Marty (1955)

100% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(5,840 ratings)

Paddy Chayefsky's Oscar-winning slice-of-life drama originated as a live 1953 broadcast directed by Delbert Mann on The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse starring Rod Steiger and Nancy Marchand. The Hecht-Lancaster movie version, also directed by Mann, replaces the two leads with Ernest Borgnine… More Paddy Chayefsky's Oscar-winning slice-of-life drama originated as a live 1953 broadcast directed by Delbert Mann on The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse starring Rod Steiger and Nancy Marchand. The Hecht-Lancaster movie version, also directed by Mann, replaces the two leads with Ernest Borgnine and Betsy Blair (as well as featuring several soon-to-be-familiar faces, including Jerry Paris, Frank Sutton, and Karen Steele, plus Joe Mantell, Nehemiah Persoff, and Betsy Palmer from the TV version). But it remains otherwise intact, telling of 24 very important hours in the lives of two lonely people. Marty is a bittersweet, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, and always realistic comedy-drama about Marty Pilletti (Ernest Borgnine), a 34-year-old Bronx butcher. Approaching middle-age as a burly, somewhat overweight man who has no illusions about himself or his attractiveness to women, Marty looks forward to just one thing in life -- buying his boss's butcher shop and trying to make a success in business -- and he's even uncertain about that. A gentle, good-natured man, he lives with his mother (Esther Minciotti), a kind but emotionally smothering woman, in a too-large house and spends his time with a small circle of dead-end friends (Joe Mantell, Frank Sutton). One Friday night, Marty's mother convinces him to go to the Stardust Ballroom, where he meets a plain-looking schoolteacher named Clara (Betsy Blair), whose life appears to mirror his own -- she lives with her father, and is frightened about the one prospect she has for advancement in her job. Meeting her after witnessing a humiliating rejection by her blind date, Marty acts on his best impulses and asks Clara to dance, and soon they are actually enjoying each other's company. She is as drawn to him as he is to her, but both are so uncertain about putting themselves at risk emotionally, that the evening almost ends badly when he tries to kiss her -- but they agree to talk on the phone and go to a movie the next night. But whatever good feelings he has about Clara are soon threatened by his friends' put-downs of her, and his mother's hostility, driven by her sudden panic that if Marty marries, she'll be left living alone. Marty spends the next day alone and never does call Clara, seemingly having decided that it's best to leave well enough alone. That is, until he takes a good long look at his life, and a listen to his friends -- and he suddenly makes the decision to try for true happiness, wherever it leads. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Delbert Mann
Written By: Paddy Chayefsky
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics

In Theaters: Apr 11, 1955 Wide
On DVD: Jun 19, 2001
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
Ernest Borgnine as Marty lives up to all the promise he showed as the sadist in From Here to Eternity, and at the same time brilliantly shatters the type-cast he molded for himself in that picture.
Ronald Holloway, Variety
It's a warm, human, sometimes sentimental and an enjoyable experience.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Paddy Chayevsky's script, adapted from his own TV play, shows his flair for dialogue at its best, and the film manages to be touching, if minor.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
A warm and winning film, full of the sort of candid comment on plain, drab people that seldom reaches the screen.
, Empire Magazine
Enormously influential, it spawned Hollywood's interest in smaller scale, prosaic dramas, few of which failed to match its resonance.
, Film4
Chayevsky's TV drama transferred effortlessly to cinema.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Dowdy but winning and poignant.
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy
Ernest Borgning and Betsy Blair are the highlights of this short and unassuming picture about the trials of love and family.
Derek Adams, Time Out
It does have doggy charm and a certain perceptiveness.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Too self-conscious by half, the film both invites you in and makes you wonder if it's not all a trick.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Delbert Mann's Oscar-winner is realistic in attention to detail to working class milieu, but it patronizes its "little" people.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A bravura performance from Borgnine
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Tragicomic and simple, Marty's celebrated status is rightly earned, but it may be a bit to naive and simplistic for today's hard-bitten audiences.
Willie Waffle, WaffleMovies.com
Ernest Borgnine can act!?!?!? He was great in this classic tale about a guy who thinks love is unattainable.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Um filme simples e eficaz.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A solidly crafted work that still pleases.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

Marty Pilletti is a shy and lonely 34 year-old Butcher from the Bronx who still lives at home with his mother, and has spent his entire life being awkward and uncomfortable around women. His luck begins to change when he happens to meet a school teacher named Clara Snyder who… More
Marty Pilletti is a shy and lonely 34 year-old Butcher from the Bronx who still lives at home with his mother, and has spent his entire life being awkward and uncomfortable around women. His luck begins to change when he happens to meet a school teacher named Clara Snyder who immediately grabs his attention. She's just as shy, lonely, and unlucky with the opposite gender, and just as smitten with him as he is with her. Despite a newfound feeling of happiness, Marty begins to second guess his feelings, espeically since it seems that none of his friends or family can seem to have anything nice to say about her. Ultimately though, Marty fidns the courage to stick to his conventions, knowing that he's really got nothing to lose. Written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Delbert Mann, this is an utterly charming and heartwarming little film. It's simple, straight forward, and there's nothing at all wrong with that. You could draw comparisons to a newer film like The 40 Year-Old Virgin, and that's okay, but this is a far classier affair, with far subtler humor, to boot. I really enjoyed this, but at the same time felt a little disappointed. Going into it, I was under the impression that I was supposed to be blown away by it, mostly because it won top honors at both the Oscars and Cannes, but, even though the film ended up not being as remarkable at anticipated, it's still a pretty solid piece of work. Ernest Borgnine won an Oscar for his work here, and it truly is one of his standout roles, which is really saying something given his long, and varied career filled with some tremendous performances. Betsy Blair is also quite nice as Clara, but what really helps sell this film besides hte wonderful leads are the nice supporting turns from the colorful supporting cast that make up Marty's family and friends. All in all, this is a wonderful film and, while it's not quite a masterpiece, it's nevertheless a really heartfelt movie with a lot to offer.
Ken S

Another big film to cross off my shame list. Totally charming and worth everyone's time.
Lucas M

Marty is a wonderful film! The great screenplay of Paddy Chayefsky, makes the audience stay to see the simple life of the main character to the begining to the end. Ernest Borgnine as Marty is perfect. The best of hollywood. Fresh.
Randy T

Ernest Borgnine's signature role and a highlight of his eclectic filmography.
Spencer S

Deserved all the accolades, for it was both heart tugging and quite romantic, Marty is something of a winner without legs, running on empty, fueled only by the insightful performances and cast, so amazing in their average looks and fears, just what is needed to complete this legacy of… More
Deserved all the accolades, for it was both heart tugging and quite romantic, Marty is something of a winner without legs, running on empty, fueled only by the insightful performances and cast, so amazing in their average looks and fears, just what is needed to complete this legacy of film.
AJ V

A really good movie with Borgnine, I'm sure many people can relate to his situation. I really liked this movie.
Stella D

sweet, affecting and timeless story of ordinary people. thx to everyone who recommended this :)
Tim S

Well written, simple film with an amazing performance by the great Ernest Borgnine. It's just too bad that the plot is paper thin.
Rubia Carolina .

A great and subtly comedy/drama about common people. Just as life it is, neither more nor less.
Pierluigi P

A triumph of the heart and spirit over social standards. Paddy Chayefsky's screenplay is gold on everybody's mouth, but especially in a magnificent Ernest Borgnine, as the modest and kind-hearted italian american butcher whose romantic life is far from idyllic. Delbert… More
A triumph of the heart and spirit over social standards. Paddy Chayefsky's screenplay is gold on everybody's mouth, but especially in a magnificent Ernest Borgnine, as the modest and kind-hearted italian american butcher whose romantic life is far from idyllic. Delbert Mann's direction shines for its simplicity and good judgment. One of the warmest, most touching and rewarding self-examinations and sentimental recollections I have experienced with a motion picture.
Mark H

The very definition of a brilliantly understated drama.
Lanning :

Way back, I wrote a comment about Ernest Borgnine in The Wild Bunch, that his performance in that may be one of his best, although, as I mentioned, his performance in Marty is justifiably celebrated. I've just seen… More
Way back, I wrote a comment about Ernest Borgnine in The Wild Bunch, that his performance in that may be one of his best, although, as I mentioned, his performance in Marty is justifiably celebrated. I've just seen Marty again, and with a fresh viewing after ten years or so, I must say that he deserves every ounce of his best actor Oscar. Borgnine is perfect here. In an emotional roller coaster of a role, Borgnine captures perfectly the psychological depths of low self-image and esteem as well as the glorious heights of love finally found and won. A brilliant performance not to be missed. Just for the record, Marty won four Academy Awards, including best screenplay for Paddy Chayefsky. Check out the competition for 1955: Best Picture went to Marty, beating Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, Mister Roberts, Picnic, and The Rose Tattoo. Best Actor went to Borgnine for Marty, up against James Cagney in Love Me or Leave Me, James Dean in East of Eden, Frank Sinatra in The Man With the Golden Arm, and Spencer Tracy in Bad Day at Black Rock. Personally, I find it hard to believe that William Holden wasn't nominated for his job in Picnic, but what do I know? Best Supporting Actor was a great win for Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts, competing with Arthur Kennedy in Trial, Joe Mantell in Marty, Sal Mineo in Rebel Without a Cause, and Arthur O'Connell in Picnic. Best Supporting Actress went to Jo Van Fleet in East of Eden over Betsy Blair in Marty, Peggy Lee in Pete Kelly's Blues, Marisa Pavan in The Rose Tattoo, and Natalie Wood in Rebel Without a Cause. Finally, Delbert Mann took Best Director honors for Marty over Elia Kazan for East of Eden, David Lean for Summertime, Joshua Logan for Picnic, and John Sturges for Bad Day at Black Rock. Wow! What a great year for movies!
Byron B

The original 40 Year Old Virgin. Well I don't remember if the character was 40 years old, but you get the point. Much more subtly funny and dramatic. One of the first award winning movies I can remember that didn't deal with beautiful people. This was the first Oscar… More
The original 40 Year Old Virgin. Well I don't remember if the character was 40 years old, but you get the point. Much more subtly funny and dramatic. One of the first award winning movies I can remember that didn't deal with beautiful people. This was the first Oscar winning movie that was a remake of a TV movie.
Alec B

The film is very sweet and good natured but it deals pretty honestly with people who are desperately lonely. The film may have been made over 50 years ago but its themes are universal and it still has a lot of staying power. Ernest Borgnine is fantastic in this film, I don't… More
The film is very sweet and good natured but it deals pretty honestly with people who are desperately lonely. The film may have been made over 50 years ago but its themes are universal and it still has a lot of staying power. Ernest Borgnine is fantastic in this film, I don't think there was anyone else who could have played Marty. A deserving classic.
Simeon D

A showcase for Borgnine and a good script from Paddy Cheskiovesky, but that's about it. Not quite sure what to make of this one; it's great and I didn't get much out of it. Should this have won Best Picture: I don't think so, but then again I haven't seen… More
A showcase for Borgnine and a good script from Paddy Cheskiovesky, but that's about it. Not quite sure what to make of this one; it's great and I didn't get much out of it. Should this have won Best Picture: I don't think so, but then again I haven't seen any of the competition (even though they were all pretty much classics). 96/100
Lord N

This is easily my favorite performance of Ernest Borgnine's. he did very well as the lonely Bronx Butcher looking for love. "I've been looking for a girl every Saturday night of my life." I enjoyed how they did the scene where Marty called a girl he had previously… More
This is easily my favorite performance of Ernest Borgnine's. he did very well as the lonely Bronx Butcher looking for love. "I've been looking for a girl every Saturday night of my life." I enjoyed how they did the scene where Marty called a girl he had previously met with a friend and the second he says that he was the portly one, the audience immediately knows that he has lost her. one thing that I do not understand is how when he finally meets the girl of his dreams that loves him back too, a few words from his friends and he doesn't show up for a date that he had set. why wouldn't he? if he's been looking for a girl every Saturday night of his life and one finally loves him back, and he is too embarrassed. but he does the right thing and calls her back so it works out. overall this is a very sweet and pleasant film that leaves the viewer feeling happy and that love is in the air. Final Verdict: I'm glad that it won. could I see something better than it? of course. but for now I am glad it won.
Ivan D

It's great to see the Academy once in a while to settle in a more simplistic film to win Best Picture, one of it was "Marty", a drama of great subtlety, carried by Ernest Borgnine's wonderful performance. Apart from it being a story of a lonely middle-aged man… More
It's great to see the Academy once in a while to settle in a more simplistic film to win Best Picture, one of it was "Marty", a drama of great subtlety, carried by Ernest Borgnine's wonderful performance. Apart from it being a story of a lonely middle-aged man trying to find love, it was also a portrayal of the uneasy pressures of an already seasoned man for "tying the knot", and on one side, also shows the deep worries of mothers that are afraid to be alone in life. Although the film was simply built with no pretensions, no one can't deny to be moved by the powerful scene between Marty and the teacher Clara in the house. "Marty" is a film filled with realistic scenes that provokes viewers to laugh or even smile, not because of its silliness, but because it reflects our everyday plights in real life, how the film tries to emulate it, and turn this seemingly routine things into something special as love. The film is great, but I thought the end was too sudden, Marty's adventure too short, and his love with Carla too abrupt to be totally felt, but still, "Marty" is a good watch.
Henrik S

A tender love story between misfits. The movie is rather tranquil and sublte without heeps of drama thrown in your face or outrageous ongoings pushing the story forward. Instead, we get an insight into the complexities of everyday human life, in the form "Marty", brilliantly… More
A tender love story between misfits. The movie is rather tranquil and sublte without heeps of drama thrown in your face or outrageous ongoings pushing the story forward. Instead, we get an insight into the complexities of everyday human life, in the form "Marty", brilliantly portrayed by Ernest Borgnine who proves that he is capable of much more than playing heavies. His female counterpart Betsy Blair is equally charming and refreshingly unhollywood (especially for the 50ies). Dont expect fireworks but a warming hearth with this one. Lovely. Henrik