Marty (1955)

Two lonely people have almost resigned themselves to never being truly loved.

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writer:

Paddy Chayefsky (story)

Stars:

Esther Minciotti, Augusta Ciolli, Betsy Blair

Won 4 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

Marty is a 34-year-old butcher whose Italian family is constantly after him to get married. He meets plain-looking schoolteacher Clara. They are both lonely, unglamorous people who have resigned themselves to their unloved lives. But they manage, in time, to grope their way to love.

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Plot Keywords:

butcher | teacher | love | marriage | ed sullivan | 

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Taglines:

A wonderful guy . . . once you've met him, you'll never forget him!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 June 1955 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

Marty - Vita di un timido

Filming Locations:

187th Street and Arthur Avenue, The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$343,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hecht-Lancaster Productions, Steven Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 94 min (alternate)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gloria Pall, then a world-famous pin-up model and cameo actress, appears on the inside of the magazine that Marty looks at, at the beginning of the movie.

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Goofs

When Marty and Clara are walking on the street on Saturday night, a woman approaches a "No Parking" sign, turns and waves to the camera.

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Quotes

Angie: What do you wanna do tonight?
Marty Pilletti: I dunno, Angie. What do you wanna do?

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Bride of the Monster (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Marty"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Paddy Chayefsky (uncredited)
Played during the opening credits and throughout the picture
Sung by male voices during the closing cast credits

User Reviews

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'