Thoughts watching “On the Waterfront”

One can never go wrong watching the classic films such as “On the Waterfront.”

In seeing it again last night as part of TCM’s “31 Days of Oscar,” I noticed the superb character actor, Nehemiah Persoff in a key non speaking role as the driver shown after the famous “I could have been a contender” scene between Marlon Brando’s “Terry” and Rod Steiger’s “Charlie.”

That scene is practiced in more acting classes than any other.

Just about everyone can relate to writer Budd Schulberg’s immortal words as so many of us wonder about another path not taken opened or closed.

Persoff, now 96 years old,  went on to so many roles including that of  gangster “Little Bonaparte” in Billy Wilder directed “Some Like It Hot.”

Nehemiah Persoff, pictured above, has a body of work that is incredible.