On the Waterfront/Trivia

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • Executive Meddling: In the original ending, Terry was supposed to be killed by Johnny Friendly and company, but because of the Hays Code, Terry lives and it is implied that the longshoremen triumph over Friendly.
    • Kazan pointed out that Friendly was still alive at the end, insisting that he'll be back. He said that the ending wasn't meant to be taken literally but more as a resolution to Terry's personal struggle.
  • Reality Subtext: Elia Kazan had been harshly criticized for reporting names to HUAC during the Red Scare, so he made a film where informing on bad people is the heroic thing to do.