1955--Marty, Delbert Mann

 

1955--Marty, Delbert Mann
Nominated: Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, Mr. Roberts, Picnic, The Rose Tattoo
Should Have Won: Night of the Hunter
Be Sure to See: The Blackboard Jungle, Lady and the Tramp, Rebel Without a Cause, To Catch a Thief, The Trouble With Harry
"Two women in the same kitchen make a house-a burn up,"--Aunt Catherine (in an Italian accent)

     In the few roles I've seen Ernest Borgnine play, he always struck me as a tough guy I wouldn't want to tangle with. In Marty I saw a softer side. Marty Poletti lives with his old Italian mother and works as a butcher. He is in his mid-thirties and isn’t married though all of his siblings are. If he ever forgot he was single he sure gets reminded of it often. I saw where the story was going pretty early on and, though I connected with Marty, I didn't really feel emotional about his single-life plight until about fifteen minutes in. He calls a woman for a date and is rejected. This is when my attitude for both Marty and Marty came into focus. I wanted so badly for him to find happiness.

     I've read some takes on the movie's plot and they almost always say it is about Marty finding love but I don't think so. I think it is about him finding acceptance. At a dance, someone offers Marty $5 to take a girl home so he can hook up with an old friend he sees there. In this scene, we see how big Marty's heart is because anyone else would jump at the chance for a free five dollars and to get to talk to a girl. But Marty immediately took to the girl's feelings and declines. What follows is the storyline of Marty meeting the girl anyway and it kicks off with him gazing at her from across the room in the first of two great shots in the movie. 

    The girl is Clara and Marty eventually walks her home. What spawns from this is a somewhat awkward relationship (if you can call it a relationship since the movie takes place over only a couple days). They are both shy and unsure of themselves. They know they like each other but they also know mutual attraction is a new feeling for both of them. Marty realizes he is heavyset and out of touch with a woman's desires and people (including Marty's mother) let him know that Clara is not a beauty queen, even calling her a dog. This was puzzling to me because I found her quite attractive. Lots of times someone's attitude makes them more attractive, it's true, but these people were referring to her looks. She looked okay to me. 

    Their first night together goes fairly well though Marty babbles on the whole evening while Clara listens politely. But Marty's intentions are to be a gentleman and even goes the extra step to walk on the outside of the sidewalk, which is a lost art I still practice. The night is capped off interestingly with Clara meeting Marty's mother in an uncomfortable exchange. It is clear his mother doesn't approve which surprised me. I figured she'd be happy with anyone he brings home, particularly since Clara is Catholic like they are. But Marty isn't deterred by it, as he isn’t deterred by his friends disapproval of her. And after walking her home my other favorite shot occurs when Marty's burst of excitement and joy makes him run into the street yelling for a taxi. 

 

     The end is a little abrupt yet appropriate. I won't spoil it but my first thought was there should have been another scene with a second meeting with the couple, but that is when I figured out what the theme was (at least in my mind). I think it is acceptance. Marty's mother and friends don't accept Clara but Marty does. Is it because he loves her? Is it because they had such a good time on the date? Is it because he is tired of being alone and she is the only chance he has? Maybe in a longer movie or a sequel we would find out. But under the circumstances, all we know is they enjoyed each other and found happiness, despite what others think. The ending made me feel good and Marty and Clara's happiness brought me happiness, and that is good enough for the three of us. 

      Note: Just something I thought of. The movie is called Marty and was made in 1955. As a Back to the Future fan, I couldn't help but notice that Marty McFly travels back to 1955. I guess that was the year of Marty.