Boxing. Referred to as the ‘sweet science.’ In American culture, boxing is seen as a test of strength, speed, and agility. Boxing can also be seen as the measurement of real manhood. In ‘Raging’ Bull’ and ‘On the Waterfront’ the two protagonists Jake LaMotta and Terry Malloy attempt to define what it really means to be a man.
‘On the Waterfront’ was released in 1954, directed by Elia Kazan. The film was based on a series of articles by New York Sun writer Malcolm Johnson titled ‘Crime on the Waterfront.’ The 24 story expose investigated labor racketeering on the New York dockyards, including bribery, extortion and kickbacks to union officials. Screenwriter Bud Schulberg based Karl Malden’s character on real life Catholic priest John M. Corridan and Marlon Brando’s character on Anthony DeVincenzo.
‘On the Waterfront’ is a part drama part gangster film. The film was filmed in black and white, and has a gritty and urban feel. The story unfolds from the protagonist’s point of view, Terry Malloy. Terry is a mild-mannered and seemingly slow-witted dock worker with ties to the local mob, via his older brother Charlie. Charlie is the bookkeeper for mob boss, Johnny Friendly. The film starts with a murder—a body is thrown from the roof of an apartment building. While Terry (and the audience) know who is responsible, the victim’s younger sister, Edie and the neighborhood priest, Father Barry work to find who killed Joey. While Terry could be classified as a mob lackey, he clearly is not a murderer at heart. Feeling responsible for Joey’s death (he had tricked Joey into meeting him on the rooftop), Terry is torn—wrestling his conscience. Things get particularly complicated when he meets and develops feelings for Edie.
‘On the Waterfront’ explores several crucial themes throughout the film. Even though Terry is well-known in his neighborhood, he seems alone. When Terry first meets Edie, and she questions him about Joey’s death, she asks “Which side are you with?” and Terry responds “Me? I’m with me Terry.” Although he is witness to the crime and corruption on the docks and where he lives, it is clear that Terry doesn’t wish to participate. He seems trapped in an existence of which he is helpless and has no control. He is being pressured from all sides: by Father Barry, by Edie and by the police to reveal what he knows about Joey’s death. For all intensive purposes, Terry is experiencing an existential crisis, although at first, he doesn’t have the language to articulate what he is feeling or going through.
In the film’s most brilliant scene, Charlie convinces Terry to take hush money from the mob, to keep silent on their illegal activities, but Terry adamantly refuses. Desperate, Charlie pulls a gun on him, knowing that the mob will kill Terry if he doesn’t comply. Terry then relates the story of the infamous fight at Madison Square Garden, where Charlie ordered him to throw the fight. ‘It was you Charlie…you were my brother. You should have looked out for me.’ Terry then turns a critical eye towards himself and says ‘I could have had class. I could have been a contender, instead of a bum which is what I am.’ At that moment Terry has his breakthrough, his moment of self-realization. Terry understands that he alone has the power to control his path in life, that he isn’t helpless. He would rather die with dignity, with a clear conscience instead of living a lie. Terry goes head to head with Johnny Friendly, and ends up winning the respect of those around him, as well as respect for himself. In the case of Terry Malloy, manhood is not about using your fists, but standing for what you believe to be right. ‘Raging Bull’ released in 1980, was directed by Martin Scorcese. Like ‘On the Waterfront’ it is based on actual characters. Actor Robert DeNiro approached Scorcese with the project after reading the biography of former boxer Jake LaMotta. ‘Raging Bull’ follows the rise and fall of the former middle-weight champion. Like ‘On the Waterfront’ the film is filmed in black and white to keep a grainy documentary-style feel to the film. As much as a sports film, ‘Raging Bull’ is a drama that explores the violent, self-destructive tendencies of a man who was his own worst enemy.
When the film opens, we see a paunchy, middle-aged man rehearsing his lines in a dressing room in 1964. The film switches to a younger La Motta in 1941 receiving quick and brutal blows to his face. He recovers and knocks out his opponent, Jimmy Reeves, but shockingly the announcer says that Reeves is the winner of the fight. This will be a recurrent theme where LaMotta is the clear winner, but the title is given to his opponent. The scene moves to his apartment where he blows up at his wife because she’s overcooked his steak. The audience realizes that LaMotta’s volatile nature isn’t confined to the ring. LaMotta is frustrated with his home life, with his brother Joey, with his career. Like Terry from ‘On the Waterfront’, the local mob is a constant presence in LaMotta’s life. Terry Como, the mob boss, wants a hand in Jake’s career, and while Joey tries to facilitate a compromise, Jake refuses. Jake is also paranoid, believing that others are trying to challenge his manhood. At the neighborhood swimming pool, he meets Vickie, a beautiful blond teenager. When he sees Vicky chatting with Salvy, a mob member, he becomes jealous. Salvy is handsome, well-mannerered, and powerful---all the things that Jake is not. He has an obsession with Salvy, and Jake decides to pursue Vickie to prove he is just as good as Salvy. His relationship with Vickie starts out sweetly, but his insecurity gets the best of him.
In ‘Raging Bull’ scenes concerning Jake’s domestic life are intercut with fight scenes. In the ring, Jake is able to work out the rage and frustruation he feels. In one part of the movie, Vickie innocently compliments Tony Janiro, a young boxer calling him ‘handsome.’ Jake flies into a jealous rage, and when he faces Janiro in the ring, Jake proceeds to smash his face so he will no longer be good-looking. Jake’s life is filled with fighting. He feels everyone is against him and becomes increasing paranoid. While Jake uses boxing to mete out punishment against his opponents (like Tony Janiro) he also turns it against himself. In one pivotal scene, he allows himself to be pummeled, inflicting pain on himself. Jake ends up destroying his relationship with his brother Joey, accusing him of having an affair with Vickie. Later on when LaMotta is locked up for serving alcohol to two underage teenagers, he loses all control, beating the walls with his bare fists, realizing he really is the animal that people had accused him of being.
But unlike Terry, who uses his moment of self-realization to better himself, LaMotta doesn’t seem to have learned his lesson. When the film swings back to present day in his dressing room, he looks in the mirror and recites Terry’s words ‘…I could have been a contender.’ But to LaMotta they are just words. What Jake fails to realize is that he actually was a contender. But due to his self-destructive ways he threw his success and family away. In conclusion ‘Raging Bull’ and ‘On the Waterfront’ have two protagonists who share failed boxing careers. Whereas Terry accepts responsibility for his failures and stands up to the corrupt practices in his community, Jake is blind to his own shortcomings. While Jake still believes power and manhood derive from violence, Terry redefines manhood for himself with integrity and trying to rectify the damage he’s inflicted on his own life and those around him.
