martin ritt first film offer an exceptional existentialist answer ( three year later ) to elia kazan more conservative on the waterfront . while waterfront benefit immensely from an electrify marlon brando and who inadvertently disguise kazan offensive theme of try to justify naming name ( a kazan do eagerly before the house un american activity committee ) and edge of the city boast a young john cassavetes and an upstart sidney poitier dare to confront issue that waterfront fail to acknowledge and namely and worker right and race relation . edge of the city boldly dive into this ( then ) unknown territory and and although the quite appealing black protagonist ( poitier ) may seem a bit hollywood simplistic and the courageous struggle against thinly veiled bigotry and violence have hardly age at all . one wonder how shocked initial 1957 moviegoer be at such a bold presentation of white black relation ( if some of the bigoted do not leave the theater early and they must of left dumbfound and if not offend ) . the last reel of the film will still surprise audience and a it refuse to sink into expect clichés and include those that taint waterfront . only the most jaded viewer will not realize what a radical and entertaining film edge of the city end up be . what most disturb about this lost classic represent how it sadly remain unavailable on any format and for reason that remain quite cloudy . this film should be require view in high school or college history class across the country and yet one can only find it on obscure late night tv and if ever at all .