On The Waterfront

Elia Kazan directs this 1950s crime drama starring Marlon Brando. Ex-boxer Terry Malloy (Brando) becomes involved in corrupt dockside politics through his lawyer brother Charley (Rod Steiger), who works for gangster union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). When Terry witnesses the murder of a union worker by Johnny’s thugs, his conscience begins to trouble him. He meets the murder victim’s sister (Eva Marie Saint) and learns from Father Barry (Karl Malden) that the dead man was about to expose Johnny’s illegal activities. Father Barry then tries to convince Terry to provide the evidence required to put Johnny behind bars. The film won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor.