MovieChat Forums > Marty (1955) Discussion > Apparently, This Movie Is 'Dated'

Apparently, This Movie Is 'Dated'

posted 17 years ago by nicoledesapio
73 replies | jump to latest

Yesterday evening I went to a public screening of MARTY (one of my favorite movies; I'm a fan of classic '50s TV drama) and coming out of the restroom after the movie was over, I heard one woman say she thought the movie was "ridiculous" because the dialogue was "very dated." She said it was "just so ridiculous" when Marty suddenly began talking about the time when he wanted to commit suicide -- as though this kind of speech didn't really belong in what is basically a comedy.

Someone can think what they want to about this movie or about any movie -- but what annoys me is that certain older films, plays, etc. get described as "dated." Why? Because they were made more than ten years ago and don't allude to MTV? Of COURSE a film made in another time is going to make references to its own time. (For example, Marty talks about having been in WWII.)

The irony is that I'm under 35, and the woman who made the "dated" comments was easily in her mid to late forties.

[–] itputsthelotionontheskin 17 years ago

Well watching older movies is difficult because every generation has a different way of making them. But still, judging a movie because of it being "dated" is a little ignorant, just shows what little taste in movies that woman has.

Anyway I thought the movie was great, even though it was "dated".

Behold the one commandment!

God Needs Booze!

[–] bunny226622 17 years ago

She just might be the kind of person who only likes new stuff. Maybe someone else had to drag her there to watch an older movie. I'm a 42 female and when I first saw "Marty" (probably about four years ago) I was blown away with how insightful and sensitive it was about relationships and how easy it was to relate to the characters. I felt that what was happening could be happening at any time and that they showed what it's like for ordinary people in most relationships.

Why don't the evil just get regular jobs like the rest of us?-Veronica Mars

[–] itputsthelotionontheskin 17 years ago

I'm only 20 and I still could appreciate the movie. As you said, very easy to relate to the characters, plus some very serious themes present underneath. Either way a great preformance by Mr. Borgnine as well.

I mean even if you don't like older movies, have the decency to at least recognize the value of it.

Behold the one commandment!

God Needs Booze!

[–] kwestmo (4385) 4 years ago

"how insightful and sensitive it was about relationships and how easy it was to relate to the characters." which is exactly why the movie is not dated. You get it

[–] ossioj 17 years ago

Of course a movie can be dated. Its a testament to this movie that I think it still works, for anybody. I found it funny and cute and touching. But I can understand when someone says the movie is dated, because sometimes, when you're not liking the lot and are not involved in the characters too much, you start to get caught up in things like camera movements and performances, which, let's admit it, were quite different from what they are now.

[–] mvoight 17 years ago

I remember reading the play in high school in the 70's.
I think I watched part of the movie before, but not all of it.

It is on Encore's Love channel right now. It's 1:47 AM, and it is on until about 2:30AM, so I might have to switch the DVR on soon :)

Borgnine is at his best.

[–] rwsmith29456 16 years ago

Anybody think 'The Dark Knight' (Batman movie) will be dated in 50 years? I still enjoy watching movies like 'Marty' and much older.

[–] leforcat 16 years ago

I once heard a guy relating to Pulp Fiction as dated, that was circa 6-7 years after Pulp Fiction was released - for some people film is a kind of merchandise prone to aging such as meat or the way people dress. Not much you can do about it....

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[–] simplemines 16 years ago

That is absolutely ASTONISHING that anyone could think a movie like this is "dated"! The themes Marty deals with are UNIVERSAL and TIMELESS- the search for love, to be accepted for who you are, the battle between how you were brought up and reaching out for what you want, the fear of failing, the fear of being rejected - my God, who can't identify with this??

You have to be inhuman or in denial to NOT get "Marty"! And btw, I'm not "old,"either, but I'm of Italian descent, so a lot of this movie looks and sounds VERY familiar!

[–] mellowinman 16 years ago

simplemines, I agree with you totally, and I'm glad someone finally said it. The woman who called this film "dated" obviously did not understand what "dated" means. You are absolutely correct in calling Marty "TIMELESS," for even though it is set in another time, the basic idea of young wolves out looking for hotties, contrasted with a decent man searching for love plays in any era. I found this movie delightful beyond belief, bouyed largely by the exuberance of Mr. Borgnine, whose joy for life fairly bounced right off the screen.

He definitely deserved his Oscar for this performance.

WOW!

It's called a BRAIN. ~USE IT!

[–] cbranalli 16 years ago

yes this movie is "dated".
it shows what life was like
some 50-odd years ago
before America turned into a moral cesspool.
i for one truly wish
i could dive into the screen and
live in that "dated" world again.
charles ranalli
albuquerque

[–] jeromec-2 16 years ago

I can tell anyone who cares to listen that Marty could take place any time and place. What people say, what they talk about reflects the time they live in and to some extent the writing reflects the era.

But pain, loneliness, and joy and love come through no matter what the era.

Isn't wonderful to watch young people unselfconsciously kiss one another in spring? Isn't it wonderful to watch a couple in their 70's holding hands in the park? When did that become outdated? When did it become outdated to find that you could talk to someone? Or to love someone?

When was the cure for loneliness invented? Did sex suddenly replace love and companionship?

Though some of this did not happen in Marty, I'm making the point that its values are the same. It's universal. But I think Romeo and Juliette could happen anytime as well.

[–] sadie_001 16 years ago

nicole, that woman is just stupid..

I am 27 years old. Most of the films i love are mainly 1980's and 1990's films. I am do try to watch many classic films..I love "marty". This is one of my favorite films. Some of the conversations do show a difference in American values that I might not understand but overall, it does give me an idea of how life was like in the fifties. I had no problem understanding this film. I know my generations will not necessary like this film. It may not live up to todays movies. But this movie has a goood story. A great story. A man who is afraid of being rejected, afraid of what people think, and maybe afraid of life...But he conquers it at the end...This is a movie that any generation can relate to regardless of the time it was made.

What I love about this film is that the actor playing this role was no "brad pitt" wearing a fat suit or aged makeup (no offense to Brad pitt). This role was played by an actor who can be a joe schmo.. a regular guy you would see in the streets. We can relate to Marty because of this... If this role was played by Brad Pitt, the audience would not feel this way.

[–] Truman-11 16 years ago

***She said it was "just so ridiculous" when Marty suddenly began talking about the time when he wanted to commit suicide -- as though this kind of speech didn't really belong in what is basically a comedy.***

If that's what she thought of the movie, that it was basically a comedy, it's obvious she just didn't get it and the movie being "dated" was her excuse. I'm sure there are others who consider it dated but I actually thought it would hold its own with modern day movies.

Some people can't wrap their minds around the idea that a movie can have comical dialogue but have a serious story behind it. To me, that just made it more real.