Marty - Winner 1955

Marty is the story of a Marty (Ernest Borgnine) a butcher in New York City who lives with his mother and seems to be a perpetual bachelor. He's from a particularly recognizable Italian family cliche with multiple brothers and sisters. He gets hassled by the women who come for their cuts of meat about when he will get married. Marty is close to fed up with the idea of constantly seeking a wife. He's a husky guy without a glamorous job, who spends his Saturday nights hanging with his best friend doing little more than drinking beer and watching tv.

Convinced by his insistent mother and his friend, Marty goes to a dance hall to meet women. While there a particularly disgusting guy who happens to have been set up on a blind date with Clara (Betsy Blair) tries to ditch her. Marty observes all this and ends up approaching Clara. The two dance and hit it off and end up spending a long walk talking to each other. The film follows one night with them and shows how his friend and mother act negatively towards her and pressure Marty to not see her again.

This is an amazingly charming romance. The leads while not ugly (this is Hollywood after all) aren't the most dazzling beautiful stars of the era. Borgnine excels as the down on his luck loser who recognizes his lot in life and just wants some one to share it with. Blair is equally compelling as a teacher who has been unable to shake a constant labeling as a "dog". The two falling for each other and watching their awkward interactions is deeply satisfying. (Mayhaps I'm projecting, which is entirely possible but then that just means the film speaks to me more).

Actually I couldn't help but think through most of the film, in what world is Betsy Blair a dog? But whatever, narrative leap of faith I guess. Still I couldn't help but grin like a fool as Marty walked with Clara and kept talking, never letting up. When he realizes this he attempts to engage her and ends up once again talking without end. His nervousness was charming and his good naturedness was charming. And you can't help but cheer at his last minute realization of what an idiot he's being.