Love Is a Decision Film, Faith, and Morals Series -- No. 2

Marty is a great film, both for National Marriage Week (February 7-14) and for Valentine’s Day weekend. Even though it is 71 years old, it’s telling to see what’s changed — and what hasn’t — since 1954. (And, I’ll admit, there’s something about black-and-white films.) Marty (played by Ernest Borgnine) is a 34-year-old single Italian butcher living with his mother in the Bronx. All his siblings are married. The film opens with a scene in his Little Italy butcher shop where the customers are talking about his brother’s marriage the weekend before. They’re also asking “when you gonna get’a married?” Marty’s been asking himself the same question. It’s not like he isn’t interested or doesn’t want to. Okay, so maybe he’s a little socially awkward and, by early 1950s standards, a bit “over the hill.” He’s not confident in himself but has reason not to be.

The film follows Marty for roughly 30 hours, from end-of-business Saturday afternoon until Sunday night. After closing up shop and stopping by the local watering hole where a friend encourages him to call some girls they had met a month earlier, Marty goes home and gets up the courage to ring one, only clearly to get dumped. So, his plan is to stay home and watch television. His mother theoretically wants Marty to get married and gets some advice to send him to a Midtown ballroom. More out of resignation than expectation, Marty goes.

Continued below.

Marty is a great movie. I encourage all to see it that have not seen it already. It often played on TCM.