[ESL] On the Waterfront by Elia Kazan

[dinosaur93]

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Kindly help me twist it a little bit because Im not sure whether my ideas and examples from the film is answering the prompt thorouhgly....Thank you very much!!!!

ON THE WATERFRONT

“Kazan uses a range of film techniques to reveal the struggle between good and evil on the Waterfront.” Discuss.

Kazan’s realist film On the Waterfront underlines a battle of right and wrong through the effective use of cinematic devices to help magnify the crisis of the situations. The hostile and unwelcoming surrounding reinforces that individuals living on the waterfront are confined morally against there will. How individuals treat each other and interact amongst themselves also implies the struggle between a powerful yet corrupt empire against moral values and principles. Kazan also uses background music throughout the film to forewarn the audience that man-made tragedy is about to take place. Throughout the film, Kazan utilise a variety of cinematic devices to portray the struggle of right and wrong whether it be physically, emotionally or mentally.


The unwelcoming atmosphere on the waterfront suggests human confinement. The foggy and light atmosphere during daylight suggests uncertainty of what lies ahead. It can also symbolise as thick surfaces which is use to prevent outsiders, such as crime commissioners, to gain knowledge of the corrupt operations on the waterfront. This is likened to the hold of the ship, where we are placed into a claustrophobic setting epitomising the livelihood of the longshoremen. When JF was blocked in a high-angle shot over the longshoremen beneath the hold of the ship, it underpins the hierarchy of the characters and the battle between right and wrong on the waterfront. It also depicts the amount of corrupt authority that he controls over the docks. Furthermore, the lack of natural lighting on the hold of the ship also reveals that the longshoremen are plagued by their guilt to speak up against all evil that moulds the society’s code – D + D. The surrounding of each character symbolises not only their winning or losing physically battle, but also their internal struggle to do the right thing and bring justice on the docks.


The way people behave on the waterfront also reveals their perspective of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. JF’s ruthlessness is uncovered the moment he slap Skins back and forth and sack him just like a blink of an eye. He is a character who is accustomed in using violence to get what he desires. “When I was sixteen, I had to beg for work in the hold. I didn’t work my way out of there for nothing.” This highlights that his immoral rackets in just further implying that corrupting his way to stay on top is the right thing to do. On the other hand, the fearful longshoremen who chose personal security over justice are preserving his corrupted empire. “We don’t rat...You don’t say nothing, and you’ll live longer.” We see that the longshoremen are fully aware of their tyrant and immoral actions, but they are force to ignore their conscience and moral values in order to refrain from being subjected to death penalties by the corrupt era they live in. Kazan designed each character uniquely so that their behaviour and actions can help reveal the struggle between good and evil. For some, it can be internal struggle as they practise hypocrisy to escape from earthy ramifications.


The background music also helps emphasize the conflict between good and evil. Throughout the opening scene, the music is very momentous and thrilling, gradually reaching a crescendo, anticipating what lies ahead. “I gotta watch myself these days you know what I mean?…Don’t you worry, I’ll bring him up to your loft, ok?” When Terry walks behind the spiked-fences and lures Joey into the loft, the camera pans up to a low-angle shot of 2 mysterious looking characters on the roof of the tenement anticipating the danger that Joey is going to witness. As Joey reach the roof of the tenement, the music reaches a crescendo, following a scream before his death. This shows us the desperation of Joey to seek for justice in the society. Unlike this scene, Terry confronts Edie with the truth despite knowing that it can cause their blossoming relationship. We could vividly see that Terry tries to retaliate against the forces of evil and act upon his conscience knowing what is right and wrong. The dominating ships whistle overwhelms their voices illustrating that both characters are suffering from internal anguishing pain from the truth. Kazan uses background music and sounds to further magnify a desperate battle for justice on the waterfront.


Elia Kazan’s effective use of cinematic devices manipulates the internal conflict and physical combat between good and evil on the waterfront in the quest to bring justice. The use of confined/entrapped environment, such as the hold of the ship, implies the hierarchy and encapsulates a corrupt era.  The people act and behave also shows us how they value justice and how they tend to fight for this. Unlike the longshoremen, Joey is ready to give up his personal security over justice. The efficient use background music also underpins the anguishing pain and suffering that each character has to go through in order to make things right. Kazan’s efficient use of film techniques was able to show the magnitude of conflict and struggle between good and evil on the waterfront.