindly priest (Creator/KarlMalden), Terry is urged to help expose Friendly's crimes before someone else dies. How long can Terry go on before he finally has to act against the corrupt men who own the docks?
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In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt Union-boss, Johnny Friendly (Creator/LeeJCobb.(Lee J Cobb.) One day, Malloy inadvertently participates in the murder of a dockworker that had planned to expose Mr. Friendly's illegal activities. As he comforts the dead man's sister, Edie (Creator/EvaMarieSaint,) (Eva Marie Saint,) and meets a kindly priest (Creator/KarlMalden), (Karl Malden), Terry is urged to help expose Friendly's crimes before someone else dies. How long can Terry go on before he finally has to act against the corrupt men who own the docks?
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* Death by Falling Over
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* AndStarring: Eva Marie Saint gets an "an introducing" credit.
* AnimalMotifs: There are many references to birds that mirror the various human interactions in the plot.
* ArcWords: The word "bum", usually spoken in regards to Terry.
* ArchEnemy: Johnny Friendly to Terry Malloy.
* AnimalMotifs: There are many references to birds that mirror the various human interactions in the plot.
* ArcWords: The word "bum", usually spoken in regards to Terry.
* ArchEnemy: Johnny Friendly to Terry Malloy.
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* CentralTheme: "Conscience, that stuff can drive you nuts".
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* DramaticTimpani: The soundtrack by Music/LeonardBernstein has the quiet title music followed by a pounding fugato for three drummers (though the third is actually on tuned drums rather than timpani).
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* KickTheDog: [[spoiler:Terry's beloved pigeons are killed by the kids]].
* NamesToTrustImmediately: Inverted with the corrupt union boss Johnny Friendly.
* NamesToTrustImmediately: Inverted with the corrupt union boss Johnny Friendly.
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* PlotTriggeringDeath: The story begins with the murder of Joey Doyle.
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* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: After Terry]] squeals on Johnny Friendly, he finds himself alienated from his fellow dockworkers and unable to get work on the dock. He decides to confront Johnny himself on how much of a rotten crook he's been in front of the all the longshoremen.
--> '''Terry''': You want to know something? Take the heater away and you're nothin'.
--> '''Johnny Friendly''': ''(enraged)'' [[SilenceYouFool Go on talkin'. You're talkin' yourself right into the river. Go on, go on]]...
--> '''Terry''': Take the good goods away, and the kickback and the shakedown cabbage away and the pistoleros away and you're a great big hunk of nothing! Your guts is all in your [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney wallet]] and your [[AppealToForce trigger finger]] you know that!
--> '''Johnny Friendly''': ''(enraged)'' [[TheStoolPigeon You ratted on us, Terry]]!
--> '''Terry''': From where you stand, maybe. [[HeelFaceTurn But I'm standing over here now]]. I was rattin' on myself all them years and didn't even know it.
--> '''Johnny Friendly''': Come on!
--> '''Terry''': You give it to Joey, you give it to Doogan, you give it to Charley, [[BadBoss who was one of your own]]! You think [[AGodAmI you're God Almighty]] but you know what you are? You're a cheap, LOUSY, DIRTY, STINKIN', '''MUG'''!
-->'''Terry''': I'm glad what I done today, see? [[IRegretNothing And I'm glad what I done to you, ya hear that? I'm glad what I done]]! [[DirtyCop And I'm going to keep on doing it]]-
--> '''Johnny Friendly''': [[UnstoppableRage Come on. Come on]]! ''(cue NoHoldsBarredBeatdown)''
* RealityIsUnrealistic: Some people (including the people who do the commentary track for the DVD version) are fond of claiming that the film's one weak link is Father Barry. According to the critics, his didactic sermons and high moral tone sometimes stand in contrast with the naturalistic dialogue in the rest of the movie, and Karl Malden occasionally overplays the part by being sanctimonious and one-dimensional. What they seem not to realize is that, according to writer Bud Schulberg, about 80% of Barry's "unrealistic" "Sermon on the Docks" was taken from the speeches of the real-life waterfront priest Fr. John Corridan, S.J. Not only that, but Karl Malden lived with Fr. Corridan for several days before shooting (he purchased Corridan's hat and coat and wore them onscreen), and was specifically asked by Corridan not to play the character as "holier-than-thou", and therefore made deliberate efforts to tone it down.
--> '''Terry''': You want to know something? Take the heater away and you're nothin'.
--> '''Johnny Friendly''': ''(enraged)'' [[SilenceYouFool Go on talkin'. You're talkin' yourself right into the river. Go on, go on]]...
--> '''Terry''': Take the good goods away, and the kickback and the shakedown cabbage away and the pistoleros away and you're a great big hunk of nothing! Your guts is all in your [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney wallet]] and your [[AppealToForce trigger finger]] you know that!
--> '''Johnny Friendly''': ''(enraged)'' [[TheStoolPigeon You ratted on us, Terry]]!
--> '''Terry''': From where you stand, maybe. [[HeelFaceTurn But I'm standing over here now]]. I was rattin' on myself all them years and didn't even know it.
--> '''Johnny Friendly''': Come on!
--> '''Terry''': You give it to Joey, you give it to Doogan, you give it to Charley, [[BadBoss who was one of your own]]! You think [[AGodAmI you're God Almighty]] but you know what you are? You're a cheap, LOUSY, DIRTY, STINKIN', '''MUG'''!
-->'''Terry''': I'm glad what I done today, see? [[IRegretNothing And I'm glad what I done to you, ya hear that? I'm glad what I done]]! [[DirtyCop And I'm going to keep on doing it]]-
--> '''Johnny Friendly''': [[UnstoppableRage Come on. Come on]]! ''(cue NoHoldsBarredBeatdown)''
* RealityIsUnrealistic: Some people (including the people who do the commentary track for the DVD version) are fond of claiming that the film's one weak link is Father Barry. According to the critics, his didactic sermons and high moral tone sometimes stand in contrast with the naturalistic dialogue in the rest of the movie, and Karl Malden occasionally overplays the part by being sanctimonious and one-dimensional. What they seem not to realize is that, according to writer Bud Schulberg, about 80% of Barry's "unrealistic" "Sermon on the Docks" was taken from the speeches of the real-life waterfront priest Fr. John Corridan, S.J. Not only that, but Karl Malden lived with Fr. Corridan for several days before shooting (he purchased Corridan's hat and coat and wore them onscreen), and was specifically asked by Corridan not to play the character as "holier-than-thou", and therefore made deliberate efforts to tone it down.
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* UncommonTime: The score includes a very fast, drum-heavy theme whose bars alternate between alla breve and 3/4.
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* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Terry Malloy's fight against corruption was in part modeled after whistle-blowing longshoreman Anthony DeVincenzo, who testified before a real-life Waterfront Commission about activities on the Hoboken Docks and suffered a degree of ostracism for his deed. DeVincenzo sued and settled, many years after, with Columbia Pictures over the appropriation of what he considered his story. DeVincenzo claimed to have recounted his story to screenwriter Budd Schulberg during a month-long session of waterfront barroom meetings. Schulberg attended DeVincenzo's waterfront commission testimony every day during the hearing.
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* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Terry Malloy's fight against corruption was in part modeled after whistle-blowing longshoreman Anthony DeVincenzo, [=DeVincenzo=], who testified before a real-life Waterfront Commission about activities on the Hoboken Docks and suffered a degree of ostracism for his deed. DeVincenzo [=DeVincenzo=] sued and settled, many years after, with Columbia Pictures over the appropriation of what he considered his story. DeVincenzo [=DeVincenzo=] claimed to have recounted his story to screenwriter Budd Schulberg during a month-long session of waterfront barroom meetings. Schulberg attended DeVincenzo's [=DeVincenzo=]'s waterfront commission testimony every day during the hearing.
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* BittersweetEnding
* TheDeterminator: Terry, barely alive after a brutal beating by Friendly's goons, wills himself to the front of the worker's line to demand he work that day in spite of Friendly's death threats.
* TheDeterminator: Terry, barely alive after a brutal beating by Friendly's goons, wills himself to the front of the worker's line to demand he work that day in spite of Friendly's death threats.
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* HeelRealization: What Terry goes through as he realizes what working for Friendly costs him. His turn also affects his brother Charley who tries to first talk and then threaten Terry not to testify. It takes Terry's "I coulda been a contender" speech to make Charley realize how ''he'' ruined his own brother's life, and he relents. [[spoiler:Friendly kills Charley for it.]]
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* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Terry Malloy's fight against corruption was in part modeled after whistle-blowing longshoreman Anthony DeVincenzo, who testified before a real-life Waterfront Commission about activities on the Hoboken Docks and suffered a degree of ostracism for his deed. DeVincenzo sued and settled, many years after, with Columbia Pictures over the appropriation of what he considered his story. DeVincenzo claimed to have recounted his story to screenwriter Budd Schulberg during a month-long session of waterfront barroom meetings. Schulberg attended DeVincenzo's waterfront commission testimony every day during the hearing.
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* SheIsAllGrownUp: Edie, she was said to have had very thick braids, glasses, and braces as a kid and is told "you grew up very nice".
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* HonorBeforeReason: The dock workers are afraid of informing on Johnny Friendly but their children grow up believing ratting someone out is bad period. This leads some of them [[spoiler: to kill Terry's pigeons for deciding to testify even though he really is doing the right thing]].
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* PetTheDog: Terry's love of pigeons should be one of your first hints that he's a good guy.
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* PetTheDog: Terry's love of pigeons should be one of your first hints that he's a good guy. Also helps he talks to a few kids and is kind to them as well. This makes it [[spoiler: ''worse'' when those same kids ''kill his birds'' simply because he testified against Friendly]].
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A 1954 film directed by Creator/EliaKazan, written by Creator/BuddSchulberg and starring Creator/MarlonBrando in his first UsefulNotes/AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
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A 1954 film directed by Creator/EliaKazan, written by Creator/BuddSchulberg and starring Creator/MarlonBrando in his first UsefulNotes/AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
Picture. It is also notable for being the only film scored by Music/LeonardBernstein that is not a musical.
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* DirtyCoward: The only reason Terry lost the fight with Friendly was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off. The dockworkers, witnessing this, lose all respect and fear of Terry.
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* DirtyCoward: The only reason Terry lost the fight with Friendly was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off. The dockworkers, witnessing this, lose all respect and fear of Terry.Friendly.
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* DirtyCoward: The only reason Terry lost the fight with Friendly was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off.
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* DirtyCoward: The only reason Terry lost the fight with Friendly was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off. The dockworkers, witnessing this, lose all respect and fear of Terry.
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* WhatTheHellHero: Barry gives one to Terry for nearly giving into his anger and trying to off Friendly after [[spoiler: he kills Charley]].
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A 1954 film directed by Creator/EliaKazan, written by Creator/BuddSchulberg and starring Creator/MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
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A 1954 film directed by Creator/EliaKazan, written by Creator/BuddSchulberg and starring Creator/MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward UsefulNotes/AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
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-->-- '''Terry Malloy'''
A 1954 film directed by Creator/EliaKazan, written by Budd Schulberg and starring Creator/MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt Union-boss, Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). One day, Malloy inadvertently participates in the murder of a dockworker that had planned to expose Mr. Friendly's illegal activities. As he comforts the dead man's sister, Edie (Eva Marie Saint), and meets a kindly priest (Karl Malden), Terry is urged to help expose Friendly's crimes before someone else dies. How long can Terry go on before he finally has to act against the corrupt men who own the docks?
A 1954 film directed by Creator/EliaKazan, written by Budd Schulberg and starring Creator/MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt Union-boss, Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). One day, Malloy inadvertently participates in the murder of a dockworker that had planned to expose Mr. Friendly's illegal activities. As he comforts the dead man's sister, Edie (Eva Marie Saint), and meets a kindly priest (Karl Malden), Terry is urged to help expose Friendly's crimes before someone else dies. How long can Terry go on before he finally has to act against the corrupt men who own the docks?
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A 1954 film directed by Creator/EliaKazan, written by
In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt Union-boss, Johnny Friendly
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* BigBad: Mr Friendly.
* DirtyCoward: The only reason Terry lost the fight with Friendly was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off.
* DirtyCoward: The only reason Terry lost the fight with Friendly was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off.
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* BigBad: Mr Mr. Friendly.
* DirtyCoward: The only reason Terry lost the fight with Friendly was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off.
* DirtyCoward: The only reason Terry lost the fight with Friendly was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off.
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* ICouldaBeenAContender: TropeNamer.
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* ICouldaBeenAContender: TropeNamer.
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* StuffedInTheFridge: Towards the climax of the film, the corpse of [[spoiler: Terry's brother Charlie]] is found strung up on a wall.
* TakeThat: Elia Kazan, infamous for the rest of his life for naming names on the HUAC committee, made this film to show his critics an informer in a positive-light...which didn't have much of a effect, given that people were still protesting his choice when he won the Honorary Academy Award.
* TakeThat: Elia Kazan, infamous for the rest of his life for naming names on the HUAC committee, made this film to show his critics an informer in a positive-light...which didn't have much of a effect, given that people were still protesting his choice when he won the Honorary Academy Award.
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* StuffedInTheFridge: Towards the climax of the film, the corpse of [[spoiler: Terry's [[spoiler:Terry's brother Charlie]] is found strung up on a wall.
* TakeThat:Elia Kazan, Creator/EliaKazan, infamous for the rest of his life for naming names on the HUAC committee, made this film to show his critics an informer in a positive-light...which positive-light... Which didn't have much of a effect, given that people were still protesting his choice when he won the Honorary Academy Award.
* TakeThat:
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* TroubledButCute: Terry.
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* TroubledButCute: Terry.
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* WhiteDwarfStarlet: Terry always regretted taking that dive.
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* AloofBigBrother: Charley.
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* AloofBigBrother: Charley. This veneer is probably caused by Charley's subconscious guilt over ruining Terry's boxing career, and it's shattered when Johnny tells him to kill Terry.
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* DirtyCoward: [[spoiler: The only reason Terry lost the fight, was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off.]]
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* DirtyCoward: [[spoiler: The only reason Terry lost the fight, fight with Friendly was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off.]] off.
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* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim : Terry [[spoiler: is talked out of killing Friendly by Father Barry, who urges him to testify against him instead.]]
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* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim : Terry [[spoiler: is talked out of killing Friendly by Father Barry, who urges him to testify against him instead.]]instead.
* ImpairmentShot: Terry suffers from blurred vision during his staggering walk to the dock at the climax, after he's beaten by Johnny's goons.
* ImpairmentShot: Terry suffers from blurred vision during his staggering walk to the dock at the climax, after he's beaten by Johnny's goons.
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* OhCrap: Kayo Dugan, right before [[spoiler: he is crushed by a falling load of cargo.]]
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* OhCrap: Kayo Dugan, right before [[spoiler: he is crushed by a falling load of cargo.]]
* PunchedAcrossTheRoom: Creator/MarlonBrando, of all people. Father Barry punches Terry across the room when Terry tells him to go to hell.
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* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Johnny Friendly at the end.]]
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* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Johnny Friendly at the end.]]
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This is why, tempting as it might be, having one trope example lead straight into the next one isn\'t always a good idea.
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* FallenOnHardTimesJob: The very problem that inspires Terry to say...
* ICouldaBeenAContender: TropeNamer.
* InspiredBy: The source of this film was a 1949 Pulitzer-winning series of articles about corruption on the waterfront.
* ICouldaBeenAContender: TropeNamer.
* InspiredBy: The source of this film was a 1949 Pulitzer-winning series of articles about corruption on the waterfront.
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* FallenOnHardTimesJob: The very problem that inspires Terry to say...
* ICouldaBeenAContender: TropeNamer.
* InspiredBy: The source of this film was a 1949 Pulitzer-winning series of articles about corruption on the waterfront.say "ICouldaBeenAContender".
* ICouldaBeenAContender: TropeNamer.
* InspiredBy: The source of this film was a 1949 Pulitzer-winning series of articles about corruption on the waterfront.
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* ICouldaBeenAContender: TropeNamer.
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* InspiredBy: The source of this film was a 1949 Pulitzer-winning series of articles about corruption on the waterfront.
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A 1954 film directed by Creator/EliaKazan and starring Creator/MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
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A 1954 film directed by Creator/EliaKazan Creator/EliaKazan, written by Budd Schulberg and starring Creator/MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
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Links
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A 1954 film directed by Elia Kazan and starring MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
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A 1954 film directed by Elia Kazan Creator/EliaKazan and starring MarlonBrando Creator/MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
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That\'s not what Dead Star Walking refers to
Deleted line(s) 15 (click to see context) :
* DeadStarWalking: [[spoiler: Charley, played by Rod Steiger, is killed by Friendly's goons near the end.]]
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* StuffedInTheFridge: Towards the climax of the film, the corpse of [[spoiler: Terry's brother Charlie]] is found strung up on a wall.
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* ExecutiveMeddling: In the original ending, [[spoiler: Terry was supposed to be killed by Johnny Friendly and company]], but because of the HaysCode, [[spoiler: Terry lives and it is implied that the longshoremen triumph over Friendly.]]
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In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt Union-boss, Mr. Friendly. One day, Malloy inadvertently participates in the murder of a dockworker that had planned to expose Mr. Friendly's illegal activities. As he comforts the dead man's sister, Edie, and meets a kindly priest, Terry is urged to help expose Friendly's crimes before someone else dies. How long can Terry go on before he finally has to act against the corrupt men who own the docks?
to:
In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt Union-boss, Mr. Friendly.Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). One day, Malloy inadvertently participates in the murder of a dockworker that had planned to expose Mr. Friendly's illegal activities. As he comforts the dead man's sister, Edie, Edie (Eva Marie Saint), and meets a kindly priest, priest (Karl Malden), Terry is urged to help expose Friendly's crimes before someone else dies. How long can Terry go on before he finally has to act against the corrupt men who own the docks?
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* DirtyCoward: [[spoiler: The only reason Terry lost the fight, was because Friendly called his guards to help him pry Terry off.]]
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Zero Context Example of renamed trope
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* HairOfGold: Edie.
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[[quoteright:310:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BRANDO__STEIGER_IN_OTW_1541.jpg]]
->''"You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley."''
-->-- '''Terry Malloy'''
A 1954 film directed by Elia Kazan and starring MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt Union-boss, Mr. Friendly. One day, Malloy inadvertently participates in the murder of a dockworker that had planned to expose Mr. Friendly's illegal activities. As he comforts the dead man's sister, Edie, and meets a kindly priest, Terry is urged to help expose Friendly's crimes before someone else dies. How long can Terry go on before he finally has to act against the corrupt men who own the docks?
----
!!This film provides examples of:
* AloofBigBrother: Charley.
* BadassPreacher: Father Barry. This guy punches Marlon Brando halfway across a room and at the outset of the film is the only character willing to stand up to Friendly.
* BigBad: Mr Friendly.
* DeadStarWalking: [[spoiler: Charley, played by Rod Steiger, is killed by Friendly's goons near the end.]]
* ExecutiveMeddling: In the original ending, [[spoiler: Terry was supposed to be killed by Johnny Friendly and company]], but because of the HaysCode, [[spoiler: Terry lives and it is implied that the longshoremen triumph over Friendly.]]
* FallenOnHardTimesJob: The very problem that inspires Terry to say...
* ICouldaBeenAContender: TropeNamer.
* InspiredBy: The source of this film was a 1949 Pulitzer-winning series of articles about corruption on the waterfront.
* GoodShepherd: Father Barry.
* GuiltRiddenAccomplice: Terry is duped into luring Joey Doyle to his death; he spends the rest of the film trying to make amends.
* HairOfGold: Edie.
* HiddenDepths: Terry.
* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim : Terry [[spoiler: is talked out of killing Friendly by Father Barry, who urges him to testify against him instead.]]
* OhCrap: Kayo Dugan, right before [[spoiler: he is crushed by a falling load of cargo.]]
* PetTheDog: Terry's love of pigeons should be one of your first hints that he's a good guy.
* RedOniBlueOni: Terry and Father Barry respectively.
* TakeThat: Elia Kazan, infamous for the rest of his life for naming names on the HUAC committee, made this film to show his critics an informer in a positive-light...which didn't have much of a effect, given that people were still protesting his choice when he won the Honorary Academy Award.
* ThrowingTheFight: Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.
* TroubledButCute: Terry.
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Johnny Friendly at the end.]]
----
->''"You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley."''
-->-- '''Terry Malloy'''
A 1954 film directed by Elia Kazan and starring MarlonBrando in his first AcademyAward winning-role, ''On the Waterfront'' was also the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
In the film, Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former prizefighter now employed as a dockworker for the corrupt Union-boss, Mr. Friendly. One day, Malloy inadvertently participates in the murder of a dockworker that had planned to expose Mr. Friendly's illegal activities. As he comforts the dead man's sister, Edie, and meets a kindly priest, Terry is urged to help expose Friendly's crimes before someone else dies. How long can Terry go on before he finally has to act against the corrupt men who own the docks?
----
!!This film provides examples of:
* AloofBigBrother: Charley.
* BadassPreacher: Father Barry. This guy punches Marlon Brando halfway across a room and at the outset of the film is the only character willing to stand up to Friendly.
* BigBad: Mr Friendly.
* DeadStarWalking: [[spoiler: Charley, played by Rod Steiger, is killed by Friendly's goons near the end.]]
* ExecutiveMeddling: In the original ending, [[spoiler: Terry was supposed to be killed by Johnny Friendly and company]], but because of the HaysCode, [[spoiler: Terry lives and it is implied that the longshoremen triumph over Friendly.]]
* FallenOnHardTimesJob: The very problem that inspires Terry to say...
* ICouldaBeenAContender: TropeNamer.
* InspiredBy: The source of this film was a 1949 Pulitzer-winning series of articles about corruption on the waterfront.
* GoodShepherd: Father Barry.
* GuiltRiddenAccomplice: Terry is duped into luring Joey Doyle to his death; he spends the rest of the film trying to make amends.
* HairOfGold: Edie.
* HiddenDepths: Terry.
* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim : Terry [[spoiler: is talked out of killing Friendly by Father Barry, who urges him to testify against him instead.]]
* OhCrap: Kayo Dugan, right before [[spoiler: he is crushed by a falling load of cargo.]]
* PetTheDog: Terry's love of pigeons should be one of your first hints that he's a good guy.
* RedOniBlueOni: Terry and Father Barry respectively.
* TakeThat: Elia Kazan, infamous for the rest of his life for naming names on the HUAC committee, made this film to show his critics an informer in a positive-light...which didn't have much of a effect, given that people were still protesting his choice when he won the Honorary Academy Award.
* ThrowingTheFight: Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.
* TroubledButCute: Terry.
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Johnny Friendly at the end.]]
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