Customer Reviews

Goodbye, Columbus

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I saw this film while I had first entered high school way back when. This movie holds a special place in my heart. The film was told through the eyes of Neil Klugman (Richard Benjamin). I know he was enraptured by the lovely Brenda Patimkin (Ali MacGraw) but I also knew he had another eye on the success of her family. I know that I had my eye on Ali MacGraw. At that time in my life she was the epitome of poise, grace and beauty. The way I see this film it is about two lovers or would-be lovers that never seem to be on the same page. Benjamin is genuinely attracted to MacGraw but does she really like him or is he just a convenient partner for her sexual coming of age? Is she just using him? Then there is a change. By the end of the film you wonder if the message is that you make the bed that you sleep in. I read Phillip Roth's novel after I had seen the film. I thought the scene in both the film and novel where Brenda and Neil first meet was heartfelt and magical. However, the most memorable scene in the entire film is between Ali MacGraw and Jack Klugman (Mr. Patimkin, Brenda's dad) at the wedding. Jack Klugman gave an excellent performance throughout this film. But in this wedding scene you can really feel a father trying to protect his daughter from the worldliness of life and if only he could really be there all the time for her to help ease her pain. This film may look dated but for me it is eternal.

The original "R" rated version is 5 stars-trimmed DVD 3 stars.

A splendid film for a lot of reasons. The Phillip Roth novel from which the film was adapted supplies unusually good dialogue for the script and an excellent structure on which the director can hang visual and audio elements that meaningfully support the story. Check out how well the musical score shifts to support the mood of each scene. Then there is an excellent cast.

The title is a reference to the brother, a basketball player at Ohio State in Columbus, who frequently listens to an OSU sports commentary that signs off with "Goodbye Columbus". And the song lyrics "Hello life, goodbye Columbus" relate to leaving the protection of home/school to face the world.

Although "Goodbye Columbus" is usually thought of as the "The Graduate" with a different ending, it is much more like "Adam at 6AM". The three films were made at the very end of the 1960's, all had a searching young man as their main character, and all revolved around a new romantic relationship. But in "Goodbye Columbus" and "Adam" the tension is not between different generations but between different backgrounds and values. In both the young man eventually realizes that these differences cannot be overcome and both films go out with shots of him leaving.

The soundtrack album featuring "The Association" (and incidental music composed by Charles Fox) was probably the kiss of death for that group's credibility whatever their musical merits. While cool to be part of an outside film like "Easy Rider", it was uncool to be associated with a Hollywood product like "Goodbye Columbus". This was the summer of Woodstock and by then "The Association" had pretty much lost their audience. In addition to the title song they contributed "It's Gotta Be Real" and "So Kind To Me."

It's two most famous scenes have held up very well: the montage of Ali MacGraw swimming during the title sequence and the comical wedding guests "pig-out" at the buffet table.

The cinematography is first-rate and while the widescreen DVD showcases this, the original theatrical release has been trimmed of its most explicit material. The DVD version is only 101 minutes long. Entire sequences have been deleted including the critical first sex sequence where birth control methods are discussed (foreshadowing) and the sequence with the rationale for his moving in with the family for two weeks. Also missing is all the vaguely graphic elements dealing with her initial refusal to have sex. If you are a first time viewer watching the DVD version, and find puzzling narrative gaps in the story, or incomplete motivational explanations, the trimming is the reason.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

I loved this film when I first saw it. I must admit to being a fan of Richard Benjamin. I waited and waited for the film to be released on dvd and when it became available, I immediately ordered one. Imagine my HORROR when upon the initial viewing I realized that the studio had released an EDITED version on dvd!! I have never heard of such a thing. All of MacGraw's nude scenes have been severly cut to allow a PG rating as opposed to the original release which had an R rating. I absolutely HATE censorship. I don't care whether the cuts are of sex, violence or simply to shorten a film. I want to see a film as the director wished it to be seen. Is the movie still good? Yes, of course...but this release will always be tainted by the cuts the studio made to attain a wider audience. Shame, shame.

For years "Goodbye Columbus" has been an old movie favorite of mine, popping up sporatically on late night, broadcast television in various edited forms. I'm delighted, that this satirical 'slice of life', romantic-comedy (based on a novella by author, Phillip Roth) has now finally made it's appearence in the DVD format. The story is pretty simple. Neil Klugman (Richard Benjamin) is a guest at his Cousin, Doris' ritzy, country club. It is there, he catches sight of and is instantly attracted to the beautiful, Brenda Patimkin (Ali MacGraw). This poor young man from the Bronx asks out and starts dating the wealthy, spoiled girl from Westchester. We watch the relationship blossom over the course of the summer, as Neil falls in love with Brenda and gets involved with her crazy family. On the simplest level, this film is a satirical look at being young, Jewish and dating in 1960's suburbia. But it is also a film about being young and not knowing what you want out of life. Throughout the film, Neil is questioned repeatly about his low paying, Librarian's job and what his plans are. The truth is he dosn't really know. He dosn't want to "grub his whole life away trying to make money", yet he also finds the counter-culture answers of 1960's youth just as ridiculous.The film looks at the different view points on a variety of topics (sex, marriage, children, work) between baby boomers and the WWII generation, that came before them. This is all wrapped up in delicious satire, that pokes fun at Jewish life in suburbia (including, the most overly ostentatious wedding ever put on film). Director, Larry Peerce and Screen Writer, Arnold Schulman have created a wry movie, which is both humorus and inciteful.I love the scene where Brenda's father gives Neil a speech about the "contempt" that today's youth show for their elders. He pointly reminds Neil, that at one time he felt the same way. The casting for the film is also brillant. Actor, Richard Benjamin shines as the young man in love, who is trying to find his place in life as well as among Brenda's loud and obnoxious family. Ali MacGraw (in one of her first roles) is equally good as the spoiled, rich girl. But the cast member who really gives a memorable performance is actor Jack Klugman as Brenda's Father, Ben. He gives a great nuanced reading, showing us a father who works hard, loves his family and will do anything to make his daughter happy. The DVD itself has both good and bad points. The mastering of the picture is crytal clear, but the sound is only fair (but what do you expect from a 1969 film). The DVD is bare bones without any extras (not even a trailer). I would have loved to hear audio comentaries from either Bejamin or MacGraw. This is a great film comedy which makes for a wonderful evening of entertainment! Highly recommended!

Sadly, it was a matter of timing. On September 10, 1969, two films opened on the same day. One was "Midnight Cowboy, the other was "Goodbye, Columbus." Both films were aimed at the young college crowd and the managers of the two theatres in our town which played the respective films made a bet on which one would outdraw the other. "Midnight Cowboy" won by a landslide and "Goodbye, Columbus" limped out of town. That was too bad, for "Goodbye, Columbus" was a great film, worthy of success. The story of a poor Jewish boy from the Bronx (Richard Benjamin) falling in love with a rich Jewish princess (Ali McGraw) from the suburbs, was one of author Phillip Roth's most popular stories. The film is rich in detail and atmosphere and is hilarious in many scenes, while achingly dramatic in others. It was this juxtaposing of drama and comedy (ala "The Comic") that threw many viewers and critics off during their initial viewing. But seen more than once, this opposing chemistry comes together in a unique and satisfying manner.
The film is seen through the eyes of Benjamin, a down to earth, unpretentious fellow, who is thrown into the rich excessive world of surburbia. Ali McGraw, in her first film role, is perfect as the spoiled oldest child of a successful wholesale plumber (Jack Klugman), a man who built his business from the ground up and now spoils his children rotten.
While the lead characters, McGraw and Benjamin, handle most of the scenes, it is an unknown actor, Michael Meyers (No, not Austin Powers) as McGraw's, gangly, lug-nut basketball-star brother who steals the film. His nearly wordless scenes are hilarious as his body twitches, shifts and undulates with almost unnatural ease. Watching Benjamin trying to do his lines with Meyers is almost as funny, as the veteran actor knows he is being had on camera by this unknown talent. The rest of the cast is superb, brash, loud and stressed to the max. The highlight is the wedding between McGraw's brother and his fiancè, who is just as down to earth as Benjamin, but has seemingly made the adjustment to life within this zoo of a family.
This is a film that grows better with each viewing, a testament to its ability to bring both laughter and tears and a wonderful look into the world of class separation.

'Goodbye Columbus' has been compared to 'The Graduate': it's another late-60s study of an aimless, young Jewish graduate disillusioned by the time-honoured, soul-destroying route to success - conformity.

It is certainly a very enjoyable romantic comedy that deserves to be better known. It is more sympathetic to its young hero than the more famous film, without sentimentalising him or over-looking the fact that his integrity could simply be moral cowardice or immaturity.

Neal Klugman as an individual is always contrasted with groups - his family, Brenda's family, his work environment, the wider Jewish community. He finds there is no such thing as individualism, that people are tied down to, and dependent on, families and work, quashing their own dreams and desires. At the wedding, Neal is faced, in the midst of raucous gaiety, with a host of unhappy men who sold out. But these men have roots, a community, that he is always excluded from; and he doesn't even seem to have dreams like the young boy who stares at Gauguin reproductions in the library every day - 'Man, that is the life'.

What makes 'Goodbye Columbus' so enjoyable, however, is the surprising chemistry between Richard Benjamin and the usually inert Ali McGraw. The sense of a long, lazy summer romance is beautifully captured, with the restrained use of jumpcuts and visual tricks giving a kind of urgency to the uncertain romance. This is a film that celebrates the private moments cocooned from the wider, public picture: the giggling, the frustrations, the tantrums, the great sex, the epiphany of a young woman skinny-dipping at night, the farce of a young man's premature expression of his desire in a car, outside the house of his lover and her disapproving parents.

I saw this movie when it first came out in 1969 with my first real boyfriend. Somehow, even though our situation was nothing like the one portrayed in the movie, I really identified with Neil & Brenda's relationship. Maybe it was the intensity of the relationship, or maybe, I was just a silly 16 year old, ah youth!!!
Even though this movie is 35 years old, it still has a very contempoary feel, and there is a genuine chemistry between Ali McGraw & Richard Benjamin, which is a great credit to both Benjamin & the director of this film, because Ali McGraw is one of the world's worst actors. I must admit, Ali was a beautiful girl, I was so jealous of her & her model skinny body. She looked great in all those Villager & Bobbi Brooks outfits.
Anyway, enough of my musings. I highly recommend this movie, basically, it's just a good story.

This is the movie that came out in my early teens that I most identify with summer. Who among my friends didn't want to be Ali MacGraw? A wonderful home, with all the clothes any young woman could want, a college education to die for, and a boyfriend that was so grown up and so perfect? Alas, Brenda (Ali) had to find a reason to break up with Neil (Richard Benjamin), whether it was because he wasn't ambitious enough, or enough of a butt kisser to her uptight parents, or whatever...anyway, the summer weeks they spent together were the ultimate fantasy of a lot of us that were teens in the late 60's. The soundtrack by the Association is so fitting...I love it! My favorite scene is the wedding of Brenda's brother Ron, because a couple of years later, I attended a Greek Orthodox wedding that was so similar to this movie's Jewish wedding. Dancing and food and just wonderful! I have watched this many times on TV, and was so happy it finally came out on DVD.

I WAS AN USHER AT A MOVIE THEATRE WHEN GOODBYE, COLUMBUS PREMIERED IN 1969. I JUST REMEMBER HOW SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL ALI MACGRAW WAS. THE STORY WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE TIMES, WITTY DIALOG AND PLEASANT SCENERY, SOMEWHAT LIKE THE GRADUATE, ANOTHER GREAT FILM. BUT ALI MACGRAW SIMPLY WAS BREATHTAKING. SHE BECAME A STAR THROUGH THAT ONE FILM AND MADE THE MOVIE MORE ENJOYABLE.

Watching "Goodbye, Columbus" for the first time I flashed back to my sophomore year at Temple University when I was still undeclared. I took an American Lit class taught by an inspiring professor whose name unfortunately escapes me. His course offerings were a veritable stew of literary styles. I recall reading Henry James' "Daisy Miller" which spawned an underrated film by Peter Bogdanovich. I also recall reading Thomas Berger's "Neighbors" starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd that was generally reviled by the critics(I liked it, though). My impressions of "Goodbye, Columbus" is it is painstakingly faithful to Philip Roth's novella. Your opinion of the film I think depends on how much you liked the book. I like the film and the book. My only quibble here is that the principal actors, though ideally cast, may have been a tad too old for their parts. Richard Benjamin is superb as the Bronx librarian returning from a stint in the Army only to fall head over heels with a girl whose value system he finds contemptible. Ali MacGraw gives a sympathetic account of the spoiled preppie because you feel that she acts the way she does only because she's been programmed to do so. The attraction between the two is more than physical. Despite their protestations, Neil and Brenda possess character traits that the other finds desirable. The question you ask will the pull of their respective social classes accept this relationship or find it unacceptable and pull Neil and Brenda apart. The film is rich in Jewish color but the scenario that unfolds here could apply to any tightknit ethnic group. A real gem has been made here from a fine literary source.