Now Playing on my Classic TV and Film YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/RBrKl10HU2s with the permission and cooperation of the copyright holder

Notes by Bill Russo

In 1955 Ernest Borgnine would star in 'Marty' which won the Academy Award for the best motion picture of the year. But, here is the original, live, 1953 television production of 'Marty' - starring a relatively unknown Rod Steiger, at the age of 27. It was just one year before his breakout role as Marlon Brando's mobster brother in “On the Waterfront”.

The TV script is by Paddy Chayefsky, the American writer who is the only person to win three solo Academy Awards for his work on both original and adapted screenplays.

The program has a celebrated cast including Nancy Marchand, well known to later audiences for her work in 'Lou Grant' as well as in the 'Sopranos'. Look for other notables including Betsy Palmer, Nehemiah Persoff, and a young George Maharis as a dancer in a dance club. The narrator is Durwood Kerby, best known from the Gary Moore TV show.

Sponsored on alternate weeks by Goodyear and Philco, this dramatic series had a healthy run on NBC-TV from 1948 to 1955.