Essential Marlon Brando - page 2

4 months ago 08th Jul 13:57

Brando takes on the role of Terry Malloy, an ex-prize fighter, who finds himself torn between his family and his sense of duty as he fights against union corruption in New York.

'You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it.' This remains one of movie's most famous quotes.

On the Waterfront was nominated for twelve Oscars, picking up eight including Best Picture and Best Actor, and with this Brando's legacy was complete.

The Godfather

But just when you thought that this actor couldn't pull anymore iconic role of the bag The Godfather, arguably one of the greatest gangster movies of all time, came along in 1972.

The Godfather tells an epic tale of Mafia life in America during the 1940s and 1950s. Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is the family patriarch balancing a love of his family with an ambitious criminal instinct.

Coppola's masterpiece, which won three Oscars (including Best Picture) and spawned an Oscar-winning sequel (The Godfather Part II), set a new screen standard for merging blood-soaked violence with intimate family drama.

And Brando's performance was hailed as yet another classic as he once again won an Oscar, but it was an award that he refused to collect.

Last Tango In Paris

While the actor was used to controversy surrounding his work nothing compared to the uproar and fuss that came hand in hand with his 1972 movie Last Tango In Paris.

The movie, which sees a middle aged widower have a sexual relationship with a twenty year old, soon to be married, woman shook the critics and viewing public with it's sexual violence and emotional turmoil.

It was given a strong rating, with some scenes cut before it was allowed to be released in the UK, while French movie-goers queued for two hours to watch the movie.

Despite all the controversy surrounding the movie Brando was once again nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.

Apocalypse Now

After the success of The Godfather filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola managed to convince Brando to return to the big screen for Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now in 1979.

With great performances from Brando, Martin Sheen and Dennis Hopper Apocalypse Now is widely regarded as the greatest war movie of all time.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw