On the Waterfront (1954): Marlon Brando

     "I coulda been a contender..." is amongst the most quoted lines in Film History. Even those who don't know it's source, know the line. On the Waterfront (1954) is a true Classic, featuring a number of key 1950's Hollywood players in their prime. The film dominated the Academy Awards that year, winning eight Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director (Elia Kazan), Best Actor (Marlon Brando) and Best Supporting Actress (Eva Marie Saint, in her debut role). The cinematography is excellent, containing the necessary grit to suit the locale. Everything works well, and for both Kazan and Brando, On the Waterfront was a defining, career highlight.

     Mobster Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) controls the docks with an iron fist. He decides who works, and when. Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) has been taking money for doing dirty work for a while...

On the Waterfront. 1954: Marlon Brando

      When Terry is paid to lure out Joey Doyle, a man who had squealed to the Police, Friendly's goons kill Doyle. Terry was under the impression that Doyle would just be roughed up, and his death disturbs him. It is also apparent amongst the other dock workers, some who get picked regularly and others who starve, that they are fed up with Friendly's control over their existence and the corruption that surrounds them...

On the Waterfront. 1954: Marlon Brando

     Terry meets Joey Doyle's sister, Edie (Eva Marie Saint), and the two begin to fall in love. He can't seem to tell her about the role he played in her brother's death, though...

On the Waterfront. 1954: Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint

     Through the persuasion and perseverance of a priest (Karl Malden), Terry's conscience gets the best of him and he considers speaking to the authorities. Friendly and his cohorts, including Terry's brother Charlie (Rod Steiger) catch wind of Terry's impending betrayal and are not pleased...

On the Waterfront. 1954: Marlon Brando

     Terry and Edie are in great danger...

On the Waterfront. 1954: Marlon Brando

     Hope seems futile, but someone must take stand at some point...

On the Waterfront. 1954: Marlon Brando

The Score (2001): Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Marlon Brando

     Directed by Frank Oz, based on a story by Daniel E. Taylor and Kario Salem, The Score (2001) is a superior heist film with plenty of twists. The story concerns a master thief, who is teamed up with an inside guy, with the mission to steal a valuable 17th Century golden sceptre from the highly-secure basement vault of the Montreal Customs House. Action, smart writing, bright sparks, security computer hacking and safe-cracking create an interesting two hours of art theft. Masterful acting is provided by three generations of of greats: Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro and Edward Norton. Angela Bassett costars, along with real-life Jazz musicians Mose Allison and Diana Krall.

The Score. 2001: Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando

The Score. 2001: Robert De Niro and Edward Norton

The Score. 2001: Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Marlon Brando

The Score. 2001: Robert De Niro and Edward Norton

The Score. 2001: Edward Norton and Marlon Brando

The Score. 2001: Robert De Niro

The Score. 2001: Edward Norton and Robert De Niro

The Score. 2001: Robert De Niro

The Score. 2001: Edward Norton

The Score. 2001: Robert De Niro

The Score. 2001: Edward Norton

The Score. 2001: Robert De Niro

"The Score"- movie trailer

One-Eyed Jacks (1961): Marlon Brando and Karl Malden

     Directed by and starring Marlon Brando, based on the book "The Authentic Death of Hendry Jones", One-Eyed Jacks (1961) was originally supposed to have been directed by Stanley Kubrick and written by Sam Peckinpah. Brando was given the directorial reigns after disputes, and One-Eyed Jacks is the only film he ever officially directed. The story concerns two outlaws, and how one hunts the other down for revenge after a bitter betrayal. The psychological tension Brando brought to the genre was something new to Westerns… adding a palpable edge. The cast is great, including Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Katy Jurado, Ben Johnson and Slim Pickens.

One Eyed Jacks. 1961: Marlon Brando

One Eyed Jacks. 1961: Marlon Brando

One Eyed Jacks. 1961: Marlon Brando

One Eyed Jacks. 1961

One Eyed Jacks. 1961: Marlon Brando

One Eyed Jacks. 1961: Marlon Brando

One Eyed Jacks. 1961: Katy Jurado

One Eyed Jacks. 1961: Marlon Brando

One Eyed Jacks. 1961: Marlon Brando

One Eyed Jacks. 1961

One Eyed Jacks. 1961: Marlon Brando

"One-Eyed Jacks"- movie trailer

The Missouri Breaks (1976): Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson

     Directed by Arthur Penn, The Missouri Breaks (1976) has grown in Cult status, but was a commercial failure upon it's initial release. Anticipation and high expectations killed the film's chances: It was Marlon Brando's first film since Last Tango in Paris and The Godfather, and Jack Nicholson's first since Chinatown and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. There was just too much hype to live up to. Nevertheless, The Missouri Breaks is a great Western film, held together by Arthur Penn's masterful direction. Jack Nicholson is crafty as a thieving rustler pretending to be a farmer, and Marlon Brando is chilling as a sociopathic Regulator out for the kill. The supporting cast is good as well, including Randy Quaid, Kathleen Lloyd and Harry Dean Stanton.

The Missouri Breaks. 1976: Jack Nicholson

The Missouri Breaks. 1976: Marlon Brando

The Missouri Breaks. 1976: Jack Nicholson

The Missouri Breaks. 1976: Marlon Brando

The Missouri Breaks. 1976: Jack Nicholson

The Missouri Breaks. 1976: Marlon Brando

The Missouri Breaks. 1976: Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson

The Missouri Breaks. 1976: Marlon Brando

The Missouri Breaks. 1976: Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson

"The Missouri Breaks"- movie trailer

The Godfather (1972): Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Francis Ford Coppola

     Based on Mario Puzo's 1969 novel of the same name, The Godfather (1972) is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. It is certainly, at the very least, one of the most influential. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the pitch-perfect screen play was co-written by Coppola and Mario Puzo. From the now classic opening scene to the equally classic finale, all anchored by an unforgettable musical score, The Godfather is full of timeless moments... including the now legendary line, "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." Coppola's unconventional choices in casting, though protested at the time, proved to be a stroke of genius. Marlon Brando's performance is often cited to be the benchmark, and pinnacle of acting ability. The film also placed newcomer Al Pacino on the map. The supporting cast of Robert Duvall, James Caan, Sterling Hayden, Talia Shire, John Cazale and Diane Keaton deliver admirable, spot-on performances as well. The Godfather won three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay... and Best Actor, which Marlon Brando famously refused to accept. Two sequels followed.

     1945: Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is the patriarch of the powerful Corleone crime family in New York... 

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando

     His daughter is getting married, and the whole family is present... 

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando and Al Pacino

     including Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) a war hero out on military leave, accompanied by his girlfriend Kay Adams (Diane Keaton). Michael tends to distance himself from the criminal aspects of his family...

The Godfather. 1972: Diane Keaton and Al Pacino

      Don Corleone is gunned down, after his refusal to join the other Mafia crime families in the drug trade, but survives... 

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando

     Michael vows revenge on those responsible... 

The Godfather. 1972: Al Pacino

     After the killings, Michael must flee America for Sicily, where he meets the lovely Appolonia...

The Godfather. 1972

     Meanwhile, Sonny Corleone (James Caan) has taken over the family operation, with the assistance of his trusted adopted brother Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall)... 

The Godfather. 1972

     Sonny doesn't fare well, though, and is murdered...

The Godfather. 1972

      leaving Michael to return to America to take over... 

The Godfather. 1972: Al Pacino

     with the ailing Don staying on as his advisor... 

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando and Al Pacino

     Michael must tie up all the loose ends, to ensure that his family will continue to thrive in their endeavors...

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando and Al Pacino