Edge of the City

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Jeff S Few movies have ever filled me with so much rage. Poignant and powerful. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/24 Full Review Mark B Like almost all of Martin Ritt films, this is a fantasy. Racial harmony is still a fraught subject in America, so this film is more wishful thinking than a thinking film. Derivative of On the Waterfront, this film rolls out like a socialist play of the 1930's. I don't believe a frame of this film. Ritt directed some great films, Hud for one, with rings true, but this one, no. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/01/23 Full Review Steve D Frustrating but holds your interest because of the stars. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/08/23 Full Review Audience Member while the writing of this movie frequently feels awkward and the plot is lackluster, poitier's, cassavetes', and ruby dee's acting elevates the film from 'weird and bad' to 'weird and surprisingly good'. the film really makes no sense unless you understand axel to be a repressed gay man who falls in love with tommy - viewed through that lens, it's a tragic romance with disturbing undertones. the ending scene is very memorable Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Ken R Respected producer David Susskind (All The Way Home) chose blacklisted stage actor Martin Ritt ("The Great White Hope") to helm this remake of his earlier TV production "A Man Is Ten Feet Tall" (Poitier also starred in that production) It was Ritt's first feature film and gained enough critical success (but not box-office) to kick start his long prestigious career. It's a thoughtful movie that was daring for its day in taking-on racial prejudice, strong mixed friendships, and as an examination of the physiologically scared in modern society. While it may not have fully outstripped its TV origins, this was a brave attempt to seriously expose oppressive, corrupt union groups, and open up the field of interracial relationships. It's a powerful movie that attempts to mimic the strength of "On The Water Front" and comes in a close second. Performances are strong all-round, and Joseph Brun's superb B/W cinematography (Odds Against Tomorrow" 59) captures all the gritty drama. New York Born but raised in Greece for his junior years, John Cassavetes, went on to direct highly unconventional feature films (of limited general appeal) attracting the attention of mainly experimental or avant-garde, uncommercial festivals – these mostly stared actor friends Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara or his wife Gena Rowlands or drinking buddies. He was known to star in several successful mainstream features but mainly to get money for his own productions. He was sadly an alcoholic. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/17/21 Full Review Audience Member Pretty good social drama from the 1950's that showcases good performances from John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. It's theme of corruption on the docks of New York is given an authentic realism with valid location shooting. It makes a decent attempt to show racism of the time. Though well done, I can't help but see what it is influenced by. The 1954 Oscar winner "On the Waterfront" tackles much of the same story. The Marlon Brando classic came first and was much better. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Edge of the City

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