Some of my favourite movies are from the 40s-60s, it was a terrific era for movie-making. So it shouldn't surprise anyone to discover that they'd enjoy a movie from this period.

I have not seen On the Waterfront yet, but the superlative accolades I'm reading here are compelling me to get on it. When I do, I'll circle back :-)

@DRDMovieMusings said:

Some of my favourite movies are from the 40s-60s, it was a terrific era for movie-making. So it shouldn't surprise anyone to discover that they'd enjoy a movie from this period.

I have not seen On the Waterfront yet, but the superlative accolades I'm reading here are compelling me to get on it. When I do, I'll circle back :-)

I agree. A great era. That was also the era of the genre film noir which is one of my favorite movie genres.

@movie_nazi said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

Some of my favourite movies are from the 40s-60s, it was a terrific era for movie-making. So it shouldn't surprise anyone to discover that they'd enjoy a movie from this period.

I have not seen On the Waterfront yet, but the superlative accolades I'm reading here are compelling me to get on it. When I do, I'll circle back :-)

I agree. A great era. That was also the era of the genre film noir which is one of my favorite movie genres.

Indeed, when writing my reply above, the first movie I was thinking of was in the film noir genre, Double Indemnity. Another, also from the great Billy Wilder (my favourite movie maker, also of this period of time), is Sunset Boulevard.

@DRDMovieMusings said:

@movie_nazi said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

Some of my favourite movies are from the 40s-60s, it was a terrific era for movie-making. So it shouldn't surprise anyone to discover that they'd enjoy a movie from this period.

I have not seen On the Waterfront yet, but the superlative accolades I'm reading here are compelling me to get on it. When I do, I'll circle back :-)

I agree. A great era. That was also the era of the genre film noir which is one of my favorite movie genres.

Indeed, when writing my reply above, the first movie I was thinking of was in the film noir genre, Double Indemnity. Another, also from the great Billy Wilder (my favourite movie maker, also of this period of time), is Sunset Boulevard.

I saw Sunset Boulevard and thought it was good for its time, but that's why I was so blown away by OTWF. OTWF is just so much better than even that, it makes it pale in comparison, imo. It was just my cup of tea. I think one of the big differences is I didn't find the themes outdated at all, and inevitably although they've been covered many times since, they were still remarkably fresh and even more powerful due to the great writing and editing. Sunset Boulevard was good and had some themes that were still relevant and not outdated, but I just found more of it to be outdated compared to OTWF. Not to take anything away from it, but OTWF is much better, imo. It's more realistic and believable.

@Heisenberg12 said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

@movie_nazi said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

Some of my favourite movies are from the 40s-60s, it was a terrific era for movie-making. So it shouldn't surprise anyone to discover that they'd enjoy a movie from this period.

I have not seen On the Waterfront yet, but the superlative accolades I'm reading here are compelling me to get on it. When I do, I'll circle back :-)

I agree. A great era. That was also the era of the genre film noir which is one of my favorite movie genres.

Indeed, when writing my reply above, the first movie I was thinking of was in the film noir genre, Double Indemnity. Another, also from the great Billy Wilder (my favourite movie maker, also of this period of time), is Sunset Boulevard.

I saw Sunset Boulevard and thought it was good for its time, but that's why I was so blown away by OTWF. OTWF is just so much better than even that, it makes it pale in comparison, imo. It was just my cup of tea. I think one of the big differences is I didn't find the themes outdated at all, and inevitably although they've been covered many times since, they were still remarkably fresh and even more powerful due to the great writing and editing. Sunset Boulevard was good and had some themes that were still relevant and not outdated, but I just found more of it to be outdated compared to OTWF. Not to take anything away from it, but OTWF is much better, imo. It's more realistic and believable.

Sunset Boulevard is a very good film but it is a completely different genre. Written and directed by one of the greatest director/writer of all time, Billy Wilder, the film is a classic film noir. I would recommend just about anything by Wilder and he just doesn't just do noir. He is great at comedy and romance as well.

On The Waterfront is a timeless film because the core message will never get old. It touches on the psyche and how humans can be persuaded to believe doing the wrong thing is the right thing and if you try to do right then it is YOU who is the "stoolie", the betrayer when in fact keeping your mouth shut you are betraying yourself and all that is good. You sell your soul a little every time you see an evil and do nothing about it and it takes a real person to stand up to it. The man who stands up to bullies is the real man and the film probably should be shown to high schoolers. If I was an English teacher I would try and work it in there in a lesson somehow.

@movie_nazi said:

@Heisenberg12 said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

@movie_nazi said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

Some of my favourite movies are from the 40s-60s, it was a terrific era for movie-making. So it shouldn't surprise anyone to discover that they'd enjoy a movie from this period.

I have not seen On the Waterfront yet, but the superlative accolades I'm reading here are compelling me to get on it. When I do, I'll circle back :-)

I agree. A great era. That was also the era of the genre film noir which is one of my favorite movie genres.

Indeed, when writing my reply above, the first movie I was thinking of was in the film noir genre, Double Indemnity. Another, also from the great Billy Wilder (my favourite movie maker, also of this period of time), is Sunset Boulevard.

I saw Sunset Boulevard and thought it was good for its time, but that's why I was so blown away by OTWF. OTWF is just so much better than even that, it makes it pale in comparison, imo. It was just my cup of tea. I think one of the big differences is I didn't find the themes outdated at all, and inevitably although they've been covered many times since, they were still remarkably fresh and even more powerful due to the great writing and editing. Sunset Boulevard was good and had some themes that were still relevant and not outdated, but I just found more of it to be outdated compared to OTWF. Not to take anything away from it, but OTWF is much better, imo. It's more realistic and believable.

Sunset Boulevard is a very good film but it is a completely different genre. Written and directed by one of the greatest director/writer of all time, Billy Wilder, the film is a classic film noir. I would recommend just about anything by Wilder and he just doesn't just do noir. He is great at comedy and romance as well.

On The Waterfront is a timeless film because the core message will never get old. It touches on the psyche and how humans can be persuaded to believe doing the wrong thing is the right thing and if you try to do right then it is YOU who is the "stoolie", the betrayer when in fact keeping your mouth shut you are betraying yourself and all that is good. You sell your soul a little every time you see an evil and do nothing about it and it takes a real person to stand up to it. The man who stands up to bullies is the real man and the film probably should be shown to high schoolers. If I was an English teacher I would try and work it in there in a lesson somehow.

EXCELLENT explanation and description. Nailed it all the way, and I couldn't have said it better. Thanks!

@movie_nazi said:

@Heisenberg12 said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

@movie_nazi said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

Some of my favourite movies are from the 40s-60s, it was a terrific era for movie-making. So it shouldn't surprise anyone to discover that they'd enjoy a movie from this period.

I have not seen On the Waterfront yet, but the superlative accolades I'm reading here are compelling me to get on it. When I do, I'll circle back :-)

I agree. A great era. That was also the era of the genre film noir which is one of my favorite movie genres.

Indeed, when writing my reply above, the first movie I was thinking of was in the film noir genre, Double Indemnity. Another, also from the great Billy Wilder (my favourite movie maker, also of this period of time), is Sunset Boulevard.

I saw Sunset Boulevard and thought it was good for its time, but that's why I was so blown away by OTWF. OTWF is just so much better than even that, it makes it pale in comparison, imo. It was just my cup of tea. I think one of the big differences is I didn't find the themes outdated at all, and inevitably although they've been covered many times since, they were still remarkably fresh and even more powerful due to the great writing and editing. Sunset Boulevard was good and had some themes that were still relevant and not outdated, but I just found more of it to be outdated compared to OTWF. Not to take anything away from it, but OTWF is much better, imo. It's more realistic and believable.

Sunset Boulevard is a very good film but it is a completely different genre. Written and directed by one of the greatest director/writer of all time, Billy Wilder, the film is a classic film noir. I would recommend just about anything by Wilder and he just doesn't just do noir. He is great at comedy and romance as well.

On The Waterfront is a timeless film because the core message will never get old. It touches on the psyche and how humans can be persuaded to believe doing the wrong thing is the right thing and if you try to do right then it is YOU who is the "stoolie", the betrayer when in fact keeping your mouth shut you are betraying yourself and all that is good. You sell your soul a little every time you see an evil and do nothing about it and it takes a real person to stand up to it. The man who stands up to bullies is the real man and the film probably should be shown to high schoolers. If I was an English teacher I would try and work it in there in a lesson somehow.

"Keeping your mouth shut, you are betraying yourself"...

I LOVED that line when he says that. It is SO true and really hit hard!

Thank you! I just thought about the scene where Terry discovers his pigeons have been slaughtered only to find out it was the kid who did it. It is touching on how at a very early age kids are indoctrinated to not be a "rat" or a "snitch" .

Anyways, great movie.

Why is it that I'm always so excited when somebody "discovers" and falls in love with one of my own favorite books or movies?

I've watched this one many times, and I still find myself holding my breath during some of Brando's and Malden's most famous monologues.

@SueDNim said:

Why is it that I'm always so excited when somebody "discovers" and falls in love with one of my own favorite books or movies?

I've watched this one many times, and I still find myself holding my breath during some of Brando's and Malden's most famous monologues.

It's a great film and its frustrating when people see mediocre films and praise them as special but overlook such timeless classics as this film. When you see someone discover and recognize its greatness it can be heart warming.