American Rhetoric: Movie Speech

"On The Waterfront" (1954)

Father Barry Delivers Knockout Waterfront Homily on Corrupt Union Bosses

Some people think the crucifixion only took place on Calvary. Well they’d better wise up.

Takin' Joey Doyle’s life to stop him from testifying is a crucifixion.

And droppin' a sling on Kayo Dugan because he was ready to spill his guts tomorrow -- that’s a crucifixion!

And every time the mob puts the pressure on a good man, tries to stop him from doing his duty as a citizen -- it’s a crucifixion!

And anybody who sits around and lets it happen, keeps silent about something he knows has happened, shares the guilt of it just as much as the Roman soldier who pierced the flesh of our Lord to see if he was dead.

Boys, this is my church! And if you don’t think Christ is down here on the waterfront, you’ve got another guess coming.

Every morning when the hirin' boss blows his whistle, Jesus stands alongside you in the shape-up. He sees why some of you get picked and some of you get passed over. He sees the family men worrying about gettin' the rent and gettin' food in the house for the wife and the kids. He sees you sellin' your souls to the mob for a day’s pay!

Now, what does Christ think of the easy money boys who do none of the work and take all of the gravy? And how does he feel about the fellas who wear a $150.00 suits and diamond rings on your union dues and your kickback money? And how does He, who spoke up without fear against every evil, feel about your silence?!

You want to know what’s wrong with our waterfront? It’s the love of a lousy buck. It’s makin' love of a buck, the cushy job, more important than the love of man. It’s forgettin' that every fella down here is your brother in Christ.

But remember, Christ is always with you. Christ is in the shape-up. He’s in the hatch. He’s in the un[ion] -- He’s kneeling right here beside Dugan. And he’s sayin' with all of you: “If you do it to the least of mine, you do it to me.”

And what they did to Joey, and what they did to Dugan, they’re doing to you, and you, you -- all of you! And only you, only you with God’s help have the power to knock ‘em out for good.