Karl Malden, RIP
I was blown away by On the Waterfront when I finally saw it, just a few years ago. I’d always heard it was great, but… it sounded so dull (Dock workers? Pigeons?). And out of context, the clips of Brando slurring “I coulda been a contender!” always seemed like he was parodying himself. But I finally saw it, on a big screen no less, right here in New York, as part of a film festival downtown. And it turned me into one of those people who go around telling everyone what a great movie On the Waterfront is.
I didn’t know going in that it was, at least in part, a story about a heroic priest. (And I didn’t know it had a connection to Commonweal — screenwriter Budd Schulberg’s story “Waterfront Priest,” about Fr. John M. Corridan, ran in The Commonweal in April 1953, and Associate Editor John Cort had been writing about the Waterfront labor situation for years before that.) In fact, On the Waterfront belongs on parish film-fest rosters alongside chestnuts like Boys Town and The Bells of St. Mary’s (and way ahead of silly epics like The Robe). I would certainly advocate screening it in this “year of the priest.” And as Philip T. Hartung wrote in Commonweal in 1954, “Karl Malden’s portrayal of the courageous priest is as outstanding as the author’s characterization of the part.”
Karl Malden died today at 97. I learned from the obituary in the New York Times that his birth name was Mladen Sekulovich, and that his parents were immigrants (from Serbia and Bohemia). I also didn’t know that he had advocated for director Elia Kazan’s controversial lifetime achievement Oscar in 1999. I did know how good he was at being an ordinary guy onscreen — for example, I think he was the quintessential “Herbie,” even if everything else about the movie version of Gypsy was less than ideal. But it’s as “Father Barry” that I will always remember him. If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t delay. Do it for Karl.
on July 1st, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Schulberg’s novel, Waterfront, based on the screenplay IIRC, is even better than the film. (But I generally prefer books to films).
on July 1st, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Have you seen this recommendation?
“52 Movies for the Year of the Priest”
Link: http://www.korrektiv.org/2009/06/52-movies-for-year-of-priest-its-wrap.html
on July 1st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I hadn’t seen that, Fr. Hart, but I’m glad someone is on the beat! I think 52 movies is too ambitious for me (especially since I’ve only seen a handful already), but On the Waterfront would be on my short list for sure.
on July 1st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Mom’s mother was baptized in Our Lady of Grace church about 1880, and Mom was named Grace for the title of Our Lady there.
For the connection to the film, see:
http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/o/OnTheWaterfront.html
and
http://olghoboken.com/
on July 1st, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Tough week for us Gary, Indiana natives — our two biggest claims to fame (Michael Jackson and Karl Malden) both dead in the same week.
My uncle was a good friend of Karl’s since high school (real name: Mladen Sekulovich) and always said he was a great guy. Unfortunately I never got to meet him.
on July 1st, 2009 at 9:06 pm
For a number of years, James T. Fisher of the Fordham University Theology department, and a contributor to Commonweal, has dedicated a great deal of research to Fr. Corridan, and his new book is about to published.
http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/cup_detail.taf?ti_id=5391
If it is anything like his past work, it will enriching for all of us.
on July 1st, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Hard to believe Molie hadn’t see this til a few years ago – one of the top 20 of all time in my book, with a great script, great acting, and, by the way, some great Bernbstein muical background.
Since we’re listing favorite boooks, etc.
how baout movies, including some from back then, and not just Casablanca, but Rod Steiger in the towering Pawnbroker, for example?
on July 1st, 2009 at 9:15 pm
If movies are not your thing you might consider celebrating the “year” with banners. I am not able to produce them here but you can follow the links to get that “warm atmosphere, inspiring peace, quiet and prayer.”
WN7139 – English Text – $105.00 WN7138 – Latin Text – $105.00
The Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year for Priests”, starting June 19th, 2009.
Banner with the symbol of the Year of the Priesthood, with the kind permission of the Congregation of the Clergy. More information: http://www.annussacerdotalis.org
The banner creates a warm atmosphere, inspiring peace, quiet and prayer.
In Raytex DM, 100 % polyester. 9′ x 3′. (300 x 100 cm) Finished at top with open hem; with wooden rod, two apples and hanging cord. Metal dowel at bottom, incorporated in hem.
Pre-order now, shipping starts on July 13th
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1150 Pontiac Ave Cranston, RI 02920
on July 1st, 2009 at 9:31 pm
To answer Mollie’s question in the previous thread – What is your favorite social encyclical? – it would have to be the great speech Karl Malden gives in “On the Waterfront” … the one in which he declares to the longshoremen that he sees Christ crucified each time there is oppression.
It’s not one of the social encyclicals? Well, it captures the spirit, and perhaps anticipates some aspects of the ones that followed it.
on July 1st, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Fr. Hart, thanks for the 52 Movies site.
Joe McMahon: I have to put in a word for my old parish, Sts. Peter & Paul–I believe most of the interiors were shot there, and definitely the basement scene of the union meeting. And OLG was mainly for exteriors. Not that that connotes superficiality…!
Alas, Hoboken’s parishes are facing tough times, though Peter & Paul has a great pastor and a strong young adult presence.
on July 1st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
How could the movie list leave out Rosselini’s Open City? It was a ground-breaking realist film about the Roman resistance against the Nazis in which a priest is executed for refusing to betray the resistance, One of the most powerful movies ever.
on July 1st, 2009 at 10:24 pm
How about the Thornbirds. There is hardly a movie that matches its development because it is a minseries. Richard Chamberlain as Ralph de Bricassart is superb and Barbara Stanwyck added so much to it. Pretty good movie making. And one of Rachel Ward’s best roles.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:43 am
One more Karl Malden item – his very last screen appearance was on “The West Wing” in 2000, also playing a priest. If I remember correctly, the show ended with him about to hear Martin Sheen’s confession.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 am
Paul, I agree. That speech leaves me in tears every time — and it’s anything but cheap sentiment.
Bob N. mentioned the film’s score, which reminded me — as we were on our way in to the theatre to see On the Waterfront, the friend I was with joked, “Didn’t Leonard Bernstein write this? …Oh, wait, that’s On the Town.” And we both had a good laugh at the idea of Brando and the other longshoremen singing about how the Bronx is up and the Battery’s down. So when we then saw Bernstein’s name in the opening credits, we both had to stifle our giggles.
David G. — the site Joe McMahon linked to says it was interiors at OLG and exteriors outside St. Peter & St. Paul. Turf war!
on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Just out of curiousity, what was his affiliation? The obit. doesn’t mention it. I would have thought being Serbian (didn’t know he was a Slav!!! good on him!!) he would be Orthodox.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Just want to ad that one should listen to Bernstein’s score seperately – quite good IMO.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I remember – this was probably ca. 1980 – that Karl Malden played an ethnic steel worker and father in a short-lived family television drama in which his family was Serbian Orthodox, or some other Eastern church. What the heck was that show called?
on July 2nd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Jim – the show you’re thinking of was called “Skag”, and according to Wikipedia lasted for five episodes.
Wikipedia also claims that Malden was a Catholic, and notes that the Bible he carried in his “West Wing” appearance was the same one he used nearly 50 years before in “On the Waterfront.”