So Good

So good was this film that I watched it twice in a row. The tale of a 34 year old Italian American butcher desperate for love is probably known to most viewers, but what struck me most was the sheer energy and integrity of all the performances and direction. This was superior film making, with a script that was faultless. Borgnine of course was great, but the supporting cast were also brilliant, and in particular the actresses who played his mother and aunt, both out of the time honoured Italian elder women tradition so admired in films about New York. Betsy Blair, who played the object of Borgnine's affection, played her part with understated brilliance, and the whole thing was a credit to the script writng of Paddy Chayevsky and the direction of Delbert Mann. A great film, but you'll need a couple of hankies by the end.