How On the Waterfront is a Reflection of the McCarthy Era

How On the Waterfront is a Reflection of the McCarthy Era

There is a legend that Arthur Miller, a playwright and strong opponent of HUAC, once sent a copy of his script for A View from a Bridge (a story about a man who informs the police about his illegal immigrant nephew out of jealousy) to director Elia Kazan.   Kazan responded that he would be honored to direct the play, to which Miller replied, “You don’t understand.   I didn’t send it to you because I wanted you to direct it.   I sent it to you because I wanted you to know what I think of stool pigeons.”   Kazan infamously named eight names of “subversives” to the House Un-American Activities Committee. Whether or not this actually happened, it is a good example of what many in Hollywood felt about people who “named names” of “subversives” to the House Un-American Activities Committee.   Following his testimony, he received a lot of criticism, and most likely directed On the Waterfront as a rebuttal to this. On the Waterfront is a reflection of the McCarthy era because it ennobles informants.   It argues that it is one’s duty as a Christian and as a good human being to “name names,” and was written and directed by people who did just that.
Kazan claimed that the movie was not saying that one should inform, but instead it is about the moral dilemma of someone in a position to inform.   However, this does not fit with the plot of On the Waterfront.   What Terry faces is not a moral dilemma by the time of the hearing.   He has nothing to lose.   He has fallen out of favor with Johnny Friendly, so Terry has no reason to protect him.   On top of that, Friendly also had his brother killed, so Terry wants revenge.   He never demonstrates that he did it because it was the right thing to do, even though Father Barry repeatedly tells him to follow his conscience.   Also, it is made very clear who is good and who is bad.   The mobsters are never shown to be morally ambiguous.   In fact, they are portrayed as corrupt, despicable human beings.   There should be no question in the audience’s...