Do you think 'On the Waterfront' was an anti-union film?

[Gothic Sponge]

When i was a teen working at a summer job, i would occasionally talk to a coworker about movies. He said 'On the Waterfront' was a great film because it was anti-union. I wasn't well informed back then, and i didn't see the movie until i was in my early twenties. I don't think it's anti-union, but i can see how a freeper type would. What do you think?

[HuckleB]

1. If you think all unions are corrupt, then you'd think it was anti-union.

I don't think they are, so I don't think that it is.

Of course, it has an interesting history, as many people believe it to be a film that metaphorically justifies its director's decision to squeal to the House UnAmerican Activities Committee.

[Gothic Sponge]

2. Exactly

I didn't think it was anti-union after i saw the film. However, when i started to learn about the blacklisting and Elia Kazan....It made me reconsider the possibility.

[Westegg]

3. Yes. The whole "naming names" aspect, and Brando/Terry's...

...internal/external struggle in the film is surely rooted in Kazan's own situation.

[Westegg]

4. So in answer to your question No. Not anti-union. (n/t)

[JohnKleeb]

5. Wasnt Elie Kazan a friend of leftist Arthur Miller and a leftist himself

[HuckleB]

8. Yes. And they had a huge falling out over Kazan's testimony to HUAAC.

[JVS]

6. It portrays unions in a bad light, and thus is as anti-union

as the song "Day tripper" is misogynist.

Or so I am told.

[bo44]

7. It is anti street crooks taking over a union of common folks just like

Bush has done with out country. I see On the Waterfront as a metaphor for today's presidency.

[Gothic Sponge]

9. It's the perfect metaphor

scary!

[kodi]

10. a union is not just its leadership, the rank and file are more important

the film referred to gangsters at the top of an organization, and kazan showed clearly the dichotomy between the ethics and morality of the leadership versus that of the rank and file.