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Poster for Marty

Marty

Seen it?

1955 | 90 min | Drama, Romance

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won 4 Oscars, it made about 9 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. If you loved Love Story or We Live in Time, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 30 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1955: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Marty, a butcher who lives in the Bronx with his mother, is unmarried at 34. Good-natured but socially awkward, he faces constant badgering from family and friends to get married but has reluctantly resigned himself to bachelorhood. He then meets Clara, an unattractive school teacher. Realising their emotional connection, Marty promises to call, but family and friends try to convince him not to.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    96% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.5 out of 10

  • AwardsVery strong

    Won 4 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Motion Picture, Academy Awards: Best Director, Academy Awards: Best Actor, Academy Awards: Best Screenplay. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. Won 2 BAFTAs: British Academy Film Awards: Best Foreign Actor, British Academy Film Awards: Best Foreign Actress. Won 1 Cannes award: Cannes Film Festival: Best Foreign Actress. Won 1 DGA Award: Directors Guild of America Awards: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Written American Drama. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars and 1 more BAFTA. Plus 7 other awards.

  • Box office & staying powerStrong

    $3 million worldwide on a $343K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 160K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Delbert Mann

  • Ernest BorgnineMarty
  • Betsy BlairClara
  • Esther MinciottiMrs. Piletti
  • Augusta CiolliAunt Catherine
  • Joe MantellAngie
  • Karen SteeleVirginia
  • Jerry ParisTommy
  • James BellMr. Snyder (uncredited)
  • John BeradinoMan in Bar (uncredited)
  • Charles CaneLou (uncredited)