Nothing But the Best: "On the Waterfront" (1954)

Scene from On the Waterfront

Welcome to the series Nothing But the Best in which I chronicle all of the Academy Award Best Picture winners as they celebrate their anniversaries. Instead of going in chronological order, this series will be presented on each film's anniversary and will feature personal opinions as well as facts regarding its legacy and behind the scenes information. The goal is to create an in depth essay for each film while looking not only how the medium progressed, but how the film is integral to pop culture. In some cases, it will be easy. Others not so much. Without further ado, let's start the show.

Check This Out: Upcoming Showtime Documentary "Listen to Me Marlon" to Follow Brando in His Own Words

Marlon Brando

To a generation, Marlon Brando was the greatest living actor. With a resume that includes everything from the defiant The Wild Ones to the political On the Waterfront and of course The Godfather, his work continues to be studied and admired. Yet what makes him an even more compelling artist is that his career wasn't as smooth sailing as some would believe. He turned his win for The Godfather for Best Supporting Actor into a political moment about the treatment of Indians. He became an activist as well as a conflicted voice of a generation. This is why it is interesting that coming next month to Showtime is a special biopic on the deceased actor - wait for it - in his own words called Listen to Me Marlon.