Thank you, Punchy

I remember as a young teenager going by myself to see "On the Waterfront" at the Whalley Theater in New Haven. I was so mesmerized by the performance of Marlon Brando (30-years old at the time) that it took a dozen more viewings--really, that's how many times I saw the film, maybe more--before I realized that the greatest actors of the day--Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger--were also featured in the movie. In the years since that spellbinding experience, I saw dozens more movies, many with tremendously talented stars and amazing performances. But Brando remained a towering icon to me, unchallenged by any of his many idolaters and competitors.