I coulda been somebody
- This is a preview of the essay.
To view the full text you must login!
"I Coulda Been Somebody"
"On The Waterfront" is a classic film that nearly measures up to its reputation. While the characters are too neatly divided into good and evil, and the drama is sometimes overdone, there's never a dull moment, and the cast and cinematography is excellent.I could've had class. I could've been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am." A legendary line from a legendary film, but does it still work? Well, the answer isn't yes or no, but somewhere in-between.
Elia Kazan's On The Waterfront is based on real life events at the New York harbour in the late 1940's, a place where extortion and murder were just another aspect of everyday life. The waterfront is controlled by corrupt union boss Johnny Friendly and his right hand man, Charley Malloy, and together they have a hand in every shipment going through the port. But as their wallets grow fatter, the lives of honest workers become even tougher...