Run time: 108 mins

Almost 70 years on, Elia Kazan’s powerful tale of morality and justice remains a timeless masterpiece.

Terry Malloy, a former boxer who works as a longshoreman in New York City, is caught up in a corrupt union led by Johnny Friendly, who uses violence and intimidation to maintain his power over the docks. Terry’s life takes a dramatic turn when he is asked by Johnny to lure a fellow dockworker to his death. However, his conscience is pricked when he meets and falls in love with Edie (Eva Marie Saint) and he begins to question his loyalty to Johnny and the union.

Regarded as one of the greatest American films in history, On the Waterfront marked a turning point in the careers of many of its cast and crew, not least for Brando, whose unforgettable performance won him an Academy Award and cemented him as an all-time great, not just a contender.

At its heart, it is a story about standing up to oppression and fighting against a rotten system, issues that have resonated with audiences for decades. Exploring themes of loyalty, corruption, and redemption, its message of speaking truth to power and taking a stand against injustice remains as relevant today as it was in 1954.