Marty (1955)
Marty Pilletti: Ma, sooner or later, there comes a point in a man's life when he's gotta face some facts. And one fact I gotta face is that, whatever it is that women like, I ain't got it.
You know you're watching something very good when the end credits roll and it surprises the hell outta ya. Now, I know its only 90 min to begin with, but it truly does shoot right by.
Anyway, in the crowded city of The Bronx, New York, 34 yr old Marty, the Butcher, is asked by every customer: "When you gonna get married, Marty? You should be ashamed of yourself."
It drives him crazy. He wants to get married, but all he gets is shot down. Surrounded by buddies who want action but spend more time asking each other, "What you wanna do?" "I don't know. What you wanna do?"
Pestered by his ma to check out the Stardust Ballroom because it's full of tomatoes, a frustrated Marty goes with his buddy Angie. To stand against the wall with other guys doing the same thing. Scoping. Hoping. And coming up with nothin.
This time, Marty meets Clara.
She's 29. Tired of being alone and getting dumped.
They talk.
For the rest of the night.
Because, as Marty says to Clara,
"See, dogs like us, we ain't such dogs as we think we are."
They see something more in one another as they continue talking.
And who knows.
Maybe. Just maybe.
Anyway, it sure as hell beats hanging around the street corner, everyone asking everyone else: "What ya wanna do?" "I don't know, what you wanna do?"
A simple story of very ordinary, lonely people that works quite beautifully. It makes perfect sense why it won an Academy Award.