FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT PRESENTS:"MARTY"!

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Can you believe that Ernest Borgnine is 90 years old? Me neither! But I saw him the other night as a Guest on "The Tavis Smiley Show" on PBS. Borgnine spoke in detail about the late writer Paddy Chayefsky and says he stays busy to stay young. "Can you believe it? People are still offering me roles at 90!" said Borgnine. A jovial fellow who still looks like the mischievous lead character he played on the TV sit-com "McHale's Navy" (in re-runs worldwide), the movie "Marty" was discussed out of the hundreds Borgnine acted in. After it was filmed, Borgnine received a call from his agent to star in the TV sit-com about a wacky Navy unit. "When they called me about McHale's Navy, I felt I was above that and turned them down", said Borgnine. Then fate lent a hand. A paperboy knocked on Borgnine's door to collect for the subscription, and Borgnine asked the youngster if he knew who he was? "Nope", replied the paperboy before walking away. Borgnine immediately called his agent back and said, "Tell them I'll do it!" To this day around the world, he is recognized as "McHale". But this movie is altogether different. You'll soon realize why I picked it.

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Marty (Ernest Borgnine) is a 34-year-old butcher whose Italian family is constantly after him to get married. His self image is that of an unattractive man that no woman wants. He meets a plain-looking schoolteacher named Clara (Betsy Blair) who has felt the same way her entire life. When their unpleasant lives draw them closer, perceptions change and so do their lonely, unloved existences. The slow dance scene in the club is pivotal. This tender, sensitive portrayal of two people on the fringes of society who rise above the ugliness other have cast over them is heartwarming. "Marty"---to my knowledge---is the only Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Screenplay (and Nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art-Direction and Best Cinematography) to also win at the Cannes Film Festival. You will loose your heart to this one. Here is the extraordinary Cast: Ernest Borgnine is Marty Piletti; Betsy Blair is Clara Snyder; Ester Minciotto is Mrs. Theresa Piletti; Augusta Ciolli is Aunt Catherine; Joe Mantell is Angie; Karen Steele is Virginia and Jerry Paris is Tommy. Screenplay and Story by Paddy Chayefsky; Directed by Delbert Mann.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS! AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I'M THANKFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE YOU WHO VISIT MY FEATURE "FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT". AND IF YOU ARE A LURKER, PLEASE...KNOW THAT YOU ARE WELCOME TO BECOME A BLOGGER ANYTIME. THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN HERE! ENJOY THE MOVIE...

---Michael