Unafraid, Bogey tells off Steiger and his mob at the end. Nothing they do to him will prevent his expose' of their racket. Yet on the scene is Bogey's wife (Jan Sterling). Didn't anyone think of putting the squeeze on Bogey by putting the squeeze on his wife?
shareNick was a greedy fight promoter, not a ruthless gangster. Torturing a woman was not in his character. Besides, he believed Eddie's story of giving all the money to Toro, so it wouldn't have accomplished anything.
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You got your mind right, Luke?
Don't you remember what Nick's goons did to that fighter in the shower? And he just reneged on his deal to throw a fight. Besides Nick didn't really care that Bogey gave his money as much as his veiled threat to blow the lid off their entire operation. Not just Nick but other hoods would be after him.
Yet,Bogey makes no plans to protect his wife from possible retaliation. Didn't even mention it.
Eddie would have wound up buried in the same parking lot next to Terry Malloy.
The past is a series of presents. The present is living history we are privileged to witness
Terry was alive at the end of Waterfront. His brother was dead. Which, if your scenario were applied to him, brings up an interesting conflict as both were played by Steiger.
Steiger has Eddie killed to be buried in a lot next to...Steiger.
Takes two to tumble it takes two to tango
Speak up don't mumble when you're in the combo
I did think when Bogie and Steiger were in the back of that car in the second half of the film: "I'm sure I've seen this before..."
Anyway, I have to say I do agree with the OP, to an extent. Steiger's character was pretty ruthless, throughout the film and I'm sure he would stop at nothing to get what he wants, especially if he feels he's been robbed out of $75,000.
That said, his line "I wouldn't give 26 cents for your future" suggests that something malevolent will happen to Bogie's character. The film ends as he writes his exposé; and though the triumphant music suggests he will prevail, it is still left open in my views as to his fate.
Nick is certainly scary, but Eddie does make the comment toward the end that for the moment, *Nick* is the one in the hotseat for making good on that $75,000. So, Nick's the one who will be scrambling to make it good and once Eddie writes that series, Nick will twist in the wind even more. A juicy scandal in boxing? People will pay to read that match between Nick and Eddie the same way they happily paid to see Toro get the stuffing punched out of him.
Will Nick lash out at Eddie and try to take him down with him? Very likely. But Nick's future is possibly a lot shorter and uglier than Eddie's at that moment.
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