Edge of the City ***** (1957, John Cassavetes, Sidney Poitier, Jack Warden) – Classic Movie Review 7899

Director Martin Ritt’s 1957 Edge of the City [A Man Is Ten Feet Tall] stars John Cassavetes as an army deserter called Axel Nordmann, who joins up with easy-going New York dockworker Tommy Tyler (Sidney Poitier) against aggressive bigot Charlie Malick (Jack Warden), in this tough and downbeat but sterling and strong-hearted dockside drama.

The high quality of the fine ensemble performances matches the equally high quality of an outstanding screenplay in a Fifties American classic. Director Ritt’s début feature film is a highly impressive opening-out of an original TV play (with a screenplay by its original writer Robert Alan Aurthur), given its special authority and power by the particularly pulsating powerhouse turns from the three stars.

Also in the cast are Kathleen Maguire, Ruby Dee, Robert F Simon, Ruth White, Val Avery, William A Lee, John Kellogg and David Clarke.

Poitier also starred in the TV version. He and Ruby Dee also play husband and wife in A Raisin in the Sun (1961) and Buck and the Preacher (1972).

Surprisingly, there were no awards or nominations from America, though it was nominated for two BAFTA Film Awards: Best Film from any Source and Best Foreign Actor (Sidney Poitier).

Edge of the City [A Man Is Ten Feet Tall] is directed by Martin Ritt, runs 85 minutes, is made by David Susskind Productions, Jonathan Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is released by MGM, is written by Robert Alan Aurthur, based on the teleplay by Robert Alan Aurthur, is shot in black and white by Joseph Brun, is produced by David Susskind and Jim di Ganci, and is scored by ScLeonard Rosenman.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7899

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