Goodbye, Columbus

Starring:Richard Benjamin, Ali MacGraw, Jack Klugman, Nan Martin, Michael Meyers (II), Lori Shelle, Monroe Arnold, Kay Cummings, Sylvie Strause, Royce Wallace, Anthony McGowan, Mari Gorman, Chris Schenkel, Jay Jostyn, Jan Peerce, Max Peerce, Rey Baumel, Delos V. Smith Jr., Gail Ommerle, David Benedict
Director: Larry Peerce
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Philip Roth's novel of Jewish identity and assimilation in the suburbs of New York gets a spirited comic reading in this 1969 film, which marked the acting debut of model Ali McGraw (and who thought that was a good idea?). Actually, she's pretty good as the Jewish princess whose father has made a fortune in plumbing supplies. Richard Benjamin, who went on to become an odd sex symbol of the '70s, had just the right comic twist as the young man who can't overcome McGraw's middle-class morality with his sense of passion and romance. Jack Klugman is outstanding as her hard-driving and unyieldding father. A touchstone film. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Philip Roth, please speak up!.......2007-04-16

First, the film which was written and set in Newark, New Jersey and Livingston, New Jersey was replaced by the Bronx, New York and Westchester County, New York. The characters remain the same but the setting which I always find crucial in Roth's stories are often disregarded in favor of something more familiar. Brenda and Neil come from two different worlds. Richard Benjamin and Ali McGraw are both excellent as the young couple and make an impressive film debut in this film. Surprisingly, Susan Lucci has an uncredited role in the film. Nan Martin and Jack Klugman are excellent as Brenda's upscale parents. Just because Neil and Brenda are Jewish, doesn't mean that they don't have problems. They do because Neil is a poor Bronx librarian living with his aunt and uncle while Brenda is rich and lives in Westchester county with a housekeeper and multiple telephones in the house, a rarity in those days. The story remains intact but I would like to see Philip Roth talk about his novel made into a film. I think the author speaking out would have made me want to give five stars instead of four.

Great social commentary.......2007-03-26

I first saw this movie on HBO around 1990 and immediately took to it. It provides great insight into Jewish social sensibilities in Greater New York during the 1950s. The 2 principal actors, Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw, are well-suited for their respective roles. In the midst of a July-September romance, Neil and Brenda expose various prejudices, while trying to conform to expectations placed on them by their parents and by society. We all know that a rich Daddy's princess from Briarcliff Manor wouldn't really develop a serious romance with a poor boy from the Bronx, but it is still interesting to see her go through the motions. When the academic year returns, Brenda finds a convenient way to drop Neil without saying so much. This leaves her free to go back to Radcliffe to continue pursuing her MRS. degree.

Trivial and Dated.......2007-01-25

I remember seeing this movie in the late 1960's and thought it a decent comedy. However with the perspective of some 40 years, I now find it trivial. That is, a wandering aimless sequence of dated cliche's. Perhaps Roth's novel would fare better. Even Jack Klugman, who would normally dominate a scene, seems laid back. At the same time as I purchased this film, I also purchased "Lovers and Other Strangers." The latter has certainly withstood the test of time and I would recommend it highly for someone who wants to see a good comedy.

Great Movie, Just Don't Watch the Ending.......2005-09-24

The movie is extremely witty and provides for loads of laughs while still doing quick moral lessons. The actors in this do an incredible job. The only problem is the ending, which happens to be the last 4-5 minutes, once they reach the hotel. This last scene just doesnt make sense in terms of the rest of the movie. There isn't enough evidence throughout the movie that this can end so abruptly. Theres nothing out of the way or jumpy in terms of the speed of their relationship at times, and yet at the end, it is incredibly confusing just what everyone's feelings are of the situation besides that of the mother of the girl. The boy leaves, leaving the audience to use their own experiences to fill in the blanks. I seems, then, that the ending says there were no morals that they were going for in the ending, but to merely provide a faceplate for people to ponder, agree with, or be totally confused about, as I am. I suggest watching it up until the end of the summer (in the movie). "The Graduate" was much better....watch that...

Goodbye, Columbus.......2005-05-05

I read this book for my english research paper. The book was good while the paper was terrible. Peace

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