You don’t understand！ I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody， instead of a bum， which is what I am, let’s face it. It was you, Charley. -----------------<<岸上風雲 On the Waterfron (1954)>>

多麼強烈的一段話,兄弟間多年壓抑的情感與現實的衝突就這麼一語道盡,當然一大部分得歸功於馬龍白蘭度(Marlon Brando),這些話如果不是從他口中說出,恐怕會失色許多。那種獨特的說話方式,造就了不少後輩的模仿。當然,沒有一個人能比的上他。每一個字從他嘴理念出來都像是利斧般硬生生的刻在你心裡,有時即使是淡淡的一句話,依然保有著相當的力道。某些時候,即使電影內容已經忘了,但你就硬是還記得他說話的神情和字句。對我而言,他就是這種人。

有趣的是,在拍這場戲時,馬龍白蘭度還跟導演伊利亞卡山(Elia Kazan)抱怨說他實在演不下去了,他無法理解一個如此愛護他的哥哥會拿槍指著他。伊利亞卡山只跟他說”你可以的,就照你的信念演下去吧!”結果成就了這經典的一幕。片中其他角色例如扮演神父的Karl Malden,一改在慾望街車中憨厚的老實人形象,化身象徵正義以及公理的神父,片中不乏他熱血的說教橋段,在整部戲中在對惡勢力的制衡中佔有相當的份量,儘管某些戲份顯的過於矯情(例如片尾要主角獨自走出來),但整體而言角色刻畫的也夠鮮明。飾演反派老大的Lee J. Cobb也是夠強勢而且派頭十足,有種對他而言什麼都不成問題般的自信。

其實這部戲我也只記得大概的內容,善惡的對立,良心的拉扯,和印象最深的那段兄弟之間真情告白。另外,還有伯恩斯坦的配樂,有點像西城故事,大量的打擊樂和管樂營造出強烈的對比。但是就像前面說的,馬龍白蘭度在計程車的那場戲毫不意外的成了我記憶的支撐點(事實上,這是一部很棒的片子,但由於很久之前看的,所以...),就連馬丁史考西斯導演的蠻牛(Raging Bull 1980)片中,最後片尾勞伯狄尼洛也以這段台詞作一個頗具諷刺性的呼應為結尾。

I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody. I could.................
其實常常在不自覺中,我也會說出這類的話,也許沒說出來,只是放在心理,但總覺得這些話已經屬於我的一部分,有一種再也回不去,或者更準確的說,是再也出不來的感嘆,仔細想想,真是可悲又無奈的劣根性。



最後,附上這段經典台詞

Charlie: Look, kid, I - how much you weigh, son?
When you weighed one hundred and sixty-eight pounds
you were beautiful. You coulda been another Billy
Conn, and that skunk we got you for a manager, he
brought you along too fast.

Terry: It wasn’t him, Charley, it was you. Remember
that night in the Garden 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 coulda taken Wilson
apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors
on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to
Palooka-ville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda
looked out or me a little bit. You shoulda taken care
of me just a little bit so I wouldn’t have to take them
dives for the short-end money.

Charlie: Oh I had some bets down for you. You saw some money.

Terry: You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I coulda
been a ontender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum,
which is what I am, let’s face it. It was you, Charley.