On the Irish Waterfront: The Crusader, the Movie, and the Soul of the Port of New York

Corruption, murder, McCarthyism, a crusading priest, censorship and Hollywood - this book has everything. Fisher (theology and American studies, Fordham University) merges the story behind the film On the Waterfront with the politics of the making of the film. Both stories are compelling and a part of the dark side of American history. Fisher tells of Father John Corridan (Karl Malden) and his fight to rid the New York/New Jersey waterfront of organized crime. Learning from a newspaper expose about the political corruption, the screenwriter Bud Schulberg convinced Elia Kazan to make a film based on Corridan's fight. Kazan and Schulberg had both been summoned to testify before the HUAC and were tainted by suspicions of communism as well as scorned for cooperating. Fisher feels that part of the reason for making the film was to redeem themselves in the eyes of their peers. Fisher's rendition of these intertwined stories is brilliantly done and will enthrall both film buffs and twentieth century historians. It would make a good movie, as well. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)