Marty (1955)

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writers:

Paddy Chayefsky (story)
Paddy Chayefsky (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 June 1955 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

EVERYBODY'S RAVING ABOUT "MARTY" . . . The year's BIG entertainment surprise a warm and human story with characters you'll love and remember!

Plot:

A touching story about two lonely people who have almost resigned themselves to never being truly loved.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Butcher | Small Business | Moving | Phone Booth

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Ernest Borgnine	...	Marty Piletti
Betsy Blair	...	Clara Snyder
Esther Minciotti	...	Mrs. Theresa Piletti
Augusta Ciolli	...	Aunt Catherine
Joe Mantell	...	Angie
Karen Steele	...	Virginia
Jerry Paris	...	Tommy

Runtime:

91 min | 94 min (alternate version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #17297) | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Hill-Hecht-Lancaster Productions

Trivia:

Rod Steiger, who had originated the role of Marty in the eponymous TV production, said that he turned down the role in the movie because the Hill-Hecht-Lancaster Productions contract would have bound him for years. Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster, on the other hand, said that they did not want to cast Steiger as they felt the public would not go for the same actor that they had seen for free on TV.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first scene, when Marty is talking to Mrs. Fazarri in the butcher shop, in a frontal shot of Marty he is slicing pork chops and puts the knife back, and begins to wipe his hands. When the camera angle changes to a rear shot of Marty, he is again slicing before putting the knife up to wipe his hands.

Quotes:

Aunt Catherine: So I'm an old garbage bag put in the street, huh?... These are the worst years, I tell you. It's going to happen to you. I'm afraid to look in a mirror. I'm afraid I'm gonna see an old lady with white hair, just like the old ladies in the park with little bundles and black shawls waiting for the coffin...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra (1977) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Marty

Simple, Beautiful and Touching Love Story With Magnificent Performance of the Cast and Sensitive Direction

Marty Piletti (Ernest Borgnine) is a lonely, insecure and honest thirty-four years old good man, living with his Italian mother, Mrs. Theresa Piletti (Esther Minciotti), and working as a butcher. Angie (Joe Mantell) is his best friend, a very shallow person, and his company to the bars and ballrooms in the evenings, since the ugly and fat Marty is rejected by the girls. His Italian family and friends put pressure on him to get married, but Marty has no girlfriend and lots of difficulties to get close to women. One Saturday night, Marty meets Clara Snyder (Betsy Blair), a twenty-nine single, ugly (obs: `dog', in accordance with the description of Marty's friends in the story, but indeed Betsy Blair was a charming woman, having beautiful eyes and lovely smile and voice) and rejected woman, in a ballroom. Betsy is a teacher in Brooklyn with college degree, and like Marty, is very insecure and has the feeling of rejection by men. They feel attracted by each other and spend a wonderful night together. On the next day, before and after the Sunday Mass, Marty's relatives and friends make jokes with the lack of beauty in Clara. The marvelous open end of the story, uncommon in American movies, is one of the best I have ever seen. This movie is a simple, beautiful and touching love story with magnificent performances of the cast and a sensitive direction. The story and slangs (dog, tomatoes etc.) are dated in 2004, but does not jeopardize the beauty of this delightful romance. `Marty' is the only Best Picture winner (awarded in Picture, Director, Actor and Screenplay and nominated for Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Art-Direction and Cinematography) to also win at the Cannes Film Festival. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): `Marty'