Edge of the City

1957 "Tense drama of frightened men!"
7.2| 1h25m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 04 January 1957 Released
Producted By: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

An army deserter and a black dock worker join forces against a corrupt manager.

Genre

Drama

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Director

Martin Ritt

Production Companies

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

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Edge of the City Audience Reviews

GamerTab That was an excellent one.
Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable
Console best movie i've ever seen.
Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
HotToastyRag In Edge of the City, John Cassavetes is a drifter and clearly on the run. He telephones his parents at the start of the film, but as his mother Ruth White begs her son to speak to her or tell her where he is, he puts his hand over the receiver and gives her silence. It's a very heartbreaking scene because he does talk to her, but she isn't able to hear him through the muted mouthpiece. He gets a job on the docks, but his boss Jack Warden is mean and unfair. All the fellow workers have learned to look the other way, even when he race-baits Sidney Poitier, the only man who befriends John.Sidney Poitier is extremely nice, tolerant, and forgiving of his new friend, and he and his wife Ruby Dee go out of their way to help John fit in. They even set him up with their classy friend Kathleen Maguire, who is clearly out of his league. As I watched the first half of the film, I felt a little frustrated. John Cassavetes wasn't nearly as likable as Sidney Poitier, yet he was the protagonist. Why wasn't the entire movie about Sidney? I didn't care what happened to John at all! Then I realized that Robert Alan Arthur had written his script that way on purpose, and I watched the second half of the film in full enjoyment.Arthur wrote and directed a very powerful film, one that evokes a range of emotion from its viewers. Once you realize and accept that John isn't likable and Sidney is, you'll get swept away in the plot and growth of the characters. Even though you don't really care about John, since Sidney cares so much about him, he convinces you to slowly start rooting for him. The shift is slight and steady, but it's a very rare and fantastic quality. Usually, when watching a film, you're aware of the beginning, middle, and end, but in Edge of the City, the beginning drags, the middle is immersive, and the end comes too soon. Depending on how drained you feel you might want to watch it again, but there are some heavy and emotional elements to the story.Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to some violence I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
raymond_chandler "Edge of the City" casts Sidney Poitier as a warehouse worker who befriends John Cassavetes' troubled loner. His ready laugh and casual manner belie a character of depth and fortitude. As Tommy Tyler, Poitier exudes kindness and grace, even as Jack Warden's Charlie tries to bully and intimidate him. Cassavetes was skeptical of Lee Strasberg's Method by 1957, and he plays it fast and loose as Axel, an Army deserter who cannot find his place in the world. "Edge" spends a considerable amount of time showing these two characters at work in a warehouse, and the incidents of harassment and horseplay ring equally true to anyone who has done time in the world of unskilled blue-collar labor. This is the first feature film directed by Martin Ritt, and the themes of male bonding (Hud) and workplace injustice (Norma Rae) are ones he would revisit during his illustrious career. Exemplary cinematography by Joseph C. Brun, and observant writing by Robert Alan Aurthur add to the verisimilitude of this examination of the everyday existence of men who toil anonymously in the background of urban life."You go with the lower forms, and you are down in the slime."
dbdumonteil This first movie by Martin Ritt can be seen as a work against racism.In several respects ,it is,but it's much more: it's the story of a loser (Cassavetes) ,who is through with his family (his father could not forgive him the accidental death of his brother) ,with the establishment (he is a deserter) and with the men in general.He places his trust in Tommy Tyler (Toto;Sidney Poitier),a black man,whose life is not rosy though .The price to pay to regain self-confidence will be very high.Filmed in black and white ,"edge of the city" takes place in a working-class milieu,which is rare in the world of cinema.Martin Ritt was a director whose social concerns continued on many of the works of his career: unions in "Norma Rae" ,education in "Conrack" ,illiteracy in "Stanley and Iris" ,racism in "Paris Blues " -but in this latter movie, Ritt was very naive when he thought that France was a country where racism did not exist-,all these subjects are hinted at in "edge of the city".
kaehnea This is an excellent movie that tackles the issue of racism in a delicate and balanced way. Great performances all round but absolutely outstanding acting by Sidney Poitier.He makes this movie breathe and alive. His portrayal of a guy who struggles against discrimination and violence is simply mind blowing. His acting is forceful and delicate and subtle at the same time. Truly worthy of an Oscar, Poitier had to wait (because of his skin colour) for many more years before the sheer brilliance of his acting was recognised by the Academy.Cassavetes turns in a great performance too, withdrawn, troubled and realistic as it has become his hallmark. He and Poitier contrast inimitably the forces of cowardice, courage and human transformation through friendship.The movie is enjoyable and at the same time deeply haunting in its portrayal of racism in the US. The irony is that it somehow mirrors the realities under which Poitier had to work.