"Marty" is in my top 5

1) It is such an unconventional film for its time (and even today), and full of life lessons. Marty isn't a hero in the conventional sense, but still a hero.

2) The most poignant to me is when Marty introduces Clara to his Mom, and she gives sensible answers to the Mom's questions, including the fatal one that a young couple shouldn't live with a parent. Of course, clingy Mom says "I don't like her Marty", as it is revealed she is selfishly complicit in defeating Marty's love life. Marty then realizes his only salvation is to reject the selfish/petty opinions of his Mom and especially Angie, etc, and live his own life. This is so true. I suppose half of all marriages in history were not sanctioned for similar reasons.

3) Funny that Borgnine and Blair aren't all that bad looking (Blair was married to Gene Kelly), and have quite a lot going for them outside the dance halls of life (Marty extremely kind, Clara intelligent, both patient). I always wondered what it would be like if the two were homelier and without good personalities...maybe the film works because the inner uses are saying "but that's so unfair! Marty and Clara are perfectly good people!"

4) It is cringeworthy and weird seeing Gomer Pyle's Sgt Carter divide all women into "dog" and "tomato" categories, funny seeing Dick Van Dyke's neighbor Jerry as Marty's brother. (he's also in another of my favs, "The Caine Mutiny".

5) Marty's Mom is a story unto herself, so many Moms like her, you can imagine all her fears welling up, let's hope Marty and Clara produced a bunch of bambinos for her...