Marty (1955)

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writer:

Paddy Chayefsky (story)
(more)

Release Date:

10 June 1955 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | 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:

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

Plot Keywords:

Butcher | Love | Dance Hall | Beautiful Woman | Aunt

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 5 nominations

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Bell	...	Mr. Snyder (uncredited)
Joe Bell	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
John Beradino	...	Man in Bar (uncredited)
Nick Brkich	...	Bachelor (uncredited)
Marvin Bryan	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Charles Cane	...	Lou - Bartender (uncredited)
Paddy Chayefsky	...	Leo (uncredited)
John Dennis	...	Andy (uncredited)
Steven Hecht	...	Six-Year-Old Boy (uncredited)
Paul Hoffman	...	Man in Bar (uncredited)
Walter Kelley	...	The Kid (uncredited)
Doris Kemper	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
John Milford	...	(uncredited)
Silvio Minciotti	...	Butcher (uncredited)
Robin Morse	...	Joe (uncredited)
Kathleen Mulqueen	...	Irish Lady Talking in Bar (uncredited)
Jerry Orbach	...	Ballroom Extra (uncredited)
Glenn Strange	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Frank Sutton	...	Ralph (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Churchgoer Extra (uncredited)
Minerva Urecal	...	Mrs. Rosari (uncredited)
Alan Wells	...	Jerry (uncredited)

Directed by
Delbert Mann

Writing credits
Paddy Chayefsky		(story and screenplay)
Paddy Chayefsky		earlier teleplay (uncredited)

Produced by
Paddy Chayefsky	....	associate producer
Harold Hecht	....	producer
Burt Lancaster	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Roy Webb		(music by)

Cinematography by
Joseph LaShelle		(photography by)

Art Direction by
Ted Haworth		(art direction) (as Edward S. Haworth)
Walter M. Simonds		(art direction) (as Walter Simonds)

Set Decoration by
Robert Priestley

Costume Design by
Norma Koch		(costume design) (as Norma)

Makeup Department
Agnes Flanagan	....	hair styles
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (as Robert Schiffer)
Rudolph Liszt	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Helmick	....	assistant director
Mark Sandrich Jr.	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert G. Carlisle	....	effects editor (as Robert Carlisle)
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound recording (as Roger Heman)
John K. Kean	....	sound recording (as John Kean)

Casting Department
Betty Pagel	....	casting supervision

Editorial Department
Alan Crosland Jr.	....	editorial supervision

Music Department
George Bassman	....	composer: additional music
Robert G. Carlisle	....	music editor (as Robert Carlisle)

Production Companies

• Hecht-Lancaster Productions (presents) (as Hecht-Lancaster)
• Steven Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1962) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• United Artists (1956) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Western Electric Recording  sound recording system

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 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 | USA:TV-PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Hecht-Lancaster Productions

Trivia:

Betsy Blair, who portrayed Clara, was almost not permitted to do the film by Hecht-Lancaster Productions and United Artists due to the 1950s Hollywood Blacklist. However, Gene Kelly, her husband at the time, basically blackmailed United Artists and Hecht-Lancaster into casting her, at the last minute, by threatening not to direct or star in any of UA's or Hecht Lancaster's productions if she was not cast for the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Virginia and her husband are arguing about her mother-in-law, her hair is extremely disheveled and sweat-matted. After she puts her baby in the crib, she is shown to have perfectly styled and dry hair moments later.

Quotes:

Aunt Catherine:College girls are one step from the street, I tell you. My son Joseph wife, she type on the typewriter - one step from the street!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006)

Soundtrack:

Marty

Proof That a Picture Doesn't Need SPFX - It needs great Actors

Okay, so I'm in the Business. I don't believe this movie could get made today except as an art house film. Its beauty lies in its simplicity. Starting with a terrific script by Chayefskey (arguably one of the five best playrights of the 20th century), this movie eschews every that's big about motion pictures for a story about Everman who didn't have a date on Saturday night. Rod Steiger first performed the role on television. It won a number of Emmys. "Opened up" for the silver screen, it retains the intimacy of its characters. Ernest Borgnine has probably been in 100 movies, but this was his shining moment. He breathes live into the hapless Bronx Butcher whose soul longs for love. When he gives his "I'm gonna get down on my knees..." speech, the tears begin to flow. Why? Because in our heart of hearts, each of us feels the need for love and self validation. Marty doesn't need special effects or action sequences. Marty is in a class by itself. Had it never been made we would have all missed an opportunity to look inside ourselves. Maybe in this day and age, with all our CGI and Virtual Reality, we need another Marty, to remind us who we really are.

10/10