Journal #3

For my third journal entry, I choose to watch On the Waterfront. This is a film who is directed by Elia Kazan and written by Malcom Johnson and Budd Schullberg. This movie is about a young man named Terry Mallow, played by Marlon Brando, who is an inspired prize fighter. But for a little extra money, he runs errands for a crime lord king named Johnny Friendly. As Terry is doing is usual errands for Johnny, he witnesses a murder by Johnny's men and is terrified. Now, Terry is in a tough spot. Does he spill the beans and tell people about the murders or does he swallow his pride and just pretend he did not see it?



I choose to elaborate and go in depth about characters. Marlon Brando plays the inspiring prize fight Terry Mallow, who is an errand boy for the crime lord king Johnny Friendly. In this film, Marlon plays Terry Mallow to perfection, note the oscars, because he shows a lot of emotion in whatever scene he is in. For example, when he saw Johnny Friendly's thugs slay two people, he tries to play it off like he is a tough guy and he saw nothing is wrong, but deep down he is shivering and knows he had just witnessed something horrible. So now, Terry Mallow does not know what to do. If he keeps his mouth shut, then he will keep making money as the errand boy and pretend like he never saw it. But if he tells someone, then he could have thugs after him. Marlon plays this role perfectly because he is a young stud who pretends to have seen nothing wrong and seeing murders is an everyday thing. Another character who is exceptional is Johnny Friendly, who is played by Lee Cobb. He is the notorious leader of the mobb and is the stereotypical crime lord. Everyone wants to be on his good side, and if your on his bad side, you want to stay away from any contact with Johnny. Johnny Friendly plays his role like how Deniro plays his crime lord role in Goodfella's, everybody that is involved wants to be his friend and on his good side.

This is the great dilemma in the movie. Terry Mallow has no idea what to do and has the movie goes on you think he is going to tell people because he is breaking down and feeling guilty about what he saw. As the movie continues, Terry Mallow charactor just becomes weaker and weaker and the audience can understand the pain he is going through. That is why this movie won so many awards.