On The Waterfront

1600 Words7 Pages
1. ‘There’s one thing we have in this country, and that’s ways of fighting back.’ How does On the Waterfront explore the power of the individual? Elia Kazan’s film, On The Waterfront, demonstrates the extent to which a corrupt group can eliminate the rights of a town, yet empower an individual to make a change. Set in 1954, the film portrays the realism of desperation and corruption in the city of Hoboken, New Jersey. The opening scenes of On the Waterfront outline the intense control the mob have over the workers at the Waterfront. Johnny Friendly is the individual responsible for holding majority of the control; empowering his companions as they take the role of his subordinate authority. The use of mise-en-scene provides the film with additional authenticity through emotional music, costuming and remarkable camera use. The black and white style implicates the era and adds to the severity of countless scenes in the film, demonstrating the authority of the mob, and lack of authority to the workingmen, including Terry. With the contribution of many, Johnny Friendly’s authority is overthrown, yet it is the protagonist, Terry Malloy, who is truly responsible for altering this complete power. Johnny Friendly, along with his companions, demonstrates immense power over the workers to the extent that they become fearful to stand up for their rights. Through the use of cinematic techniques the endless power that the “mob” possesses is illustrated; the initial scenes portray them as far superior in their chic attire, wearing suits with ties, shoes that would show their reflection, along with stylish hats. In great contrast, the camera continually looks down upon the longshoreman, including Terry, who stands hunched over wrapped in their coats, which have more holes “than the Pittsburgh infield”. It is the deaths of both Joey Doyle and Kayo Dugan which illustrate the

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