Movie Scene : On the Waterfont – Edie and Terry

Terry and Edie end up in the park after a meeting they were attending got broken up by  some thugs.  Edie is the sister of Joey who was killed by the people Terry hangs with.  She doesn’t know about Terry’s connection.  They make small talk.  Terry asking her “if she’s training to be a nun?”.  He starts to take an interest in her telling her he remembers her when she was a kid “you was really a mess”.  He tells her he’s just kidding her.  She also remembers him as the kid who was always getting in trouble. They both start to take a liking to each other.  Terry asks “Am I going to see you again?” Edie answers ‘What For?”.  They sit in the silence for a moment then Terry walks her home.

Eva Maria Saint, Marlon Brando and Elia Kazan create a subtle, beautiful, truthful moment in film.  Like all great movie scenes the viewer feels like they’re right in the scene as it happens. The performances are perfect. Under Brando’s roughness and cockiness is a real tenderness and gentle touch.  It’s like he’s never been this close to a person like Edie before.  Eva Maria Saint plays the  comfortableness of being in this guy’s presence and at the same time showing fleeting interest.  Like Brando’s Terry,  her Edie has never been this close to someone like him.  Not a false note between them.  Great work.  Great scene.  Kazan just lets it happen and gets it on film.  A CB fave.   Check out the business when Brando takes the glove.  Love it