Changes

==Politics==

==Politics==

The director, [[Elia Kazan]] (Oscar for Best Director) was a former Communist who broke with Stalin and informed on the Stalinists before the House Un-American Activities Committee. The left in Hollywood considered him a traitor to "the Cause," and fought relentlessly against any additional honors. Finally in 1999 Kazan was awarded an Honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement. He has been hailed for revolutionizing the roles of actors in film.  

The director, Elia Kazan (Oscar for Best Director) was a former Communist who broke with Stalin and informed on the Stalinists before the House Un-American Activities Committee. The left in Hollywood considered him a traitor to "the Cause," and fought relentlessly against any additional honors. Finally in 1999 Kazan was awarded an Honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement. He has been hailed for revolutionizing the roles of actors in film.  

The writer was Budd Schulberg (Oscar for Best Screenplay), like Kazan a former Communist who testified.  

The writer was Budd Schulberg (Oscar for Best Screenplay), like Kazan a former Communist who testified.  

==Plot==

==Plot==

Terry, an ex-prizefighter, agrees to set up a meeting between a friend of his and thugs who intend to kill him for being a "canary" (informer). After Terry's friend plummets to his death from the rooftop, we meet the tough priest ([[Karl Malden]]) and the sister of the deceased, down from Tarrytown where she's studying with the sisters to become a teacher.  

Terry, an ex-prizefighter, agrees to set up a meeting between a friend of his and thugs who intend to kill him for being a "canary" (informer). After Terry's friend plummets to his death from the rooftop, we meet the tough priest (Karl Malden) and the sister of the deceased, down from Tarrytown where she's studying with the sisters to become a teacher.  

The rest of the movie centers on the priest's campaign to get someone to stand up to the mob brutality of John Friendly, corrupt boss of the longshoreman's union. After a meeting in the church, attendees are attacked by mobsters with pipes and baseball bats. One man agrees to testify, and the priest agrees to stick with this to the end.  

The rest of the movie centers on the priest's campaign to get someone to stand up to the mob brutality of John Friendly, corrupt boss of the longshoreman's union. After a meeting in the church, attendees are attacked by mobsters with pipes and baseball bats. One man agrees to testify, and the priest agrees to stick with this to the end.  

Terry starts trying to see the girl whose brother was pushed off the roof, but she'll hardly talk of anything else but bringing the murderers to justice. Finally, he admits to the priest and then to the girl his complicity in the murder.  

Terry starts trying to see the girl whose brother was pushed off the roof, but she'll hardly talk of anything else but bringing the murderers to justice. Finally, he admits to the priest and then to the girl his complicity in the murder.  

Mob boss John Friendly wants to break up the relationship before Terry turns canary, and orders Terry's brother to make Terry shut up or to have him killed. In the famous taxi scene, Terry's brother first tries to talk him into silence, even pulling a gun on him. Terry counters, "You should have taken better care of me, I could have been a [[contender]]."  

Mob boss John Friendly wants to break up the relationship before Terry turns canary, and orders Terry's brother to make Terry shut up or to have him killed. In the famous taxi scene, Terry's brother first tries to talk him into silence, even pulling a gun on him. Terry counters, "You should have taken better care of me, I could have been a contender."  

Terry finally testifies to the [[crime commission]] and daringly shows up for work the next day. When he's refused work, he walks to the union headquarters, a shack on a small barge attached to the dock. He verbally confronts the mob boss, as the entire crew of longshoremen watch and listen. He challenges the mob boss to a fight, but when he starts getting the best of the fight the boss's men intervene and beat him almost unconscious.  

Terry finally testifies to the crime commission and daringly shows up for work the next day. When he's refused work, he walks to the union headquarters, a shack on a small barge attached to the dock. He verbally confronts the mob boss, as the entire crew of longshoremen watch and listen. He challenges the mob boss to a fight, but when he starts getting the best of the fight the boss's men intervene and beat him almost unconscious.  

In the climatic final scene, Terry staggers up the gangplank and along the dock to the warehouse entrance, because the men all refuse to begin work unless he also is hired. Together, they signal their refusal to tolerate the corruption any more.

In the climatic final scene, Terry staggers up the gangplank and along the dock to the warehouse entrance, because the men all refuse to begin work unless he also is hired. Together, they signal their refusal to tolerate the corruption any more.