Yes, we watched it on the 6th. 
I should maybe watch it again. I haven’t seen it since I was a kid, and I thought it was depressing AF 
From 12 years ago or so:
I disagree. I think it’s very uplifting. Here’s a guy, not well-educated, not very attractive, and a woman, not ‘beautiful’ and destined to a spinster’s life, who find each other; and despite objections from friends and family, they move forward in a life together.
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.
I confess I’ve felt that way.
Ernest Borgnine trivia: after he retired from acting, Borgnine bought a customized 40ft Prevost Bus (called the “SunBum”) and traveled around the country, meeting fans along the way. There’s a neat video, Ernest Borgnine On The Bus that documents one of his trips.
I still do. I’ve seen parts of Marty, but the whole thing might hit too close to home.
One of the few movies, along with Phantom of the Opera, in which the lead character is unconventionally handsome
The film gets that wrong, the question he lost on was the wives of Henry the Eighth.
Am I missing something? In that clip, both Van Doren and Stempel get the question about the wives of Henry VIII right. Also, here is a New York Times cite reiterating the story that the losing question was the one about Marty.
Heck, I’m female and I’ve felt that way! I’ve never seen the full movie because I thought of it as sad. I think I need to watch it all the way through.
Doh! I should have spoilered!
If I recall correctly the film has the Marty question as the final, and losing, one while in reality it wasn’t.
It’s more dramatic if he loses on the final question and more confusing to the audience if he’s already “taken a dive” before the last question.
It really comes down to whether you think the losing question is the final one or the last one that could have changed the outcome of the game. (I’d agree that there’s a stronger argument for the former.)
Either way thanks for making me look for that video. It was nice to see the reality that inspired the film.
As Dr Science always said “It’s a movie, not a fuckin’ documentary!”
Marty reflects Ernest Borgnine’s improbable career.
Ernie could have spent his entire career as an unattractive and nasty heavy. He began his career in those roles.
His talent and natural charm won out and he landed roles like Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale. He was even likeable as a traitor in Ice Station Zebra.
Ernie said in interviews that he was feeling really good about his movie career. A local kid came by selling something for school. He didn’t recognize Ernie, but he knew all the tv stars that Ernie mentioned. Ernie quickly called his agent and took the role in Mchale’s Navy.
Ernie was the rare actor that starred in TV and still continued making A-list movies.
His only misstep was Airwolf. Terrible tv with a stupid gimmick helicopter. It was CBS’ answer to NBC’s hit Knight Rider.
And perhaps The Single Guy.
I watched Airwolf. I never watched Knight Rider. Because… helicopter.
Hands-down, the best worst movie Ernest Borgnine appeared in was The Adventures, from that master of the pot-boiler Harold Robbins. This film is notable in achieving such a high level of jet-set era trashiness despite its lack of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
I can’t find the interview now. It’s in one of the hour long career interviews on YouTube.
Ernie starred with Gina Lollobrigida. He said she was quite rude and constantly made nasty remarks in Italian.
Ernie just smiled and finished his role. Everyone remembers his smile and jovial attitude.
On the last day he leans over and says in perfect Italian that it was a pleasure and honor working with her. 
Ernie grew up speaking Italian in his family. He’s quite fluent and occasionally lived in Italy.
I always thought it was ironic he joined the Navy in 1935 and was discharged a few weeks before Pearl Harbor. He barely got home and was called back to duty (gunner’s mate first class) for the duration of the war. Fortunately it was stateside duty patroling the Eastern seaboard.
He said in his autobiography that his original ship saw combat in the Pacific. His short break from the Navy got him reassigned to a different ship.