Waterfront

I have to wonder if the other reviewers on IMDb were watching the same film I have just seen. Waterfront must have been the most unrealistic "slice of life in the raw" film even upon its release in 1950. Some 64 years on it is simply laughable. Considering the Liverpool docks setting, and the fact that all the characters are meant to be local, it is incongruous to say the least that Ma is played by the Cockney sparrer herself, Kathleen Harrison, whilst her daughters are Susan Shaw (doing her It Always Rains on Sunday "EastEnders" bad girl accent), Avis Scott (who she?) at least attempting something vaguely Lancastrian - but certainly not Liverpudlian), and the two younger male leads are both Welsh - Richard Burton and Kenneth Griffith. Robert Newton opts for a mildly northern twang - occasionally. Newton, Harrison and Shaw are top-billed, though the starring role is actually played by Avis Scott, in what appears to have been her first and last lead (presumably Sally Gray was not available). Waterfront can only be viewed as a period piece, but it is not a good one, and is never for one moment believable or engrossing. Perhaps in the attempt for 'realism', none of the cast inject any personality into their characters: this is the only film in which the usually wonderful Kathleen Harrison has actually gotten on my nerves, and Richard Burton shows no sign of being a megastar in embryo.

Robert Newton slings his ditty on his shoulder, tells his elder daughter he's off on another voyage and walks off singing. He's not seen again for more than fourteen years. In the meantime, his wife, Kathleen Harrison, gives birth to his son, who turns out to be a swot. His daughter grow up into Avis Scott and Susan Shaw. Miss Scott gets engaged to Ship's engineer Richard Burton (in his third screen role)m who can't get a berth because of the downturn. Miss Shaw takes up with well-to-do Kenneth Griffith, who's looking for a good time with an easily impressed slum girl, Miss Harrison...well, she is worn out, bewildered, and hopeful.

It's an ambitious film from a novel by John Brophy, directed by Michael Alexander. You can tell by Liszt Prelude conducted by the London Symphony Orchestra that is offered as the opening and closing themes, and the graceful camerawork by Harry Waxman that swoops from the skies to show the dingy, worn-down Merseyside. The problem is, that while always watchable, and always well performed, the characters don't change, just the situations. Some will make their way out by talent, like Robin Netscher as Harrison's son, or by hard work, like Burton and Miss Shaw; some will sink into dust, like Miss Harrison and Miss Shaw. And some will be hanged, like Newton. But they can't change places. This sort of Greek tragedy isn't a story of people, but of fates.

'Waterfront' is a short, but beautifully written and acted, British drama. It boasts an early performance from the young Richard Burton, before Hollywood flourishes and ego started to affect his film choices; and a multi-faceted turn from Robert Newton as the drunken father who returns to the family he abandoned some years before.

Without a complicated plot, this film concentrates instead on the characters - the mother who has grown strong for her children's sake (the excellent Kathleen Harrison); the daughters Nora (Avis Scott) and Connie (Susan Shaw), and other peripheral characters - Olive Sloane as Mrs Gibson, alongside Kenneth Griffith and Robin Netscher.

Directed by Michael Anderson from John Brophy's novel, this gem showcases the Liverpool docks in the days when life was hard for those who lived there and made their living from the water. It looks at the journey from girl to woman of the eldest child, and the muddled dynamics of family relationships and loyalties.

Waterfront is an urban drama that takes place in and around the dock area of the United Kingdom's busiest seaport city Liverpool. My own first exposure to Liverpudlian culture comes from the Beatles. If you're not a resident of the UK I suspect that would be the same for anybody.

In fact knowing what little I know about the hardscrabble backgrounds of the Fab Four as kids this was an interesting film to watch if for no other reason than to see from where they sprung. Waterfront was in fact shot on location in Liverpool, in areas I suspect that had been restored somewhat to something approximating what they looked like before the Blitz.

I also suspect that the Lennon, Starkey, Harrison, and especially the McCartney families lived in such an area as the McCabes did. The action takes place between the World Wars and starts in 1919 when Robert Newton just decides one day to not come back from a sea voyage, deserting wife Kathleen Harrison and the two daughters and a babe on the way that neither of them know about.

Newton's character Peter McCabe would have been at home in a Eugene O'Neill play. In fact I suspect if O'Neill were British he might very well have made Liverpool his place of literary inspiration. Newton stays away for 15 years and then returns and doesn't even try to contact his family. For the rest all we'll say is it turns out very badly for him indeed.

The daughters are played by Avis Scott and Susan Shaw and its Scott's character who narrates the story and in whose eyes we view the proceedings. Both get involved with different men, Scott with young Richard Burton who was billed sixth in the cast and Shaw with the smooth and caddish Kenneth Griffith. The son that Newton never knew he had is played by young Robin Netscher who is a brilliant student even if he does have to fight a lot over slurs about his father.

Newton turns in a restrained and believable performance of a man with wanderlust and a lack of responsibility. Some similarities in his character with Yancy Cravat from both versions of Cimarron. For those who expect the eye rolling overacting that Newton is known for, you'll be disappointed. Harrison also is good as the working class mother trying to do right by her kids.

This review is dedicated to the Fab Four of Liverpool who put the city on the map worldwide in so many cultures and languages. I suspect that if Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney ever catch this film, they'll rate it as an accurate portrayal of the old home town.

Given that this film was set in Liverpool what one has to ask is why are the actors all using different accents.For some reason the director clearly equates anywhere up North with a mancunian accent instead of the scouse accent.Of course dear old Robert Newton eyes rolling in anticipation of his part as Long John Silver,veers from Cockney to mumerset.Newton was such a fine actor your attention is drawn to him from beginning to end.He is supported by such a great cast.A very young Richrad Burton as a jobless ships engineer,Kathleen Harrison as the usual harassed mother and Kenneth Griffiths playing what one assumes to be a spiv.The camera work is first class particularly eye catching being the fight outside the pub.One could almost call this a British film noir.This film is sadly neglected and doesn't get any showing on TV.