Marty (1955)

One of the first feature-length films to be based on a television play, Ernest Borgnine stars as the title character in this bittersweet romantic tale. Marty is a sympathetic character, a single butcher living in the Bronx, confronting lonliness, peer pressure, and the desire to experience a loving relationship.

The character was a shift for Borgnine who played a ruthless character in From Here to Eternity (1953) a few years earlier. Borgnine enjoyed a strong career in film with leading and supporting roles. He became well-known with television audiences in the 1960s as Lt. Commander McHale in the comedy series McHale's Navy.

The film is based on the teleplay "Marty" written by Paddy Chayefsky, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was directed by Delbert Mann and starred Betsy Blair as Clara -- Marty's love interest. The film won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Writer -- in addition to be nominated in several other categories.

The television play, which aired in 1952 on Goodyear Television Playhouse, was also directed by Delbert Mann and starred Rod Steiger in the title role.

Ethel and Ernest -- who knew?

"It was a storybook celebrity marriage that captured a public’s imagination, and then suddenly it was over before they even had a chance to complete their wedding registry." -- from the New York Times

One of Hollywood's shortest marriages, Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine -- apparently the marriage fell apart during the honeymoon. In her autobiography entitled Merman (1978) - the chapter entitled "My Marriage to Ernest Borgnine" consists of one blank page.

Scary Movies & Thrillers!

In the spirit of Halloween, here is a selected list of scary movies & thrillers from the Criterion Collection. Be sure to check out the extras and be sure to check out the many more outstanding thrillers from Criterion.

Happy Halloween!

The Blob (1958) --cult classic, great special effects, with Steve McQueen,

Diabolique (1955) -- Thriller from Henri‑Georges Clouzot -- is the story of two women who hatch a daring revenge plot -- stars Simone Signoret -- truly terrifying

Flesh for Frankenstein (1978) -- written and directed by Paul Morrissey - new twist on the dysfunctional family and the Frankenstein story

Knife in the Water (1962) -- a middle-aged couple invite a young hitch-hiker aboard their sail-boat for an outing in the Polish lake district -male competition, knife-wielding action, a thriller from Roman Polanski

Peeping Tom (1960) -- from the remarkable Michael Powell -- this thriller focuses on a voyeuristic maniac who kills women while filming them with his 16mm camera

Repulsion (1965) -- another thriller from Roman Polanski -- stars Catherine Deneuve as a fragile young woman who comes apart when left alone in her apartment -- surreal and spectacular

Silence of the Lambs (1991) -- from director Jonathan Demme -- starring Anthony Hopkins in a superb performance as Hannibal the Cannibal and a wonderful Jodie Foster as FBI agent Clarice Starling, winner of numerous Academy Awards -- absolutely terrifying

The Vanishing (1988) -- suspense thriller about a young man and his obsessive search for his girlfriend after she mysteriously disappears during their sunny vacation getaway

Celebrate the Book

“I don’t know what it is, man — books,” Mr. Squibb said. “I just feel better." From article on Occupy Boston.

Granito: a story in three parts

From Skylight Productions -- Granito: a story in three parts looks at the turbulent history of Guatemala -- and the genocidal campaign of the 1980s. Directed by Pamela Yates.

Victorian Popular Culture

This resource was recently added to the Columbia University Libraries website -- exceptional content of English texts from the 19th century with information and discussion on a wide-range of topics including spiritualism, mesmerism, psychical science and secular magic together with various forms of entertainment.

Films in the Courtroom or the Courtroom in Film!

Several outstanding films that closely examine the judicial process and how decisions are played out in the courtroom.

(Pictured -- Charles Laughton in Witness for the Prosecution)

Anatomy of a Murder (1959) -- amazing jazz soundtrack and wonderful performances by James Stewart, Eve Arden, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, and Arthur O'Connell. Temporary insanity... or not?

A Few Good Men (1992) -- Military lawyer defends Marines accused of murder -- features an outstanding Jack Nicholson

Inherit the Wind (1960) -- stars Spencer Tracy and Fredric March -- based on a real-life case in 1925 -- teacher brought to trial for teaching evolution

Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)-- another outstanding performance from Spencer Tracy -- an American court in Germany tries Nazi judges

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) -- a bitter divorce and custody battle result in a devastating courtroom scene beautifully played by Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman

My Cousin Vinny (1992) -- hilarious courtroom scenes --with a wonderful Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, and Fred Gwynne

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) -- based on the novel by Harper Lee -- Gregory Peck inhabits the character of Atticus Finch, a lawyer set to defend a black man against charges of rape amidst racial prejudice in the Depression-era South

Twelve Angry Men (1957) -- Henry Fonda stars as a juror that tries to convince the others that the case is not simple --directed by Sidney Lumet -- beautifully crafted and acted

The Verdict (1982) - stars Paul Newman as a lawyer trying to salvage his career

Witness for the Prosecution (1957) -- an Agatha Christie knockout -- with a fantastic Charles Laughton

Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) -- from director John Ford and starring Henry Fonda -- fictionalized account of the young Lincoln's legal career and his work in a dramatic court case

Jane Fonda: the Private Life of a Public Woman

"Patricia Bosworth tackles her subject’s myriad personae in an exhaustive biography of a woman whose personal growth so uncannily mirrored the social changes of her era and who, 50 years after her most controversial political actions, still manages to polarize. For the full Review in The Washington Post.

The Vogue Archive

The Vogue Archive contains the entire run of Vogue Magazine (U.S. Edition) from 1892 to the present day. The magazine serves not only as an essential resource for the study of fashion, the more than 400,000 pages provide a rich resource for gender and social and cultural studies.

The database enables browsing of individual issues and full-text searching.

Resources in Film Studies and Performing Arts

Please join me for one of these sessions. I will provide an introduction to a wide-range of resources supporting research in Film Studies and Performing Arts --- including advanced searching in Google, how to find books, articles, plays, films, images, and more.

Location: 306 Butler Library
When: September 22 -- 11am - 1pm & September 30 -- 10am - 12noon
RSVP: nef4@columbia.edu


Hope to see you there!