The Film: When screenwriter Budd Schulberg put pen to paper on this feature not even he could have imagined his tale of unions and dubious longshoremen along the Manhattan coastline would become an enduring success. But by placing mob-affiliated boxer Terry Malloy smack bang in the middle, he gave heart to his allegorical story and once in the hands of director Elia Kazan, On The Waterfront became a drama/ thriller like no other. Key to its success was Marlon Brando who thrust all of his method skills into the character of Malloy, turning in an Oscar-winning performance that is consistently ranked as being one of the greats. All in all, this was a towering and gritty example of how good a film can be when story, director and actor come together to form a dramatic powerhouse. Classic Moment: Malloy's big brawl on the docks may not end up with him winning, but the overall battle is won in this commanding final scene that just begs for interpretation beneath the murky subtext.