Edge of the City

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Edge of the City

1957

1h 25m

Drama

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4 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Axel Nordmann (John Cassavetes) takes a job as a dock laborer and is continually harassed by his tyrannical supervisor, Charles Malik (Jack Warden). Malik knows a secret from Axel's past, forcing the young worker to endure his boss's torment. Eventually, Axel befriends Tommy Tyler (Sidney Poitier), an African-American co-worker with a managerial job. Tommy teaches Axel to respect himself. However, Malik, a racial bigot, is threatened by Tommy's confidence, and the situation turns violent.

Dave Giannini

InSession Film

02/23/2024

Edge of the City is by no means perfect but manages a lovely character study without denigrating itself with pompous moralizing or forced sentimentality.

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Jonathan Baumbach

Film Culture

12/13/2021

This is a rare film of high seriousness. Produced on a modest budget with a group of fine young actors, it represents a small step in the right direction.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

03/20/2021

2.5/4

...an erratically-paced yet mostly watchable drama...

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

05/12/2012

B+

Martin Ritt's impressive feature directing debut is a socially conscious drama, about union corruption, interracial integration, and moral integrity, well acted by John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier.

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Noel L

@RT15930389 3d

I'm not exactly sure how to explain it, but I got a major On the Waterfront vibe

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j F

@RT31612624 02/25/2025

Sidney Poitier is a wonderful underrated actor.

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Jeff S

@jeffstone 02/07/2024

Few movies have ever filled me with so much rage. Poignant and powerful.

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Mark B

@RT92965712 08/26/2023

Like almost all of Martin Ritt films, this is a fantasy. Racial harmony is still a fraught subject in America, so this film is more wishful thinking than a thinking film. Derivative of On the Waterfront, this film rolls out like a socialist play of the 1930's. I don't believe a frame of this film. Ritt directed some great films, Hud for one, with rings true, but this one, no.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 07/08/2023

Frustrating but holds your interest because of the stars.

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05/27/2021

while the writing of this movie frequently feels awkward and the plot is lackluster, poitier's, cassavetes', and ruby dee's acting elevates the film from 'weird and bad' to 'weird and surprisingly good'. the film really makes no sense unless you understand axel to be a repressed gay man who falls in love with tommy - viewed through that lens, it's a tragic romance with disturbing undertones. the ending scene is very memorable

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Martin Ritt

Director

John Cassavetes

Axel Nordmann

Sidney Poitier

Tommy Tyler

Jack Warden

Charles Malik

Kathleen Maguire

Ellen Wilson

Ruby Dee

Lucy Tyler

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Synopsis

Axel Nordmann (John Cassavetes) takes a job as a dock laborer and is continually harassed by his tyrannical supervisor, Charles Malik (Jack Warden). Malik knows a secret from Axel's past, forcing the young worker to endure his boss's torment. Eventually, Axel befriends Tommy Tyler (Sidney Poitier), an African-American co-worker with a managerial job. Tommy teaches Axel to respect himself. However, Malik, a racial bigot, is threatened by Tommy's confidence, and the situation turns violent.

Director: Martin Ritt
Producer: David Susskind
Screenwriter: Robert Alan Aurthur
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 4, 1957, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 25m