<![CDATA[Borgnine on Marriage to Merman]]>Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Ethel Merman

Harold_Robbins — 17 years ago(July 30, 2008 08:50 PM)

According to Ernest Borgnine's new autobiography ERNIE, the problems in the Bornine/Merman marriage were temperament and a clash of egos, nothing more. Wherever they went on their honeymoon, including Japan, Borgnine was recognized because of MCHALE'S NAVY, which was enormously popular at the time (though he'd have preferred to be recognized for MARTY) - unfortunately, few knew who Merman was. She was extremely annoyed by this, accusing him of hogging the spotlight, even though he made every effort to make people aware of her. She became moody, sullen, and withdrawn, at one point even refusing to share medication with Borgnine for a local "bug" because "it's mine, isn't it?" Borgnine found the situation intolerable after a while.
"Stone-cold sober I find myself absolutely
fascinating!"
Katharine Hepburn

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/128003/borgnine-on-marriage-to-mermanRSS for NodeThu, 14 May 2026 18:47:12 GMTSat, 18 Apr 2026 10:54:56 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Borgnine on Marriage to Merman on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:07 GMT]]>metalman091 — 13 years ago(July 11, 2012 12:05 AM)

Borgnine's account sounds realistic enough, I mean, Ethel Merman wasn't the easiest person from what I've heard, and there are stories about her ego.
Remember that Merman never told her side [she had a chance and chose not to], so we only have Borgnine's to go by.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134413https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134413Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Borgnine on Marriage to Merman on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:06 GMT]]>tvlover1961 — 13 years ago(June 27, 2012 06:30 AM)

You know, they realized it wasn't going to work and ended it or at least Borgnine did. Probably didn't give too much thought before they did the deed. It happensat least it didn't drag out and involve kids (though Merman was too old at that time).
Off topicjust saw her last night in a re-run of That Girl. I don't know much about her, except her voice. She was good on that episode!

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134412https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134412Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Borgnine on Marriage to Merman on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:05 GMT]]>smjensen312-158-669840 — 13 years ago(May 16, 2012 05:28 PM)

They were only really together for a couple of days. What I've always heard is that they woke up in bed together, looked at each other, screamed, then ran in opposite directions.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134411https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134411Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Borgnine on Marriage to Merman on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:04 GMT]]>summerfields — 16 years ago(March 17, 2010 07:18 PM)

childish as hell
Even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134410https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134410Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Borgnine on Marriage to Merman on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:02 GMT]]>IMDb User

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]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134409https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134409Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Borgnine on Marriage to Merman on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:01 GMT]]>filmmekker — 17 years ago(January 23, 2009 04:57 AM)

I guess we'll only ever have his side of it as she never went public with her side.
Action Is everything!

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134408https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134408Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Borgnine on Marriage to Merman on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:00 GMT]]>HarlowMGM — 17 years ago(October 13, 2008 09:39 PM)

The chapter in Ethel's autobiography "My Marriage to Ernest Borgnine" is legendary - it's a blank page
. Ib68 can only imagine what the spats might have sounded like for these two shrinking violets
lol.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134407https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134407Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:55:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Borgnine on Marriage to Merman on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:54:59 GMT]]>IMDb User

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]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134406https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1134406Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:54:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Borgnine on Marriage to Merman on Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:54:57 GMT]]>metalman091 — 17 years ago(August 19, 2008 02:18 AM)

Interesting information. I should read a biography about Ethel Merman soon.

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