It's Not Just You, Murray!

Out of his earlier works, I would say Italianamerica is my favourite, but this short film is just as important.

Not to be compared with his more serious works, Scorsese's short film is a comedy piece where we are introduced to the life of a small time hood - Murray, who is oblivious to the fact that even his best friend is betraying him. This gives way for some interesting set pieces.

This film could have been a start of Scorsese's interaction with mob life. The ideas of male bonding etc, are used here, and will later be seen in Mean Streets in 73. Mean Streets was also influenced by I Viteloni by Fellini - so if you are interested in Scorsese's work, and how it came to be, watch that film.

If you are a Scorsese fan, you must see this - as it helps you understand his later works. Also recommended : Italianamerica/Big Shave/what's a nice girl like you doing in...

See some Truffaut to - for technique.

Martin was already 22 or 23 when this short was made at NYU. One has to wonder how he was able to score such elaborate sets for this film. I mean interiors couldnt have all been filmed at NYU, no?

You also have to wonder what happened to teh actors who never worked again and how they feel that he's still making money off this movie and they arent.

It's a really well made short although the story gets old quicker than the 15 minutes it takes to finish watching the film.

This is one of the early shorts made by Martin Scorsese when he was a student at NYU. In this one, a middle-aged man looks back at his life and how he got successful like making illegal gin during Prohibition or producing some hit Broadway shows. He credits a "friend" with his successes but that "friend" is...not a friend at all! Filmed in black-and-white with some jump cuts and still frames, this was quite an amusing short to watch as an example of the early work of Mr. Scorsese. So on that note, It's Not Just You, Murray! is worth a look. P.S. The mother of the leading character is played by the mother of the director, Catherine Scorsese.

I attend NYU, and was lucky to be shown a print of this short. The movie is entirely innovative, and does have some of Scorsese's trademark themes, such as crime and, of course, his mother. The story centers around a man and all the horrible things his friend Murrary does to him.

This movie is, however, uncharacteristically funny for a Scorsese film. It is very similar to an early Woody Allen movie, such as Bananas, in that regard. It also contains some nods to avant garde cinema, such as Goddard or Fellini, especially in the last scene.

All in all, a fabulous little movie that shows inclinations of things to come from Scorsese~

It's Not Just You, Murray! (1964)

*** (out of 4)

Martin Scorsese's second short is a nice homage to the gangster pictures from Warner. A middle aged gangster looks back over his life from the start of his career to the present. If you're a fan of the Warner gangster pictures then you'll enjoy this short film with all the references to those earlier pictures.

What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1963)

** (out of 4)

First film from Martin Scorsese about a writer who buys a painting and soon his obsession with it leads to writers block. There's not too much going on here but I guess that's to be expected with a student film. The camera-work and editing are nice.