IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
The growing friendship of two NYC longshoremen is threatened by a notably repellent punk.The growing friendship of two NYC longshoremen is threatened by a notably repellent punk.The growing friendship of two NYC longshoremen is threatened by a notably repellent punk.
- Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations total
Robert F. Simon
- George Nordmann
- (as Robert Simon)
David Clarke
- Wallace
- (as David Clark)
Ralph Bell
- Night Boss
- (uncredited)
Charles Jordan
- Old Stevedore
- (uncredited)
Mike O'Dowd
- Malick's Henchman
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWritten specifically for Sidney Poitier.
- GoofsWhen Axel is fighting Charlie and they end up on the tracks near the end of the rail car, Axel picks up a hunk of pipe that bends while he is swinging it. Charlie then hits him a couple of times in the gut. When Axel falls on the ground, it is obvious he has padding under his jacket to absorb the blows which disappears in the next shot.
- Quotes
Axel Nordmann: Excuse me, a-are you in charge here?
Night Boss: Yeah.
Axel Nordmann: I-I'm looking for a guy named Charlie Malick.
Night Boss: He ain't here. He works the day shift.
Axel Nordmann: Excuse me.
Night Boss: Yeah.
Axel Nordmann: The thing is-a, I'm looking for work.
Night Boss: Nothin' I can do for ya kid, you'll have to come back in the mornin'.
- Alternate versionsAlso available in a computer colorized version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Afro Promo (1997)
Featured review
Excellent film, shades of On the Waterfront
1957's Edge of the City, directed by Martin Ritt, stars John Cassavetes, Sidney Poitier, Jack Warden and Ruby Dee. It's the story of a troubled man, Axel, who has a mysterious past that gradually comes out during the film. He has a connection that gets him a job on a loading dock working for Charlie (Jack Warden), a real meanie who takes kickbacks from his workers and rides them hard. Charlie has an intense dislike for a black man, T.T. (Poitier) who holds the same position. T.T. invites Axel to work on his team; Axel defies Charlie and does so. Axel finds a place to live and socializes with T.T., his his wife (Dee) and their son's white schoolteacher (Kathleen McGuire). When tragedy strikes, none of the men on the loading dock will talk to the police, and Axel has to come to grips with his values, what he stands for, and the meaning of friendship.
This is a really excellent black and white film that curiously isn't really about being black or white! It's really about the limits one puts on oneself and knowing who you are. Charlie is a bigot and hates that a black man has a good position on the dock. T.T. teases Charlie and gives as good as he gets. There's no discussion of T.T. and Axel spending time together or of T.T.'s son having a white teacher with whom the family also socializes. What Axel, a loner, finds difficult is accepting any friendship or confiding in anyone - these things he learns through T.T.
Poitier absolutely shines in "Edge of the City" - he's warm, energetic, loving and smart, a man with a real enthusiasm for life, afraid of nothing. Cassavetes is excellent and plays a character totally opposite - hiding in the shadows, chronically depressed and always nervous.
The film leaves open what happens to Axel. Whatever does, he's a different man now.
Strangely underrated and unknown film, possibly in the shadow of a lot of the angry young men films that came out in that era.
This is a really excellent black and white film that curiously isn't really about being black or white! It's really about the limits one puts on oneself and knowing who you are. Charlie is a bigot and hates that a black man has a good position on the dock. T.T. teases Charlie and gives as good as he gets. There's no discussion of T.T. and Axel spending time together or of T.T.'s son having a white teacher with whom the family also socializes. What Axel, a loner, finds difficult is accepting any friendship or confiding in anyone - these things he learns through T.T.
Poitier absolutely shines in "Edge of the City" - he's warm, energetic, loving and smart, a man with a real enthusiasm for life, afraid of nothing. Cassavetes is excellent and plays a character totally opposite - hiding in the shadows, chronically depressed and always nervous.
The film leaves open what happens to Axel. Whatever does, he's a different man now.
Strangely underrated and unknown film, possibly in the shadow of a lot of the angry young men films that came out in that era.
helpful•111
- blanche-2
- Aug 3, 2008
- How long is Edge of the City?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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