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About
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. Marty meets Clara, an unattractive school teacher, realising their emotional connection, he promises to call but family and friends try to convince him not to.
Theatrical
Apr 11, 1955
Box Office
$3.0M
Budget
$343K
Return
8.7x
DVD / Blu-ray
Jun 19, 2001
Director
Delbert Mann
Writer
Paddy Chayefsky
Producers
Paddy Chayefsky, Burt Lancaster, Harold Hecht
Music
Roy Webb
Studio
Hecht-Lancaster Productions
Quotes
See all →Memorable Encounters with a Wonderful Guy
Taglines
A wonderful guy . . . once you've met him, you'll never forget him!
Love Story of an Unsung Hero
Taglines
It's the love story of an unsung hero!
Reflections on Time and Education
Marty
Don't worry about your sister. We'll get some cup of coffee and come right back. You teach chemistry. That's funny. What school?
Clara
Benjamin Franklin High School.
Marty
Benjamin Franklin, where's that? Brooklyn? I went to Theodore Roosevelt right up here on Fordham Road. It's right around the corner from my house. I have a cousin who's a teacher. He teaches Latin. He lives in Chicago. He was studying to be a Jesuit, but he gave it up after his first vows. I was pretty good in high school. I sound like a jerk now, but I was pretty good. I graduated with an eighty-two average. That ain't bad. I was accepted at City College. I filled out the application and everything, but my old man died, so I hadda go to work. My best class was German. That was my first language. Der, die, das -- des, der, des. There you are, I still remember...
Marty
You know what I was good at in high school? I was good in Math. You know how long ago I graduated high school? June, 1937. Holy cow! June, 1937! What is that? Fifteen, seventeen years ago! Holy cow! Seventeen years ago! Is that right? Seventeen, that's right. Where did it all go? I'm getting old. I'm gonna be thirty-five years old in November 8th. Thirty-five. Wow. Time goes on, boy.
Marty
Boy, am I talking. I never talked so much in all my life...Well, I'm gonna shut-up now and let you get a word in. Yeah, seventeen years ago. What have I been doing with myself all that time? Well, there I go again. I must be driving you crazy. Most of the time when I'm with a girl I can't find a word to say. Well, I'm gonna shut up now and let you get a word in...There I go again. I can't stop talkin'. I'm on a jag for Pete's sakes. You'd think I was loaded...I can't stop my mouth! Isn't this stupid? (He compliments her.) You got a real nice face, you know. Really a nice face.
Clara
Thank you.
Dinner Conversation About Weekend Plans
Mrs. Pilletti
(serving dinner): So, what are you gonna do tonight Marty?
Marty
I don't know, Ma. I'm all knocked out. I may just hang around the house.
Mrs. Pilletti
Why don't you go to the Stardust Ballroom?
Marty
What?
Mrs. Pilletti
I say, why don't you go to the Stardust Ballroom? It's loaded with tomatoes.
Marty
It's loaded with what?
Mrs. Pilletti
Tomatoes.
Marty
(laughs) Who told you about the Stardust Ballroom, Ma?
Cast
Full credits →E
Ernest Borgnine
Marty Piletti
B
Betsy Blair
Clara Snyder
E
Esther Minciotti
Mrs. Theresa Piletti
A
Augusta Ciolli
Aunt Catherine
J
Joe Mantell
Angie
K
Karen Steele
Virginia
J
Jerry Paris
Tommy
J
James Bell
Mr. Snyder (uncredited)
J
John Beradino
Man in Bar (uncredited)
C
Charles Cane
Lou - Bartender (uncredited)
P
Paddy Chayefsky
Leo (uncredited)
J
John Dennis
Andy (uncredited)
W
Walter Kelley
The Kid (uncredited)
D
Doris Kemper
Bit Role (uncredited)
J
John Milford
(uncredited)
S
Silvio Minciotti
Butcher (uncredited)
R
Robin Morse
Joe (uncredited)
K
Kathleen Mulqueen
Irish Lady Talking in Bar (uncredited)
G
George Nardelli
Bar Patron (uncredited)
J
Jerry Orbach
Ballroom Patron (uncredited)
