I remember, far before I saw the godfather, I just knew as many people in my position did. I knew two catch phrases from the Godfather:"Ill make him an offer he can't refuse" and "I could have been a contender." Wait, I could have been a contender? Ive watched the movies many times and after becoming much more of a fanatic of Godfather, I soon realized that "I coulda been a contenda" was not in any of the three movies. Did I miss that? Was I given wrong information about the catch phrase? It sounds really stupid, I know but I don't remember this in the film but I do remember knowing that it was (before I have even saw the film). Am I just crazy???

No "I coulda been a contender" was in On The Waterfront.Terry malloy, Marlon Brando's character says it to his brother. Maybe you were thinking of Brando catchphrases.

DSC hit it.

The "Contender" speech, one of the most memorable in film history, was given by Brando in the back seat of a car as he was riding with his brother (Rod Steiger).



Steiger was trying to get Brando to keep quiet about crime activities on the docks (and not cooperate with a task force investigating those activities). Steiger was a big shot in the Mob, and he got Brando some small time job, but Brando really wanted to a prizefighter. He had been one, but he had taken a dive so the Mob could benefit from the betting line. Recounting that night of the dive here is that dialogue between the brothers after Steiger blamed the manager for bringing Brando along too fast:

Brando: "It wasn't him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden and you came down to my dressing room and you said `Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson.' You remember that? This ain't your night! My night! I could have taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets a title shot outdoors in a ballpark and I get a one-way ticket to palookaville! You was my brother, Charley, you should've looked out for me just a little bit so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money."

Steiger: "We had some bets down for you, you saw some money."

Brando: "You don't understand! I could have had class. I could've been a contender! I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am! It was you Charley."

A great scene, from a great movie!

It was also recited by Jake LaMotta (De Niro) in Raging Bull.

"I got my shot and that's a fact. Some guys weren't that lucky... like the one Marlon Brando played in "On the Waterfront" -- an up and comer who's now a down and outer. You remember... there was this scene in the back of the car with his brother Charlie, a small-time racket guy, and it went somethin' like this -- "It wasn't him, Charlie. It was you...."

Hey Family; Maybe you confused it with Vito's talk with Michael in the garden. "I never wanted this for you Michael, ..... Senator Corleone, Governor Corleone, you could've been a contender."

They just played "Waterfront" on one of the classic movie stations here. It had been so many years since I had seen it. It was great to see it again and hear that famous Brando line!! He sure had/has a style of his own that's for sure. A real naturalness, much like James Dean IMHO.


TIS

Funny thing I always have in the back of my mind whenever I'm watching the 'contender' scene:

Rod Steiger on a Larry King Live interview mentioned that when filming his close-up shots, Brando did not have the courtesy to feed him his lines off screen, as Steiger had done for Brando and is pretty much common practice in filmmaking. To preserve the realism of the scene, in most cases the off-screen actor acts out the scene with the one being filmed.

That apparently hit a sore spot with Steiger who apparently never forgave Brando...though of course he was able to deliver anyway, professional that he was. But all those years later, talking about it still seemed to piss him off.

So whenever I'm watching Steiger's close-ups in that car, a part of me is wondering who the heck is feeding him his lines because it sure isn't little brother Terry!

Apple

Interesting story Apple. I had never heard that before, although it is much rumored that Brando is/was "moody" and hard to get along with.

I remember years ago in an interview, I believe with Dick Cavett, Brando was his guest and was very sarcastic and rude in my opinion. I wondered why he even bothered being on the show. I wish I could remember specific comments, but he didn't answer most of the questions asked or would ask Dick Cavett the same question sarcastically. He didn't come off as very likeable in that interview.

In later years he was on Larry King and seemed a little more cordial.

TIS

Well...let's face it his legendary talent aside, Brando was never reputed to be a very 'likeable' guy.

In fact all of us here know that his reputation as a troublemakeer both professionally and personally nearly cost Brando the role of Vito Corleone; were it not for FFC's persistence and the screen test Marlon HAD to do, and the clauses he HAD to sign in the contract for The Godfather...we might be discussing Laurence Olivier's performance today!

Luckily though, by all accounts Brando was professional and courteous at least during THAT production !!

Apple

Apple, Steiger repeated that story on an American Movie Channel interview that was rerun not long ago. He said he was in awe of Brando because of his work on "Streetcar." But Brando returned no courtesies. What I found interesting was that, in that all-time memorable taxi scene, they filmed each guy separately. As you said, Steiger hung around to feed Brando his lines, but when it was time for Steiger's lines, Brando had already taken off.

I'm not surprised to hear that he told it elsewhere, probably in more places than LKL and AMC. In fact when Larry King brought it up, it came across as though this was a fairly well-known story that Steiger was simply asked to elaborate upon.

Wonder if Rod Steiger ever did an interview with Robert Osborne of TCM...I am sure this very interesting behind the scenes story would've come up there, too!

Apple

Actually, I think it was on TCM, rather than on AMC. Damn good interview, too. The previous night, they interviewed Tony Curtis, who also gave a good interview with many colorful stories.

I bet you're right, Turnbull!

TCM recently had their 10th Anniversary (in April) and to celebrate showed every interview Osborne had taped with various stars over the past 10 years (many now deceased). I am sure Steiger was in there among them.

I really wished I could've sat and watched these, but sadly it was a weekday and I had to be at work. I saw only part of the Esther Williams interview, which was being shown when I got up at 6:00 a.m.

By the way, Tony Curtis is one of the BEST guests ever, on any show. He's got alot under his belt and alot of stories to tell...and he does it with a flair and energy that is not equaled.

Best,
Apple

Esther Williams wrote an autobio a couple of years ago that was just terrific, with many ribald stories. Well worth reading.

Yep, I saw that interview - and a good one at that. He did tell that Brando story and it really didn't surprise me.

But ever since that interview, I've been trying to find The Pawnbroker, one of his top roles I've heard.

And I believe Pacino got inspiration with that famous silent scream in GFIII from The Pawnbroker.

Another great Steiger tidbit was when he was nominated for Best Actor in this film. This WAS a TCM interview and Steiger was so sure he'd win that while the envelope was being opened he's sitting there wondering how he should go up to accept the award (should I 'saunter', etc....); and then when 'Lee Marvin' was announced as the winner, he said he was 'stunned'.

A refereshing admission, when you're used to hearing the usual...'It was an honor JUST to be nominated!'

joltinjoe05 - I have RARELY seen/heard of The Pawnbroker being on tv. It's one of those rare films that you can hardly find anywhere. Try searching it on the TCM website as that is the one network more likely to play it than any other.

Apple

Thanks a lot guys-I must have gotten confuded since I learned the catchphrases at such a you age from media. I still syupid though...lol