Marlon Brando's subtle excellence in acting is what makes this film special. His character is a complex mix of naive innocence and a brute dog-eat-dog life philosophy. Somewhere inside him is a sense of right and wrong, but he doesn't know what to do with it.
I personally loved Father Barry (Karl Malden), and the change he goes from isolationist priest to tough crusader getting down and dirty. I loved the scene where Terry (Marlon Brando) tells him to go to hell. You don't tell a priest that!

The film felt very naive to me, it was all kind of cute, the acting, the story, the moral, the humor... I don't think it was engaging or sharp. Good shots though.

Great film indeed. The taxi scene was good, but I preferred the scene with the father at the docks

"Boys, this is my church! And if you don't think Christ is down here on the waterfront, you've got another guess coming!"

Great scene all around.