Edge of the City (1957)

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writer:

Robert Alan Aurthur (story)

Release Date:

2 August 1957 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

Tense drama of frightened men!

Plot:

Two New York City longshoremen Axel Nordmann (John Cassavetes), an Army deserter and Tommy Tyler (Sidney Poitier)...

Plot Keywords:

Rummy | Fighting | Social Commentary | Directorial Debut | Violence

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

John Cassavetes	...	Axel Nordmann
Sidney Poitier	...	Tommy Tyler
Jack Warden	...	Charles Malik
Kathleen Maguire	...	Ellen Wilson
Ruby Dee	...	Lucy Tyler
Val Avery	...	Brother
Robert F. Simon	...	Mr. George Nordmann (as Robert Simon)
Ruth White	...	Mrs. Nordmann
William A. Lee	...	Davis
John Kellogg	...	Detective
David Clarke	...	Wallace (as David Clark)
Estelle Hemsley	...	Lucy's Mother

Also Known As:

A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (UK)
Mann besiegt die Angst, Ein (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Donde la ciudad termina (Spain) [es]
Espasa ta desma mou (Greece) [el]
Homme qui tua la peur, L' (France) [fr]
Ingen undkommer (Sweden) [sv]
Miehen mitta (Finland) [fi]
Nel fango della periferia (Italy) [it]
Um Homem Tem Três Metros de Altura (Portugal) [pt]

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

David Susskind Productions

Movie Connections:

Remake of "The Philco Television Playhouse: A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (#8.3)" (1955)

Underrated powerhouse of a movie

This is one of Cassavetes' best performances. The entire cast is outstanding, as is Martin Ritt's sublimely understated direction. The anger, angst, and desparation of urban labor battles is magnificently told in a fashion that is neither obtrusive nor patronizing. In a way it is dated with its era, but in many ways, it is gloriously timeless.