"On the Waterfront" Review

Hamish Weerasinghe Weerasinghe 1

Burgess

Hour 3

11/28/07

“On The Waterfront Review”

Elia Kazan did an immaculate job creating the film, “On the Waterfront.” In my opinion “On the Waterfront” was a great, effective film. The director did a good job organizing the film to flow and get all of its messages through in an effective way. For example the director did a great job with all of the little things, like camera angles and use of music. I also thought the director chose an outstanding cast, which is important, since the actors made the story more believable since they all fitted into their roles. The story was very inspiring as well, it sent a message to the viewer that it is more important to right thing, even when you are pressured not to by your peers.
Some literary aspects in the film that were expressed well, included: the setting, themes, and symbols. The main setting of the film was obviously, the “waterfront.” All of the conflict in the town revolves around the waterfront. Johnny Friendly’s mob has a monopoly over the waterfront. Friendly picks who gets to work, and the workers make some money, but Friendly’s mob gets all the big money from the work that is done. Most people don’t have connections to members of the mob, and usually don’t get to work and go home with no money. Not until the end of the film when Terry becomes leader of the water front, do more people get to work. The “waterfront” symbolizes the power and how corrupt the mob is. Other symbols include Joey’s jacket, the priest’s outfit and
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Edie’s bright blonde hair. Everyone that posses Joey’s jacket always ended up getting in deep trouble with the mob. Joey and Kayo Dugan were murdered by the mob and Terry was severely beaten up by the mob, after he was given Joey’s jacket by the mob. The priest’s outfit highlights his presence, and represents “order” in the town, for example he spends time organizing meetings against the mob. Edie’s bright blonde hair also highlights her presence, which is necessary since she is the only woman really involved in the film and it also represents her innocence; she only wants the best for her family and doesn’t wish harm to anyone, just justice for Joey’s murder. There are also many themes in this magnificent film. For example the theme that you should always stick to your morals and not give into peer pressure is present in this film. Terry makes the decision to testify against, even though his peers advise him not to. Another theme that is present in “On the Waterfront” is acting cruel and unjust will come back to haunt you. This is displayed in the film by Johnny Friendly losing his power at the end, after manipulating and even killing some people. The literary aspects played a big role in this film.
The dramatic aspects of “On the Waterfront” were chosen well by the director, Elia Kazan. The main characters were: Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy, Karl Malden as Father Barry, Lee J. Cobb as Johnny Friendly, Rod Steiger as Charley Malloy, Eva Marie Saint as Edie Doyle, John Hamilton as Pop Doyle, Leif Erikson as Glover and Pat Henning as Kayo Dugan. I thought that Kazan picked very good actors, since everyone looked and acted their parts as I imagined them. Three actors that stood out were: Terry Malloy, Father Barry and Johnny Friendly. Marlon Brando did an exceptional job playing the role of the protagonist, Terry Malloy. He fit his role well cause he talked
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with a slurred speech, which is typical with professional boxers, since they suffer from various head injuries in their careers. Also, all his emotions were believable. Karl Madden played the role of Father Barry, and also made it believable by wearing a priest outfit the whole time and persuading people to do the right thing and form the union against the mob. Lee J. Cobb did a great job playing the head of the mob, Johnny Friendly. He looked like a business men, didn’t have much of a heart and acted with a temper, which made his role believable. I thought that the costumes and props played a pretty important role in the film as well. Father Barry’s priest outfit made his role more believable and represented the “order” of the waterfront. A prop that was used importantly was Joey Doyle’s jacket. Everyone who possessed it got into trouble with the mob. Both Joey and Kayo Dugan were killed wearing it and soon after Edie gave it to Terry, he was beaten up by mob members, for “singing.” I believe that the dramatic aspects of the film are the most important and Elia Kazan did a great job handling them.
The main cinematic elements in this film included Photography (distance and angle of shots), sound and the duration of shots. The duration of shots were used in the sense that longer events involved longer shots and shorter events and more important scenes also had longer shots. Longer shots included the scene of the union against the mob’s meeting and Terry’s famous speech to his brother Charley, in the taxi. An example of a shorter shot is when Pop Doyle encounters Johnny Friendly and pushes him into the water. Photography is important in all films. “On the Waterfront” used all different types of angles and distances. An example of a high angle is the angle of the camera when shown the scene where the boxes “crush” Kayo Dugan. An example of a
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low angle is at the beginning when the guy from the bottom of the apartment is looking at and speaking to a guy on the roof of the apartment. A long shot is shown when the camera is shown from Father Barry’s eyes while he is watching Terry confessing to Edie that he set up Kayo Dugan. One example of a close-up is when the camera zooms in to Edie’s face when she is talking to Terry by the gates, near the waterfront. The sound is used in this film to set the tone and mood. Happy music is played during happy times, like the wedding music while Terry and Edie dance and jumpy, fast music is played after Terry finds out that Charley was killed and is angry. Although the viewer tends pay lesser attention to the cinematic aspects, than the literary and dramatic aspect, they are still important in making a film.
The film “On the Waterfront” and the book, “All My Sons” share many similarities and obviously some differences. Both of them deal with ethical dilemmas. However, in “All My Sons” Joe Keller makes the unethical decision to sell the cracked cylinder heads, which leads to the deaths of 21 pilots, where as Terry Malloy in “On the Waterfront” prevents future deaths from occurring and makes the ethical decision, by testifying against Johnny Friendly and the mob. Both had ethical decisions, but the characters dealt with them differently. Also, Joe Keller was scolded by society for his unethical decision, and Terry Malloy was in a sense worshipped for his ethical decision. Another similarity between the film and novel are the protagonists both meant good to society. Terry Malloy showed this by testifying against the mob, and ended up improving the conditions on the waterfront. Chris Keller meant good throughout “All My Sons” and this was shown by him not wanting to spend what he believed was “dirty”
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money that his father made by selling the cracked cylinder heads. Maybe the plots of this great film and book resembled each other a little since Arthur Miller and Elia Kazan were once good friends.
I thought that “On the Waterfront” was an outstanding film and would recommend it to anyone above the age of 12. I would put an age limit, because although it is a great film, I don’t think most kids under the age of 12 would appreciate the film as much as others. I felt that this film was so great because it had all of the pieces to the puzzle, meaning that the film included the literary, dramatic, and cinematic aspects and displayed them exceptionally. I really wish Elia Kazan would continue to make such great films. The literary aspects are the most important and all were great. The plot was very interesting and kept me on my feat, I felt as if I was actually in the movie, and was cheering for Terry to do the right thing. I also thought that all of the characters played their roles well and the setting on the waterfront was also neat. It was also really cool how there were symbols involved, like Joey’s jacket and the priest’s outfit. “On the Waterfront” was a great film in all aspects and therefore I have to give it 5 stars and two thumbs up!

Week 3 Post A

prostrated: lying face down on the ground, as in token of humility, submission, or adoration.



protuding: to thrust over; cause to project.



Appeals:

1. "I thought about you all the time. I used to pray that you'd live to be a hundred years old. I didn't know. I didn't know that you were ashamed of me.{...}You didn't even have the decency to give me the time to say good-bye to Mullah Faizullah" (50). This is an emotional appeal in the sense that Mariam finally stood up to Jalil for being "ashamed" of her, he really made him guilty for doing this.
2. "And she felt for the first time a kinship with her husband. She told herself that they would make good companions after all" (77). This appeals to the sense that it is suprising that Mariam feels good about her marriage. I mean she was forced to marry a man that is almost three times her age and it is weird to think that she could actually see him as a husban.
3. "Now you know what you've given me in this marriage, Bad food, and nothing else" (94). This is an emotional appeal. Even though Mariam worked very hard and cooked meals very well, she was treated poorly, by Rasheed, her husband. He couldn't get over the fact that she couldn't deliver a baby, to replace his son that died,but that was no reason for him to beat and disrespect her.

Quote:

"His powerful hands clasped her jaw. He shove two fingers into her mouth and pried it open, then forced the cold, hard pebbles into it. Mariam struggled against him, mumbling, but he kept pushing the pebbles in, his upper liip curled in sneer" (94).

Significance

The significance of this quote is to show how hostile her heavy-tempered husband is, and is also significant, because Part I is wrapped up by this event. Mariam's life really couldn't get any worse, her father, Jalil betrayed her, Nana died, she is away from Mullah Faizullah, and she was forced to marry a forty year old jerk, while she is only fifteen.

Theme

Sometimes a person's place in society is out of their hands.

Week 3 Post B

Dear, Khaled Hosseini:

Your novel "A Thousand Splendid Suns" has been great so far. In fact, the only reason I put the book down, was because I finished Part II. I can't belive how hard life can be for some young afghan girls, in Mariam's situation. I wouldn't know how to deal with that. Losing your mom, finding out the person you most admire has betrayed you, losing your best friend and the only person you can trust and being forced to marry a person three times your age, when your only 15. I can't belive this actually happens in real life. The saddest part is that Mariam doesn't deserve any of this, all of this misfortune happened to her not because of anything she did. I really hope that conditions improve during part two.

I know that you grew up in Afghanistan, did you see this happen a lot? When did you move to the U.S.? Did you have to participate in a fixed marriage? I would ask you all these questions if I had a chance to interview you, which would be quite fascinating.

Week 2 Post B

Mariam Jo's life is going straight downhill at this part of the book and the sad part about it is she didn't really do anything that wrong to deserve all of this. All she did was go into the city to visit her father and everything went wrong after that, just like her mother had warned her. However, even I, from my viewpoint believed that it was ridiculous of Nana to ask her not to go to the cinema with her father. Nana told Mariam that if she left her, not only would Nana be killed but Mariam's live would become "worthless." Mariam thought that her crazy mother was just making another crazy remark, however Nana's crazy remarks turned to reality when she left for Herat. Mariam went to Jahil's mansion and was told by his butler that Jahil was out on a business trip. Mariam then walked into Jahil's magnificent garden, but to her utter dissapointment she saw Jahil looking out of his bedroom window. He had lied and betrayed Mariam. He told her that he would bring her to the cinema and didn't show up and even worse prettended like he was on a business trip and left her on the cold street for the night. Mariam was heartbroken by this. Later, the butler brought her back to Nana's house and discovered Nana hanging from the end of a rope. Mariam Jo didn't break into tears until she was resting her head on Mullah's lap, who is the priest of the town, which is the only person that Mariam Jo can now trust. Mariam was then asked by Jahil to stay at his house and she reluctantly accepted, since it was her only choice. And even more to her despair they have found her a suitor, and she is only 13. I hope she is able to get through all of this and start a better live, which she deserves.

Week 2 Post A

Vocab:



forlorn: unhappy or miserable, as in feeling, condition, or appearance.



minarets: A tall slender tower attached to a mosque, having one or more projecting balconies from which a muezzin summons the people to prayer.



Appeals:



1. "We have some very good news for you{..}You have a suitor"(43).
This is a logical appeal because Mariam is being told by Jalil that she has a suitor, which is an arranged husband for her. This is terrible of Jalil to do this to her, especially since it is right after her mother, Nana died.

2. "Mariam kept thinking of his face in the upstairs window. He let her sleep on the street. On the street"(33). This is an emotional appeal since Mariam is so upset that Jalil let her down. He told her that he would take her to the cinema and lied, which Mariam thought he would never do.

3. "Mariam caught a glimpse of what was beneath the tree: the straight-backed chair, overturned. The rope dropping from a high branch. Nana dangling at the end of it"(34).
Mariam had just found her mom dead after leaving her to go visit her dad, Jalil. Nana told Mariam that she would die if Mariam left, so this must have been especially hard on Mariam because she believs that it was her fault.

Quote:

"For the first time, Mariam could hear him with Nana's ears. She could hear so clearly now the insincerity that had always lurked beneath, the hollow, false assurances. She could not bring herself to look at him"(36).

Mariam always thought that her mom, Nana was crazy and that Jalil was like an angel, very caring towards Mariam and warm-hearted. However, it was Nana who really cared for Mariam. Nana had told Mariam that if she left her that she would be killed and she was. Also, Jalil promised to meet Mariam to bring her to the cinema and left her in the cold street alone, without ever showing up.

Theme:

Never judge a book by its cover.

Week 1 Post A

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

porcelain: a strong vitreous, translucent ceramic material, biscuit-fired at a low temperature, the glaze then fired at a very high temperature.

chrysanthemums: a showy radiate flower head.

Appeals:

1. "It was this last piece that slipped from Mariam's fingers, that fell to the wooden floorboards of the kolba and shattered. When Nana saw the bowl, her face flushed red and her upper lip shivered, and her eyes, both the lazy one and the good, settled on Mariam in a flat, unblinking way, Nana looked so mad that Mariam feared the jinn would enter her mother's body again" (1). In this emotional appeal, Mariam's relationship with her mom is displayed. She doesn't seem to get along with her mom, since she is constantly criticized by her.
2. "Nana had been one of the housekeepers. Until her belly began to swell"(6). This logical appeal describes Mariam's situation. She was left to live with her mom in poverty, even though her dad is an extremely wealthy business man. Her mother was kicked out of her dad's house when she became pregnant with Mariam.
3. "Whenever Jalil talked like this, Mariam would listen with enchantment. She would admire Jalil for his vast and worldly knowledge. She would quiver with pride to have a father who knew such things"(5). This emotional appeal shows how Mariam views her father. Even though he never invites her to live with him, she admires him with great passion. She is always excited to see him and likes him better than Nana.

Quote:

"Rich man telling rich lies. He never took you to any tree. And don't let him charm you. He betrayed us, your beloved father. He cast us out. He cast us out of his big fancy house like we were nothing to him. He did it happily"(5). This quote shows that Mariam's parents don't get along and even though Mariam admires Jalil, he did "betray" Mariam and Nana.

Theme

A theme that is present so far in this novel, is the importance of family

Week 1 Post B

The book I am reading, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" has been fascinating so far and has lived up to its expectations. I feel bad for Mariam jo, the main character, whose mother, Nana, is in poverity and has mental problems and father, Jalil, who is the most affluent business man in Herat. She is forced to live with her mother, since Jalil's other wives ordered her out of the house. Mariam can't stand her mother and is always excited when some one comes to visit. The only two people that come to vistit every week are Jalil, and Mullah Faizullah, who is the town's priest. Although Mariam loves Mullah and is excited when he comes to visit, nothing matches her excitement Mariam has when Jalil comes to visit. Most of the time she won't even sleep the night before, waiting in anticipation for her father to come. He enjoys the stories he tells her aabout his magnificant garden and cinema that he owns. She also enjoys the gifts that he brings her, such as her favorite bracelet. As soon as Jalil leaves Nana goes on about how selfish and arrogant Jalil actually is and how all Mariam gets is stories while his other children get to go to the cinema and enjoy his ice cream, etc. Mariam enjoys Jalil's company, and cherishes the little time she gets to spend away from her mother, Nana.