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‘Showbusiness with blood’
JOHN WIGHT discusses the chequered legacy of boxing writer Budd Schulberg
photo of Budd Schulberg

WE’VE all seen the movie and we’re all familiar with the iconic scene, when failed boxer Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) confronts his slick gangster brother Charley (Rod Steiger) in the back of the cab on its way to delivering Terry to his death for deciding to co-operate with an investigation into racketeering on the waterfront.

The line “I coulda had class! I coulda been a contender!” remains one of the most celebrated and recognisable in movie history.

On The Waterfront was written by Budd Schulberg and directed by Elia Kazan.

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