"I coulda been a contender" is one of the most iconic film lines in history. But his delivery of "I coulda been somebody" is the real genius of this scene.
His transition from Dissappointed to anger with the "I could've torn Wilson apart" into sadness with the bum line and then self reflection at the end with "let's face it" and his looks down. Just beautifully done and was lines he made up on the spot when he forgot his original lines that were similar. He changed the entire scene as he came up with pushing the gun away and acting Dissappointed. They just let him go. What a legend.
@Patricia Nazzaro Exactly. He looks off as if for a split second he is looking at who he could have been. And that sight tears him apart. It's so quick and subtle. Like he lived a life time in one second and then it was gone... That is acting at its best.
What made Brando's line so powerful in this scene was the fact that it gives you the sense that he's speaking for any and every person in the world who has felt like an outsider or who has had a missed opportunity in making a great achievement in their lives.
The look on Brando's face at the beginning of this scene says it all. He's not angry at his brother, but disappointed; disappointed that once again, his brother has failed to come through for him.
TheJking85 But it's at the end. Not to negate the build up, or even the act, but it's almost like he was atoning for all the wrongs he did to him, like he was trying to balance it all out.
I am doing well in life and my younger brother is not but he will soon be a contender because I will not let him down as his older brother. I prefer to have less and share so I can sleep good at night. Love you little bro. This scene messed me up.
Something I'm always blown away by in this scene is Brando's ability to move seamlessly from one emotion to the next. - Shocked at the beginning that his brother pulled the gun (which it's a shame that part isn't included), - Surprised when his brother blames the manager, - Disappointed in his brother for letting him down, - Shocked again when recounting "this isn't your night", - Anger when he says "My night, I coulda tore Wilson apart." (Maybe my favorite part) - Deep sadness and regret with the contender lines. - Then brutal acceptance when he says "a bum which is what I am, let's face it." - When he finally says "it was you Charlie" he says it like he's been holding it in for years.
I also like how he puts his hand on his knee and raises his other hand in a kind of, masculine defensive nonverbal gesture that says, "That's just how I feel man, but I'm not an emotional wreck or anything." At least that's what I or anyone would do after pouring their heart out. Or it could mean, "But that's neither here nor there."
+John Hein agreed. Such a great way to end his speech. I think little gestures like, and this entire scene, can be lost on people who don't put it in the right context. It was rare for an actor to portray a big tough guy as this emotionally damaged at that point in time. In other words, I think it's a great observation by you that I totally missed.
This was Brando's moment, but Charley's reaction during the monologue is priceless. Rod Steiger doesn't get enough credit for both being invisible enough to spotlight Brando, while at the same time present enough to let us see how hard those words land. Bravura performances by two artists at the peak of their powers.
The way he breaks visual contact with Charlie when he says "I coulda been a contender" and "I coulda been somebody" by looking away in the distance is truly heart-wrenching. It's like one could feel the huge distance between the present and the 'what if'. Then, at "instead of a bum" the dreaming is over, and his look turns again to Charlie. A moment in which time seems to stop.
@@reybirch Brando was infamous for never learning his lines, he believed it was best to see the lines during the scenes so that his first attempt was the most spontaneous. It was probably also a bit of laziness lol
That's the music of Leonard Bernstein...who was born 100 years ago this year. If you're ever in Brooklyn, you can pay your respects at his gravesite in beautiful Green-Wood Cemetery.
TheDestint You nailed it. That downbeat synched with Terry's first line and grabs your heart. If you don't choke up @ that moment, I have a toe tag for you.
This has to be one of the greatest movie scenes of all time. Brando was just incredible and a real force of nature in the way he acted. He could have you eating out the palm of his hands within seconds!
The Genius of Brando was to make the incredibly difficult look simple. The pathos, the tender disappointment, the gentle irony of it make this one the great scenes in cinema.
"I could have been somebody instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it." That hits hard for me personally. I've made a lot of mistakes and thrown the best years of my life away, throwing away opportunities and never really getting my shot.
Trying to fit in, partying, the pot and all the rebellion in the late 60's into the 70's is what made me a bum. But the greatest thing was that Jesus found me and I trusted his blood to save me.
And pain and suffering that played out for YEARS. Brando did indeed nail it. Also, watch Brando in a scene from Last Tango where his character berates the corpse of his dead wife. He shows even more pain & suffering there. It's not nearly as iconic but it's Brando's finest acting.
I disagree that Godfather was better film but I know what you mean.But Waterfront has Brando, Steiger, Lee J. Cobb, Eve Marie Saint, and, of course Karl Malden. An incredible story; a morality play of ordinary life.
@@josejoji3487 Haha.........Ever heard of Godfather.....yeah Marlon Brando is Godfather in acting. This movie was released in 1954. Where was Mohanlal in 1954. It's very unfair to compare him with Brando.
That moment at about 1:42, after he says, "It was you Charlie," then he looks down sadly, shakes his head and kinda shrugs a little bit... such a simple bit of body language but so powerful and communicates so much emotion. Brando was such a brilliant, natural performer.
My favourite bit is from "You don't understand" to "lets face it". Not overdramatic but you can just see the inner disappointment. Great great acting, especially for the time when everyone else is doing a completely different style.
abbes saadallah The profile pic is a Looney Tunes version of the actor Peter Lorre. Search for the Bugs Bunny episode called "Racketeer Rabbit" on TH-cam. It's from like 1940-something but it's on here.
Brando's father used to say horrible things to him like that all the time when he was younger. If he needed motivation for the scene, it was definitely there.
the scene took 11 hours to film, Brando walked off after his lines were done and left Steiger to finish without any off camera support. He also teased and infused nonsense into the dialogue which pissed off Steiger. There's the facts. 11 hours! Watch Steiger explain it in an interview, he felt slighted by Brando
At 1:10 Brandos face when he says you shoulda looked out for me...that expression grabbed me the most in this infamous scene. Also Steigers expressions are rarely mentioned. He was equally brilliant ...his ying to Marlons yang.
'My night? I could have taken Wilson apart.' This part never gets talked about but you can just see in his eyes he's played that fight over in his head a million times since. Brando was on a whole other level
One of the greatest things about this scene is that Marlon Brando's emotion is not forced. When he says 'I coulda been a Contender, I coulda been somebody" he says it so seamlessly. He doesn't have to force anything. It is what makes Marlon Brando the greatest actor ever. 5 out of 5 for sure.
Will Smith he has that same heartbroken faraway look that Ellen Burstyn had in Requiem for a Dream where she talks to Harry about her red dress. A life that never came in to fruition but one you can’t let go of
Watch Joan of Arc from the 20's, or Benedict Cumberbatch in Patrick Melrose today, and they match it; but its rare to see acting of this calibre on screen I admit.
Anyone notice how his eyes kept moving to look somewhere off screen behind the camera? To the seat next to the driver's seat? I remember reading somewhere Brando never memorized his lines but had them written on plaques so that his delivery could be more spontaneous. Idk but whatever he did...it clearly worked for his career
Wait, I read that this scene had lines written, but Brando decided to improvise. Even if that wasn't true, at this point in his career he would have cared enough to memorize lines. It was The Godfather where he had his lines placed on set so that he could read them, that's why some shots obscured the fronts of the other actors, so you couldn't see the lines taped to their shirts.
1:21 “You don’t understand! I coulda had class! I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody. Instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it.” One of the best looks at deep regret and disappointment, at the opportunities that were missed.
Classic scene, I've heard the older guy's in the neighborhood say this famous line. In this movie a thousand times, kind of miss thee old timers. "I could have been a contender"
Grieving what he could have been with proper support...grieving lost possibilities is the most gut wrenching and Brando's portrayal of that grief shows that he was a hall of famer at the earliest stages of his career!
I love this scene. It's so impactful! For me, I am always amazed at the tension and release. Terry is clearly letting his true feelings be known for the first time after keeping them pent up for ages, but he also shows a lot of restraint - like his gentle gestures towards Charlie at the line "You was my brother, Charlie . . ." There isn't any yelling or explosive emotional outbursts - but there doesn't have to be to convey the gravity. I am mesmerized every time I watch.
Zachary L because it relates to a majority of people who grow up and feel I coulda woulda shoulda..his execution and pauses is on point it’s my favorite scene
I'll never get over his pronunciation of "I could've been somebody". Go ahead and say the line like you regularly would. You'll emphasize all the words about the same, maybe "been" more than the rest. Brando bunches "I could've been" together and nails you with that "somebody" right in the heart. It's unnatural in a way, and that's what makes it so realistic and heartbreaking.
I'm 62 and younger brother is 56. I was good at basketball but he was blessed with skills and tslents that I could only dream of. I served 31 years in the military and another 21 at the federal civil services level. Young brother with all that God given talent... only in and out of jail. He only calls when its his birthday asking for money never calls to say happy father day, veterans day or happy birthday. "My brother could have been a contender." A great movie and such a great scene.
This man is the reason why I never fell head over heels for anyone. All my girls had that boy that they lived for. Not me. Even after we were old enough to hit the bars and clubs. I never went a week without one of my old movies. And Marlon Brando was just something else. Since the first time I saw him in a movie when I was little girl, it was guys and dolls, my mom loved the old musicals and the old classics- I loved him right away. I seriously just fell head over heels for him. At 6 years old I had made up my mind that when I grew up and he grew young we would get married. You know kids have no concept of time and aging, so I thought I had a chance. But even after I learned the hard truth, I still couldn’t love him any less. No one else really compares to my Brando. ;) This is hands down my favorite role, and of course favorite scene. People who don’t even know who marlon Brando is know the contender line. That says something about how friggin amazing he was. The Men was a great one too. And obviously Streetcar. Ahhhh. Brando Ever feel like you were definitely born in the wrong time ?
1:39 “It was you Charlie.” That part has always been so powerful to me, because he’s not angry but rather he’s disappointed, as evident by his body language. Like he’s accepted what happened and it hurts, but he’s okay with it.
This is one of the most powerful scenes from one of the most powerful movies ever made. It was written by the great Budd Schulberg whose dramas were about as subtle as a rabbit punch. He followed this movie with two others, The Harder They Fall and A Face in the Crowd, both of which are unforgettable. Incidentally, it had been planned when filming this scene to back project a moving street scene through the rear window, but when they arrived the projection equipment was not there. One of the crew said that he had ridden to work that morning in a cab that had a small Venetian blind in the back window, so they ran out and bought one and cut it to fit. I think the blind gives the scene a gritty, almost claustrophobic atmosphere that far surpasses what the back projection would have provided.
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes: "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody instead of a bum, which is what I am." - #3
Imagine having a dream that you've wanted your whole life but one of your family members destroys it, and you have to live life they way they see fit instead of what you wanted. You end up feeling regretful and you wish you took that chance to live your dream. Then you see that same family member who ruined your life and confront them about it and you have to relive the pain of giving up your dream, and living a miserable life. That my friends, is what this whole scene is about.
Imagine being Steiger when he went for the closeups and helped Brando offscreen and the piece of work walked away when he should have done the same for him. A bum you are indeed!
The greatest actor of all time The greatest acting performance in film history The greatest scene in film history. Thats what i said to myself when i saw this film for the first time.
Charlie: "Look, kid, I - how much you weigh, son? When you weighed one hundred and sixty-eight pounds you were beautiful. You coulda been another Billy Conn, and that skunk we got you for a manager, he brought you along too fast." Terry: "It wasn't him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and you said, "Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson." You remember that? "This ain't your night"! My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me just a little bit so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money." Charlie: "Oh I had some bets down for you. You saw some money." Terry: "You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley."
Damn, this still is one of the greatest bits of acting I've ever seen. He sucks you in and doesn't let your attention go anywhere else than into what he's saying and how he feels.
Came here from the autobiography " When I stop talking, you'll know I'm dead" by Jerry Weintraub...Usefull stories from a persuasive man....Very easy and fun read....10 pages a day...I've read 50 books this way...anyone who's looking for motivation to get things going or keep going should get and read....
I always cry no matter how many times I see this. Not just because of the lines, the acting, the music (especially) but how much broken families absolutely got to pieces. Every time. Not maybe as dramatically as this, but in smaller ways, sadder ways, in the ways girls go to pieces did.
It's a shame that such incredible films like this one isn't appreciated in modern society, this is a true masterpiece from the acting of Marlon Brando to the directing of Elia Kazan, just amazing
these old timers perfected method acting in a way that's been lost in today's world of CGI, where visuals and fast-moving action take precedence over authentic storytelling. back then it was pure cinema
I have watched this scene many times but only now have I been moved to tears, genuinely one of the greatest performances in all of cinema, if not the greatest
I stand in awe every time I see this scene. delivered by two real master of acting. There is no point on saying "what is the best scene" and "who has been the greatest". I just thanks these two great actors for giving me a great emotion overtime I see this scene. I have been watching lots of movies from everywhere and from anytime, but still the way I get moved by these acting amaze me. I can't remember many scenes like this one. Welles in citizen Kane rage scene in his wife bedrooms is one of theme. The beginning speech of Carllitos' way (an underrated movie in my opinion). The final scene of spencer tracy "guess who is coming for dinner". Steiger again in "duck you sucker" revolution speech. Still, as pure acting skills, I think that still now Brando has no pair. He draw a line.
Brando is so powerful the way he delivers his lines and the way Steiger is looking down consumed with guilt knowing that he held his brother down when he needed him most, his death/redemption in the next scene makes it all the more emotional.
You know that you're a shitty older brother when your younger sibling has to remind you what you're supposed to be doing as an older brother. "You was my older brother, you're supposed to look after me a lil bit" Damn, this guy fucked up.
One of the best actors this world has ever or will ever see! My favorite Marlon Brando movie... They don't make them like this anymore... The acting, the score... Phenomenal...😘
I have never seen this whole movie and I know I am in for a treat. Just love the old classics. Eva Marie is gorgeous in this film. I like her here better than later when Hitchcock insisted on glamorizing her all up. She was already sufficiently glamorous au natural.
Brando perfect as the lead here and Steiger just nails all the reactions and drama beautifully. Also the editing and cinematography - such a subtle scene, yet, see how the eyelight is there when he says "contender"; "somebody" but gone on "bum" enhancing the actor's performance even more.
Brando is the essence of brilliance. Unfairly people talk about the controversy and missteps of his career but what cannot be denied is his sheer talent. He was only in Apocalypse now for 20 minutes but he dominated the film. He sacrificed his Oscar win to highlight the disgraceful treatment of native Americans. This was a unique artist. Powerful, brilliant and sadly missed
"You don't understand, I coulda had class, I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody"...said a man who had class, who had been a contender, who was somebody.
To many the “I coulda been a contender” line is top tier, but what really puts the nail in the coffin is at 1:37 when he softly lets out “it was you Charlie”. You could hear the hurt in his voice of holding it in for so many years.
This is one of those best example scenes of how an actor not only plays a character, but also attempts to make a character seem like a realistic person than fictional. All have came down by Marlon Brando himself who revolutionized that and Daniel Day Lewis following up the same style almost.
Brandon delivers a Shakespearean silloquy in a Eastern seaboard working man's dialect. I could have been a contender a lament about life's pitfalls and bad choices. To be or not to be that is the question.
The scene when Charlie handed his gun to Terry is very sad, depressing. Charlie basically gave up his life by giving the gun, because he knew his mob boss would whack him for letting Terry go alive. But Charlie wants to redeem his mistake to his brother, he wants his brother to re-build and continue his life. The gun is the symbol of his last help to Terry, so Terry could protect himself and be alive after this. Charlie sacrificed himself for his brother.
"I coulda been a contender" is one of the most iconic film lines in history. But his delivery of "I coulda been somebody" is the real genius of this scene.
Completely agree
"Which is what I am"
the self-realization right here takes the cake for me
His transition from Dissappointed to anger with the "I could've torn Wilson apart" into sadness with the bum line and then self reflection at the end with "let's face it" and his looks down. Just beautifully done and was lines he made up on the spot when he forgot his original lines that were similar. He changed the entire scene as he came up with pushing the gun away and acting Dissappointed. They just let him go. What a legend.
Ok it's all good guys
@Patricia Nazzaro Exactly. He looks off as if for a split second he is looking at who he could have been. And that sight tears him apart. It's so quick and subtle. Like he lived a life time in one second and then it was gone...
That is acting at its best.
What made Brando's line so powerful in this scene was the fact that it gives you the sense that he's speaking for any and every person in the world who has felt like an outsider or who has had a missed opportunity in making a great achievement in their lives.
caitlinjane92 exactly.
You can hear the dream, the vision of it in his voice
Yes, many of us could'a been somebody
The experience of missed opportunities is largely in the emotions realm. Grace says it's all right. I just thought I'd throw that out there
Wow, so well said and on point.
The look on Brando's face at the beginning of this scene says it all. He's not angry at his brother, but disappointed; disappointed that once again, his brother has failed to come through for him.
This scene is so relatable to me. That's rare that t.v. or movies from today grab me like that.
+moVwatchr67 By the end of the movie, however, Charley finally does come through for him.
TheJking85 But it's at the end. Not to negate the build up, or even the act, but it's almost like he was atoning for all the wrongs he did to him, like he was trying to balance it all out.
Very true
I am doing well in life and my younger brother is not but he will soon be a contender because I will not let him down as his older brother. I prefer to have less and share so I can sleep good at night. Love you little bro. This scene messed me up.
This scene still hits hard. For anyone who thinks they missed great opportunities in life, it hits even harder
Something I'm always blown away by in this scene is Brando's ability to move seamlessly from one emotion to the next.
- Shocked at the beginning that his brother pulled the gun (which it's a shame that part isn't included),
- Surprised when his brother blames the manager,
- Disappointed in his brother for letting him down,
- Shocked again when recounting "this isn't your night",
- Anger when he says "My night, I coulda tore Wilson apart." (Maybe my favorite part)
- Deep sadness and regret with the contender lines.
- Then brutal acceptance when he says "a bum which is what I am, let's face it."
- When he finally says "it was you Charlie" he says it like he's been holding it in for years.
I also like how he puts his hand on his knee and raises his other hand in a kind of, masculine defensive nonverbal gesture that says, "That's just how I feel man, but I'm not an emotional wreck or anything." At least that's what I or anyone would do after pouring their heart out. Or it could mean, "But that's neither here nor there."
+John Hein This scene made me search out the movie. It's on Hulu last I checked. Such a great movie.
+Jajais4u last I checked it was on amazon prime as well.
+John Hein agreed. Such a great way to end his speech. I think little gestures like, and this entire scene, can be lost on people who don't put it in the right context. It was rare for an actor to portray a big tough guy as this emotionally damaged at that point in time. In other words, I think it's a great observation by you that I totally missed.
Kelly Angel Burn You don't know much about acting nowadays do you?
This was Brando's moment, but Charley's reaction during the monologue is priceless. Rod Steiger doesn't get enough credit for both being invisible enough to spotlight Brando, while at the same time present enough to let us see how hard those words land. Bravura performances by two artists at the peak of their powers.
His close-up reaction shot was taken after Brando left the set being done with his takes.
Absolutely, Steiger is just brilliant.
Steiger was Brando's equal no doubt
Rod Steiger it's the most underrated actor for all time, but winning the Oscars for Best Actor in 1967 In The Heat At The Night
@@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401 Should’ve won for The Pawnbroker. Dustin Hoffman and Paul Newman should’ve won the Oscar that year
The way he breaks visual contact with Charlie when he says "I coulda been a contender" and "I coulda been somebody" by looking away in the distance is truly heart-wrenching. It's like one could feel the huge distance between the present and the 'what if'. Then, at "instead of a bum" the dreaming is over, and his look turns again to Charlie. A moment in which time seems to stop.
He was looking at his lines on cue cards lol
@@mith2946 Sure, looks like it. But cue cards for 2 sentences? Really?
@@reybirch Brando was infamous for never learning his lines, he believed it was best to see the lines during the scenes so that his first attempt was the most spontaneous. It was probably also a bit of laziness lol
@@bmkeesee
Ironically, It works here.
Best analysis bro
The soundtrack made this scene even greater than it already was gonna be...
When they reprise this song during the scene when he discovers Charlie's dead body (“I'm going to take it out of their skulls.”). Wow!
That's the music of Leonard Bernstein...who was born 100 years ago this year. If you're ever in Brooklyn, you can pay your respects at his gravesite in beautiful Green-Wood Cemetery.
TheDestint You nailed it. That downbeat synched with Terry's first line and grabs your heart. If you don't choke up @ that moment, I have a toe tag for you.
Funny. I was thinking they should reedit the movie without the sappy strings.
TheDestint really I thought it made the scene worse, it was out of place.
That last “it was you Charlie” is just heartbreaking. And I love how he is not so much angry but just disappointed in his brother. Awww. What a scene
"It was you Charlie."
"I know it was you Fredo."
Pacino and brando the two greatest
@@antonioconteandhislovelyli1604 after De Niro
@D Legionnaire Are you a real legionnaire?
@D Legionnaire Very cool.
I'm Spartacus.
His face when he says, "I coulda been somebody." ❤️great acting.
It is remarkable. You see the classy guy HE sees.
Never seen the movie. Just searched this up. Got me crying for some reason
I love his face
I saw that expression more than 10 times
1:26
This has to be one of the greatest movie scenes of all time. Brando was just incredible and a real force of nature in the way he acted. He could have you eating out the palm of his hands within seconds!
Jez Creed He did in some of the best ways and in some of the worst ways hold a mirror up to nature
11 hours to shoot the scene, yea, we was brilliant
Practice makes perfect.
Tom bryan what's your problem if he elongated this take to 11 hrs..I betcha if you can pull off the same or near to it in 11 years..
Yep. Streetcar has em too. "Now THAT'S how I'm gonna clear da table." LMFAO!!!!
Look at the way he says"I coulda been somebody." It tears your heart out.
He doesnt cry but shows sadness absolutely awesome
The Genius of Brando was to make the incredibly difficult look simple. The pathos, the tender disappointment, the gentle irony of it make this one the great scenes in cinema.
"I could have been somebody instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it." That hits hard for me personally. I've made a lot of mistakes and thrown the best years of my life away, throwing away opportunities and never really getting my shot.
Trying to fit in, partying, the pot and all the rebellion in the late 60's into the 70's is what made me a bum. But the greatest thing was that Jesus found me and I trusted his blood to save me.
hey Chris..how are you doing?
@@klaytonpa hey Allen...hope you've been OK
It's not over
Same here
This makes me think of my brother. In his youth he had the talent to be a contender. Rest in peace big brother! 1954-2016.
you should of taken care of him
What an awful thing to say
Don't talk shit without having the facts. Maybe he did take care of him. Everyone runs out of time at some point.
veniblanco LOL
1954? The acting from Marlon is so far ahead of its time it's crazy.
Polpiv4tifish
He practically single-handedly changed the entire paradigm.
Pure method acting. greatest school of acting ever after Stanislavski's. Genius of Kazan & even more from Brando...
The method gets too much credit. The actors should have each credited themselves a lot more.
In 1951 when he did A Streetcar Named Desire, that was the moment in history he changed acting in film forever.
@@citypopFM when two great styles of acting appear on film. Viven Leigh and Marlon Brando. Truly spectacular
wow, the depth of disappointment in Malon's eyes
Greatest actor ever.
Marlon Brando
Pacino, day Lewis and de Niro need you to hold their beers
And pain and suffering that played out for YEARS. Brando did indeed nail it. Also, watch Brando in a scene from Last Tango where his character berates the corpse of his dead wife. He shows even more pain & suffering there. It's not nearly as iconic but it's Brando's finest acting.
@@zekeedwards9708 None of them - especially that ham Day-Lewis - could hold a candle to early Brando, or even Steiger here, lets be honest.
G Galeno
De Niro, Brandi and Laurence Olivier are the greatest actors ever...
G. Ma definitely not Olivier.
140 people from Palookaville
Gerardo Peña 😂every time I hear palooka I think of Butch and Vincent in Pulp Fiction scene
Is that near Scranton?
I disagree that Godfather was better film but I know what you mean.But Waterfront has Brando, Steiger, Lee J. Cobb, Eve Marie Saint, and, of course Karl Malden. An incredible story; a morality play of ordinary life.
Update, 109 people from palookaville
@@jbdlawyer its called Bayonne.
Brando took acting to the next level. He is unmatched in his range of emotions he displays on the screen. Americas greatest actor.
Not just us but the greatest that ever lived
Ever heard of mohanlal
@@josejoji3487 Haha.........Ever heard of Godfather.....yeah Marlon Brando is Godfather in acting.
This movie was released in 1954.
Where was Mohanlal in 1954.
It's very unfair to compare him with Brando.
@@naveenjose2 Mohanlal can do very deep acting and seemless transition effectlessly than Brando
@@GopalKumar-bj3di But, that's exactly what Brando did here. And, this was before Mahonlal was born.
That moment at about 1:42, after he says, "It was you Charlie," then he looks down sadly, shakes his head and kinda shrugs a little bit... such a simple bit of body language but so powerful and communicates so much emotion. Brando was such a brilliant, natural performer.
The Michael Jordan of acting
Tuan Jim whats yr profil pic
My favourite bit is from "You don't understand" to "lets face it". Not overdramatic but you can just see the inner disappointment. Great great acting, especially for the time when everyone else is doing a completely different style.
love his hand movement at that part. subtle natural acting
abbes saadallah The profile pic is a Looney Tunes version of the actor Peter Lorre. Search for the Bugs Bunny episode called "Racketeer Rabbit" on TH-cam. It's from like 1940-something but it's on here.
What so great is that he lets it all out in this scene. All the hatred and resentment at his lost potential.
I watch this shit everyday.
See you tomorrow ;)
Become a contender instead. You don't have to become a champion, but try.
lochyes but I'm going for the price on Wilson
I Feel Like A.J kid, this aint your night...
Zorbak962 my night! I could've taken Wilson apart!
He's not a bum. He was Don Corleone.
He's The Godfather 😢😣
+آل باتشينو Al Pacino is not an Arab
Right here, he was bum Corleone.
+Shahanshah of Persia WE WUZ CONTENDERZ N' SHIEEET!!!
😂😂
It's ironic that this line about being a nobody comes from one of the most influential actors of all time!
+paperbullet1945 That's the Hollywood angle of provoking discontent.
It is a line from the character so it isn't ironic at all.
Brando's father used to say horrible things to him like that all the time when he was younger. If he needed motivation for the scene, it was definitely there.
the scene took 11 hours to film, Brando walked off after his lines were done and left Steiger to finish without any off camera support. He also teased and infused nonsense into the dialogue which pissed off Steiger. There's the facts. 11 hours! Watch Steiger explain it in an interview, he felt slighted by Brando
TheSealOfTheRose it's not, he never said the lines on the script, he always said what he felt as the character
"I coulda been a bum, instead of a great actor, which is what I am...let's face it."
Terry Peterson you think brando is dumb...how about you tell me your favorite scene in Hollywood..or are you as dumb as they come...
Where did I say or infer that Brando was "dumb"?
Terry Peterson my bad..I was going through someone else's comment and posted here.. sorry..
No worries. thanks for letting me know.
Terry Peterson I guess I got carried away by the acting...😎
At 1:10 Brandos face when he says you shoulda looked out for me...that expression grabbed me the most in this infamous scene. Also Steigers expressions are rarely mentioned. He was equally brilliant ...his ying to Marlons yang.
That's true. Very very important, if not equally. Wouldn't have been such a classic scene if brilliant acting from one end wasn't paired.
Infamous scene?
@@garygilkenson I misunderstood the def of infamous. Actually I assumed the def. Now I know it's a negative connotation.
'My night? I could have taken Wilson apart.'
This part never gets talked about but you can just see in his eyes he's played that fight over in his head a million times since. Brando was on a whole other level
One of the best scenes in cinema. I love the look on Rod Steiger's face at the beginning of the scene. Brando is awesome.
This scene breaks my heart every time
One way ticket to palookaville..classic
A masterclass. When he says SOMEBODY, he looks off into the distance, and you can SEE the classy somebody HE sees. It's extraordinary acting.
One of the greatest things about this scene is that Marlon Brando's emotion is not forced. When he says 'I coulda been a Contender, I coulda been somebody" he says it so seamlessly. He doesn't have to force anything. It is what makes Marlon Brando the greatest actor ever. 5 out of 5 for sure.
Will Smith he has that same heartbroken faraway look that Ellen Burstyn had in Requiem for a Dream where she talks to Harry about her red dress. A life that never came in to fruition but one you can’t let go of
It feels a little hammy by today's standards.
Conversely, your acting has certainly taken a tumble since the HITCH days. Who's the bumpkin who cast you in After Earth again?
@@DC-zi6se that's because today everyone under acts.
Brando and Bogart.
"I could've been somebody" is the peak of acting.
Nothing can be better than this.
❤❤❤❤
Watch Joan of Arc from the 20's, or Benedict Cumberbatch in Patrick Melrose today, and they match it; but its rare to see acting of this calibre on screen I admit.
Anyone notice how his eyes kept moving to look somewhere off screen behind the camera? To the seat next to the driver's seat? I remember reading somewhere Brando never memorized his lines but had them written on plaques so that his delivery could be more spontaneous. Idk but whatever he did...it clearly worked for his career
He wasn't reading his lines at this stage of his career, he began that in the 60s.
he never liked to read straight from the script, improvising was his thing
Wait, I read that this scene had lines written, but Brando decided to improvise. Even if that wasn't true, at this point in his career he would have cared enough to memorize lines. It was The Godfather where he had his lines placed on set so that he could read them, that's why some shots obscured the fronts of the other actors, so you couldn't see the lines taped to their shirts.
1:21 “You don’t understand! I coulda had class! I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody. Instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it.”
One of the best looks at deep regret and disappointment, at the opportunities that were missed.
Classic scene, I've heard the older guy's in the neighborhood say this famous line. In this movie a thousand times, kind of miss thee old timers.
"I could have been a contender"
‘You should have looked out for me a little bit..’ and Brando’s gentle tap with the hand on his brother. So moving and understated.
Two of my favorite actors.
ya that other guy is great too whats his name?
Vahe345 Rod Steiger.
YOU MUST BE GAY
@@johnnymorell4974In the Heat of the Night
One of the best drama scene of all the time.
Grieving what he could have been with proper support...grieving lost possibilities is the most gut wrenching and Brando's portrayal of that grief shows that he was a hall of famer at the earliest stages of his career!
an utterly jaw dropping and beautiful scene!!!!!!
The sense of resignation and loss. Of all the sorrow having bled out of him cos its all roo much effort.genius
My all-time favorite performance in a film is Marlon Brando's in this film. He is SO GOOD in this scene that it makes me cry. So incredibly genuine.
It was as if Marlon was real life disappointed at his real life brother. An incredible actor - the best ever.
The acting..... woooow
I COULDA BEEN A CONTENDER!
you dont understand!
Let's face it.
It really hurt
I'm sure you're not bum mr... Beethoven? Am I spelling it right?
I love this scene. It's so impactful! For me, I am always amazed at the tension and release. Terry is clearly letting his true feelings be known for the first time after keeping them pent up for ages, but he also shows a lot of restraint - like his gentle gestures towards Charlie at the line "You was my brother, Charlie . . ." There isn't any yelling or explosive emotional outbursts - but there doesn't have to be to convey the gravity. I am mesmerized every time I watch.
This is quite possibly the most powerful scene in cinematic history.
completely agree
As do I. My father used to recite this scene when I was growing up, really giving the emotion of the words of Brando. I freakin love the memory.
Zachary L because it relates to a majority of people who grow up and feel I coulda woulda shoulda..his execution and pauses is on point it’s my favorite scene
I was just about to write that myself. Great acting, great writing, great music.
of course it is
I'll never get over his pronunciation of "I could've been somebody". Go ahead and say the line like you regularly would. You'll emphasize all the words about the same, maybe "been" more than the rest. Brando bunches "I could've been" together and nails you with that "somebody" right in the heart. It's unnatural in a way, and that's what makes it so realistic and heartbreaking.
I'm 62 and younger brother is 56. I was good at basketball but he was blessed with skills and tslents that I could only dream of. I served 31 years in the military and another 21 at the federal civil services level. Young brother with all that God given talent... only in and out of jail. He only calls when its his birthday asking for money never calls to say happy father day, veterans day or happy birthday. "My brother could have been a contender." A great movie and such a great scene.
One of the all-time greatest scenes in film.....
This man is the reason why I never fell head over heels for anyone. All my girls had that boy that they lived for. Not me. Even after we were old enough to hit the bars and clubs. I never went a week without one of my old movies. And Marlon Brando was just something else. Since the first time I saw him in a movie when I was little girl, it was guys and dolls, my mom loved the old musicals and the old classics- I loved him right away. I seriously just fell head over heels for him. At 6 years old I had made up my mind that when I grew up and he grew young we would get married. You know kids have no concept of time and aging, so I thought I had a chance. But even after I learned the hard truth, I still couldn’t love him any less. No one else really compares to my Brando.
;)
This is hands down my favorite role, and of course favorite scene. People who don’t even know who marlon Brando is know the contender line. That says something about how friggin amazing he was.
The Men was a great one too.
And obviously Streetcar.
Ahhhh. Brando
Ever feel like you were definitely born in the wrong time ?
1:39
“It was you Charlie.”
That part has always been so powerful to me, because he’s not angry but rather he’s disappointed, as evident by his body language. Like he’s accepted what happened and it hurts, but he’s okay with it.
This is one of the most powerful scenes from one of the most powerful movies ever made. It was written by the great Budd Schulberg whose dramas were about as subtle as a rabbit punch. He followed this movie with two others, The Harder They Fall and A Face in the Crowd, both of which are unforgettable. Incidentally, it had been planned when filming this scene to back project a moving street scene through the rear window, but when they arrived the projection equipment was not there. One of the crew said that he had ridden to work that morning in a cab that had a small Venetian blind in the back window, so they ran out and bought one and cut it to fit. I think the blind gives the scene a gritty, almost claustrophobic atmosphere that far surpasses what the back projection would have provided.
Steiger was a method actor par excellence. He stood toe to toe with Brando in this film.
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes: "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody instead of a bum, which is what I am." - #3
Imagine having a dream that you've wanted your whole life but one of your family members destroys it, and you have to live life they way they see fit instead of what you wanted. You end up feeling regretful and you wish you took that chance to live your dream. Then you see that same family member who ruined your life and confront them about it and you have to relive the pain of giving up your dream, and living a miserable life.
That my friends, is what this whole scene is about.
LemonadepieX
Thanks, I didn't understand this scene at first. Friend of mine quoted this, and I had no idea what it was.
Yeah. We know.
Imagine being Steiger when he went for the closeups and helped Brando offscreen and the piece of work walked away when he should have done the same for him. A bum you are indeed!
Many of us know having dreams destroyed by cruel betrayal. The follow-on anger further ruins the future. It kills the joy that made life worthwhile.
death of a salesman
Marlon Brando's acting is so powerful in this film, and this scene alone is so strong
The greatest actor of all time
The greatest acting performance in film history
The greatest scene in film history.
Thats what i said to myself when i saw this film for the first time.
The greatest film noir for all time
Daniel Day Lewis
The music is fantastic, it adds a sense of regret for things long passed into the scene
Charlie: "Look, kid, I - how much you weigh, son? When you weighed one hundred and sixty-eight pounds you were beautiful. You coulda been another Billy Conn, and that skunk we got you for a manager, he brought you along too fast."
Terry: "It wasn't him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and you said, "Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson." You remember that? "This ain't your night"! My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me just a little bit so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money."
Charlie: "Oh I had some bets down for you. You saw some money."
Terry: "You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley."
Mynameisawars i
carnaxide2120 I Know I seen the video m8
Clare McDonnell who cares
We aren't deaf
Don't tell me you memorized all dialog. Did you feel urge to put it in writing?
Damn, this still is one of the greatest bits of acting I've ever seen. He sucks you in and doesn't let your attention go anywhere else than into what he's saying and how he feels.
This is the best ever.
It can’t get any better than this.
I will watch this scene and movie in 50 years from now.
It always gets me emotionally
He was 30 here
Came here from the autobiography " When I stop talking, you'll know I'm dead" by Jerry Weintraub...Usefull stories from a persuasive man....Very easy and fun read....10 pages a day...I've read 50 books this way...anyone who's looking for motivation to get things going or keep going should get and read....
I always cry no matter how many times I see this. Not just because of the lines, the acting, the music (especially) but how much broken families absolutely got to pieces. Every time. Not maybe as dramatically as this, but in smaller ways, sadder ways, in the ways girls go to pieces did.
It's a shame that such incredible films like this one isn't appreciated in modern society, this is a true masterpiece from the acting of Marlon Brando to the directing of Elia Kazan, just amazing
I've never watched better acting from a film in the 50s than what Brando exhibited here. Utterly superb
these old timers perfected method acting in a way that's been lost in today's world of CGI, where visuals and fast-moving action take precedence over authentic storytelling. back then it was pure cinema
I have watched this scene many times but only now have I been moved to tears, genuinely one of the greatest performances in all of cinema, if not the greatest
Love him. Love this scene! One of my favorites!
Great Acting from Brando!!! I Love Marlon Brando Legendary Actor!!!🌹🍷🌹🍷🌹
I stand in awe every time I see this scene. delivered by two real master of acting. There is no point on saying "what is the best scene" and "who has been the greatest". I just thanks these two great actors for giving me a great emotion overtime I see this scene. I have been watching lots of movies from everywhere and from anytime, but still the way I get moved by these acting amaze me. I can't remember many scenes like this one. Welles in citizen Kane rage scene in his wife bedrooms is one of theme. The beginning speech of Carllitos' way (an underrated movie in my opinion). The final scene of spencer tracy "guess who is coming for dinner". Steiger again in "duck you sucker" revolution speech. Still, as pure acting skills, I think that still now Brando has no pair. He draw a line.
Brando is so powerful the way he delivers his lines and the way Steiger is looking down consumed with guilt knowing that he held his brother down when he needed him most, his death/redemption in the next scene makes it all the more emotional.
You know that you're a shitty older brother when your younger sibling has to remind you what you're supposed to be doing as an older brother. "You was my older brother, you're supposed to look after me a lil bit" Damn, this guy fucked up.
yea he fucked up big time
I feel that way too! And it saddens me that I think that way
I'm the younger brother btw
One of the best actors this world has ever or will ever see! My favorite Marlon Brando movie... They don't make them like this anymore... The acting, the score... Phenomenal...😘
I have never seen this whole movie and I know I am in for a treat. Just love the old classics. Eva Marie is gorgeous in this film. I like her here better than later when Hitchcock insisted on glamorizing her all up. She was already sufficiently glamorous au natural.
Watch it. Its worth it
Brando perfect as the lead here and Steiger just nails all the reactions and drama beautifully. Also the editing and cinematography - such a subtle scene, yet, see how the eyelight is there when he says "contender"; "somebody" but gone on "bum" enhancing the actor's performance even more.
I can't tell you how much I love Marlon Brando because of this movie.
what a great line, definitely one of the greatest of all times
Brando is the essence of brilliance. Unfairly people talk about the controversy and missteps of his career but what cannot be denied is his sheer talent. He was only in Apocalypse now for 20 minutes but he dominated the film. He sacrificed his Oscar win to highlight the disgraceful treatment of native Americans. This was a unique artist. Powerful, brilliant and sadly missed
The stellar acting and music make this an unforgettable moment in cinema history.
You don't understand! This is Magical! He had class, he didn't even have contest and he was somebody. He was legendary, let's face it..
What a scene! Never tire on rewatching it. A manual on acting! The subtleties blow your mind....
.Mike
Everyday, you get older. Closer to the end. You're slowly becoming Brando's character.
"You don't understand, I coulda had class, I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody"...said a man who had class, who had been a contender, who was somebody.
I miss him
One of the great moments in film history.
To many the “I coulda been a contender” line is top tier, but what really puts the nail in the coffin is at 1:37 when he softly lets out “it was you Charlie”. You could hear the hurt in his voice of holding it in for so many years.
Brando is so amazing in this scene because he's not yelling or being overly animated but you still can't look away.
It’s 2024 just movie came on last night on TCM and it’s still the best thing I’ve seen in cinema
This is one of those best example scenes of how an actor not only plays a character, but also attempts to make a character seem like a realistic person than fictional. All have came down by Marlon Brando himself who revolutionized that and Daniel Day Lewis following up the same style almost.
Gets you in the throat every time - ``you were you my brother Charlie , you should have looked after me a little bit`` - wow powerful stuff . Brian
"It was you Charlie"
When we couldnt count in our family, there nothing worst.
This quote alone is so powerful and really goes to show how amazing Brando is an actor.
Brandon delivers a Shakespearean silloquy in a Eastern seaboard working man's dialect. I could have been a contender a lament about life's pitfalls and bad choices. To be or not to be that is the question.
‘I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody...’. Classic!
The music by Leonard Bernstein
And the acting by Marlon Brando
The greatest scene hands down
Everybody talks about Brando, but Rod Steiger was also a terrific actor. He was fantastic as Al Capone in the 1959 film about the Chicago mobster.
I can't stop kepping waching this!
The scene when Charlie handed his gun to Terry is very sad, depressing. Charlie basically gave up his life by giving the gun, because he knew his mob boss would whack him for letting Terry go alive. But Charlie wants to redeem his mistake to his brother, he wants his brother to re-build and continue his life. The gun is the symbol of his last help to Terry, so Terry could protect himself and be alive after this. Charlie sacrificed himself for his brother.