Powerful portrait of N. Y. docks , being stunningly performed and excellently directed . This compelling and dynamic drama is set on New York's dock where mobsters control the Union and stevedores . Based on the story of a union dock worker who faced intimidation by a corrupt boss . A drifter with dark past named Axel Nordmann (John Cassavetes) arrives on the waterfront of the west side of Manhattan . He seeks anonymous employment as a longshoreman , offering the alias of 'Alex North' after finding work under bigoted boss Charlie Malick (Jack Warden) . Axel quickly befriends a charismatic and free-spirited beatnik called Tommy Tyler (Sidney Poitier) . But then things go wrong , as
Axel gets in trouble , including sacrificing one's own reputation, career and even life if necessary . Tense drama of frightened men!
This interesting , somber account provides a magnificent tour de force of fluid direction and nervous , edgy acting. An engaging and thought-provoking film with attractive plot by screenwriter Robert Alan Arthur , containing intense drama with pungent lines , emotion , wonderful performances , memorable climax , magnificent direction and classic musical score by maestro Leonard Rosenman . The movie is a virtual laundry list of themes influencing Ritt over the years : corruption, racism, intimidation of the individual by the group, defense of the individual against government oppression and, most notable, the redeeming quality of mercy and the value of shielding others from evil. For this brooding film and highy charged throughout story writer Robert Alan Arthur took the idea from newspapers about articles depicting murders at New York docks , graft and extortion that were endemic on the N. Y. waterfront , being actually an expanded film from the 1955 hour-long live television play The Philco Television Playhouse : A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (1955) . Masterfully played by entire casting . John cassavetes is perfect as stevedore who faces the thorny dilemma of whether or not to become himself into an unfortunate informer . Relies heavily on the enjoyable frienship between army deserter and dock worker delivering focus for reflection on integrity in lower-class society and integration . Along with first-rate main cast , Cassavetes , Poitier , appearing here and there great secondaries giving nice interpretations , such as : Kathleen Maguire's film debut , Ruby Dee, Val Avery, Robert F. Simon, Ruth White, John Kellogg and special mention for Jack Warden who steals the show as an extremely nasty union rackeeter . And some characters were based on real people and stunningly filmed by director of photography Joseph C. Brun in authentic locations as N. Y. port and St. Nicholas Terrace at W. 129 Street in Harlem.
This trend-setting film has a gritty portrait of N. Y. waterfront and stand up well nowadays , it is a winner all the way. This attractive motion picture was competently directed by Martin Ritt . Being Martin Ritt's first directing assignment after being blacklisted in the 1950s and he went on to direct 25 more films, including some classics . Ritt was an expert on dramas such as ¨Stanley and Iris¨ , ¨Nut¨ , ¨Norma Rae¨ , ¨The front¨, ¨The Sound and the Fury¨ , ¨Black orchid¨ , though also directed films of all kind of genres such as : ¨The Spy Who Came in from the Cold¨ , ¨The Great White Hope¨ , ¨Mafia¨ and ¨Molly McGuire¨ . Martin Ritt worked with Paul Newman in two Westerns : ¨Hombre¨ and ¨Outrage¨ and two dramas : ¨Hud¨, ¨Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man ¨. This film will appeal to drama enthusiasts and John Cassavetes/Sidney Poitier fans . Rating : Above average, well worth watching , being one of Ritt's best movies.
This interesting , somber account provides a magnificent tour de force of fluid direction and nervous , edgy acting. An engaging and thought-provoking film with attractive plot by screenwriter Robert Alan Arthur , containing intense drama with pungent lines , emotion , wonderful performances , memorable climax , magnificent direction and classic musical score by maestro Leonard Rosenman . The movie is a virtual laundry list of themes influencing Ritt over the years : corruption, racism, intimidation of the individual by the group, defense of the individual against government oppression and, most notable, the redeeming quality of mercy and the value of shielding others from evil. For this brooding film and highy charged throughout story writer Robert Alan Arthur took the idea from newspapers about articles depicting murders at New York docks , graft and extortion that were endemic on the N. Y. waterfront , being actually an expanded film from the 1955 hour-long live television play The Philco Television Playhouse : A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (1955) . Masterfully played by entire casting . John cassavetes is perfect as stevedore who faces the thorny dilemma of whether or not to become himself into an unfortunate informer . Relies heavily on the enjoyable frienship between army deserter and dock worker delivering focus for reflection on integrity in lower-class society and integration . Along with first-rate main cast , Cassavetes , Poitier , appearing here and there great secondaries giving nice interpretations , such as : Kathleen Maguire's film debut , Ruby Dee, Val Avery, Robert F. Simon, Ruth White, John Kellogg and special mention for Jack Warden who steals the show as an extremely nasty union rackeeter . And some characters were based on real people and stunningly filmed by director of photography Joseph C. Brun in authentic locations as N. Y. port and St. Nicholas Terrace at W. 129 Street in Harlem.
This trend-setting film has a gritty portrait of N. Y. waterfront and stand up well nowadays , it is a winner all the way. This attractive motion picture was competently directed by Martin Ritt . Being Martin Ritt's first directing assignment after being blacklisted in the 1950s and he went on to direct 25 more films, including some classics . Ritt was an expert on dramas such as ¨Stanley and Iris¨ , ¨Nut¨ , ¨Norma Rae¨ , ¨The front¨, ¨The Sound and the Fury¨ , ¨Black orchid¨ , though also directed films of all kind of genres such as : ¨The Spy Who Came in from the Cold¨ , ¨The Great White Hope¨ , ¨Mafia¨ and ¨Molly McGuire¨ . Martin Ritt worked with Paul Newman in two Westerns : ¨Hombre¨ and ¨Outrage¨ and two dramas : ¨Hud¨, ¨Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man ¨. This film will appeal to drama enthusiasts and John Cassavetes/Sidney Poitier fans . Rating : Above average, well worth watching , being one of Ritt's best movies.