History TearJerker / OnTheWaterfront

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tearjerker_onthewaterfront.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct "You remember that night in the Garden, you came down to my dressing room and said: 'Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.' You remember that? 'This ain't your night!' My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart!]] So what happens? [[ICouldaBeenAContender He gets the title shot outdoors in the ball park - and whadda I get?]] [[DisappointedInYou A one-way ticket to Palookaville."]]]]

** And to drive that point home, the same neighborhood kids who used to look up to Terry and share his pigeon interests, ending up killing all of his pigeons. KidsAreCruel would be an {{understatement}}.

* Terry becoming an outcast by the people of the waterfront after he testifies against Johnny Friendly and exposes his true nature. To clarify, Terry had spend most of his life working under Friendly, conflicted over whether to stay hidden, or expose him and risk a painful death like the other victims. So when he finally gets the courage to expose Friendly's intentions, [[DudeWheresMyRespect him becoming deserted by the dockworkers for being a hero, wouldn't be anyone's first choice.]]

* Charley's death. Charley had just realized he had sabotaged his younger brother's chances for a bright future, and feels remorse for his actions for probably the first time ever. He tried making up for it by giving Terry his gun for defense against Friendly and his goons, but unfortunately, Johnny Not-So-Friendly [[RedemptionEqualsDeath found out about Charley's caring side for Terry and they he let Terry go, and Charley gets murdered by Friendly and his goons.]] Plus his body was shown and hung up where Terry could see it, mocking Terry that his brother [[YouHaveFailedMe was killed due to his failure.]]
* Terry being forced to confess his accidental role in Joey's death to Edie (Joey's sister.) In a way, it's a sad moment for both Terry and Edie. It's one for Terry because Edie was first good thing that had happened to Terry for quite some time, and one of the only people who managed to see the good in him, when even her own father refused to supported him. So seeing Edie break down into tears and break up with him after all that progress would be heartbreaking. Having most of the dialogue drowned ship noises doesn't help at all. It's one for Edie as well because she had found out her own brother died a few days ago, and Edie saw something in Terry that just felt so right. Imagine meeting someone you really like, only to find out they took a role in the death (accidental or not) of one of you loved ones. You'd break into tears as well.
* Terry becoming an outcast by the people of the waterfront after he tells to Johnny Friendly and exposes his true nature. To clarify, Terry had spend most of his life working under Friendly, unaware whether to stay hidden, or expose him and risk a painful death like the other victims. So when he finally gets the courage to expose Friendly's intentions, [[DudeWheresMyRespect him becoming deserted by the dockworkers for being a hero, wouldn't be anyone's first choice.]]

* Charley's death. Charley had just realized he had sabotaged his younger brother's chances for a bright future, and feels remorse for his actions for probably the first time ever. He tried making up for it by giving Terry his gun for defense against Friendly and his goons, but unfortunately, Johnny Not-So-Friendly [[RedemptionEqualsDeath found out about Charley's caring side for Terry and they he let Terry go, and he gets murdered by his goons]] and his body was shown and hung up where Terry could see it, mocking Terry that his brother [[YouHaveFailedMe was killed due to his failure.]]

* Terry becoming an outcast by the people of the waterfront after he tells to Johnny Friendly and exposes his true nature.

* Charley's death. Charley had just realized he had sabotaged his younger brother's chances for a bright future, and feels remorse for his actions for probably the first time ever. He tried making up for it by giving Terry his gun for defense against Friendly and his goons, but unfortunately, Johnny Not-So-Friendly [[RedemptionEqualsDeath found out about Charley's caring side for Terry and they he let Terry go, and he gets murdered by his goons]] and his body was shown and hung up where Terry could see it, mocking Terry that his brother [[YouHaveFailedMe was killed due to his failure.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct "You remember that night in the Garden, you came down to my dressing room and said: 'Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.' You remember that? 'This ain't your night!' My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart!]] So what happens? [[ICouldHaveBeenAContender He gets the title shot outdoors in the ball park - and whadda I get?]] [[DisappointedInYou A one-way ticket to Palookaville."]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct "You remember that night in the Garden, you came down to my dressing room and said: 'Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.' You remember that? 'This ain't your night!' My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart!]] So what happens? [[ICouldHaveBeenACondenter He gets the title shot outdoors in the ball park - and whadda I get?]] [[DisappointedInYou A one-way ticket to Palookaville."]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct "You remember that night in the Garden, you came down to my dressing room and said: 'Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.' You remember that? 'This ain't your night!' My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart!]] So what happens? [[ICouldHaveBeenACondenter He gets the title shot outdoors in the ball park - and whadda I get? [[DisappointedInYou A one-way ticket to Palookaville."]]]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/onthewaterfront6.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am. Let's face it (pause) ...... It was you, Charley"]]

* Terry Malloy's taxi ride with his brother Charley the Gent. Today, most folks may know the powerful line "I could have been a contender ..." as a throw away quote, as if a hackneyed joke. In context, however, it's quite different. It sums up Terry's entire life of lost and stolen chances and his realization of just who he was and how he got there and that for all his tough bravado he really was nothing but a bum, a pawn in someone else's game. It sets the stage for his climb out of futile nothingness to his own final crowning moment of glory. It is also a reminder of just how good an actor a young Marlon Brando was

[[caption-width-right:350:"It wasn't him, Charley! It was you. You remember that night in the Garden, you came down to my dressing room and said: 'Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.' You remember that? 'This ain't your night!' My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors in the ball park - and whadda I get? A one-way ticket to Palookaville....You was my brother, Charley. You shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me - just a little bit - so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money....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 (pause) ...... It was you, Charley"]]

[[caption-width-right:350:"It wasn't him, Charley! It was you. You remember that night in the Garden, you came down to my dressing room and said: 'Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.' You remember that? 'This ain't your night!' My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors in the ball park - and whadda I get? A one-way ticket to Palookaville....You was my brother, Charley. You shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me - just a little bit - so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money....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 (pause) ...... It was you, Charley"]]Terry Malloy's taxi ride with his brother Charley the Gent. Today, most folks may know the powerful line "I could have been a contender ..." as a throw away quote, as if a hackneyed joke. In context, however, it's quite different. It sums up Terry's entire life of lost and stolen chances and his realization of just who he was and how he got there and that for all his tough bravado he really was nothing but a bum, a pawn in someone else's game. It sets the stage for his climb out of futile nothingness to his own final crowning moment of glory. It is also a reminder of just how good an actor a young Marlon Brando was