It's Not Just You, Murray!

Did You Know?

• The film was shot largely in Scorsese's apartment.
• Scorsese co-wrote the script with Mardik Martin.
• The story is based on Scorsese's uncle.

Plot

Murray, a middle-aged mobster obsessed with money and status, narrates his life story, giving full credit to his friend Joe for his career in organized crime and his marriage. He tries to hide his line of work, but his careful phrasing only makes it obvious. The scenes on screen keep contradicting his rosy memories. It slowly emerges that Joe has betrayed him repeatedly: when their bootlegging still was raided, Joe ran, leaving Murray to get arrested; after prison, Joe put Murray out front to take the public humiliation; and Joe has been sleeping with Murray’s wife for years. When Murray casually notes his kids look like Joe, an argument follows, but Murray soon accepts Joe’s excuse. He then goes back to boasting about his riches and happiness.

Reception

In 1964, the film won the Producers Guild Award for Best Student Film and later the Jesse L Lasky Intercollegiate Award. Patricia Cooper and Ken Dancyger described it as among the best student films ever made. Mark Asch of Reverse Shot noted that the film's celebration of influences is a characteristic it shares with other student films. Christopher Campbell of Business Insider observed parallels to later Scorsese works such as Goodfellas, Casino, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Nora Sayre of The New York Times praised how the narration contradicts the on-screen action.