On The Waterfront "I could have been a contender"

On the waterfront - in one of the most famous scenes in film history, Terry(Marlon Brando) reminds Charley that if it had not been for the fixing of the fight,"I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley"

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Eraser710]

You make it sound as though there hasn't been a single meaningful, uplifting, well-written movie since Waterfront. As if there wasn't a single actor alive today that's skilled. This film is phenomenal but you're incredibly rigid and close-minded if you think that pure cinema today is dead.

[Tomas Guida]

You wrote this a year ago that I can't resist. This is the most fucking pathetic thing I've ever read, when will people finally just enjoy modern things and stop the comparison with older art? It seriously never ends. There have always been good films and there have always been bad films. You wrote this as if you were alive at the time of this film which was released in 1954, which I doubt you were. 'Actors were not one dimensional' What the fuck does that even mean?

[Theo Bazett]

Lol Ch'lita you're so obsessed.

[SECRETAGENTCHARLIE]

Omg ahhhgghhghhhhh

[XxGirntacos]

Looked like he was wearing Eye Liner...

[stefan eulenstein]

for those who say movies aren't good anymore, i have three words for you: Paul. Thomas. Anderson

[Walt Fechter]

Thanks, Marlon Brando and Rod Stieger.

[hawie2]

acting class assignment?

[digidgetnation]

It's interesting to watch a winner doing a very convincing job of playing the part of a loser. A loser is famous for not taking responsibility for his own actions. To a loser his failures always seem to be someone else's fault. The character should take responsibility for his decision to take those dives and throwing fights on purpose. Instead he is determined that his decisions are someone else's fault. Again a winner playing the part of a loser. He veritably glows with success in this scene

[Grant Garcia]

B-E-A-Utiful Scene!

[Sam K]

3 words Good Will Hunting

[Shaun Meechan]

This scene is so famous because of Brando's approach to playing the scene. He is praised because he doesn't take the obvious path or choices of which any other actor would i.e when Charlie pulls the gun on him he doesn't react angrily or massively, he lowers it and repeats "Charlie, Charlie" because he's dissapointed.