By: Alex Phuong (A Toast) –
Marty (1955) Bonus Drinking Game
Take a Drink: every time Marty struggles to find love, acceptance, and meaning in his life
Have Some Beer: when some of the men in the film drink beer (but not literally please)
And Cheers: to the simplicity of this love story that makes it so enduring!
Movie Review
Love might be a somewhat cliché topic, yet some of the greatest stories and films are love stories. There are countless examples of love stories in cinematic history, and many of those films have won the coveted “Best Picture” Oscar. One of the lesser-known examples (supposedly for audiences in 2020) is Marty (1955).
A Toast!
Upon its release in 1955, this film was both very profitable and widely recognized during the award season that year. Ernest Borgnine won the Academy Award for “Best Actor” for his authentic portrayal of a humble butcher who falls in love. Never underestimate the power of love!
Part of the reason why this film won the “Best Screenplay” Oscar is because it is both a conventional love story (a man falling in love with a woman), and also unconventional (when compared to other love stories). Marty also had influence on pop culture in the 1990s because it inspired the character, Marty Green, in the Hey Arnold Nickelodeon animated series. Not only that, but this was Jerry Orbach’s film debut, who would later gain fame by voicing Lumiere in the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast (1991).
Verdict
Marty might have been a very simple film (in terms of its aesthetic look, budget, and lack of star power), but it is still one of the best films ever made. This might be the shortest film at 90 minutes to win the “Best Picture” Academy Award, but it certainly does have a lot of “heart” (pun intended).
