Goodbye Columbus

A young man meets a young woman and falls in love. Then as the relationship develops the man discovers that the young woman, who is beautiful and charming, is a confused shrill who is using him to act out against her parents. Now the man has to make a decision: stay or leave. This movie is remarkable for one reason: Ali McGraw. Thirty-five years ago Ali McGraw was a mega-superstar and is a truly great actress. Ali McGraw makes this movie watchable. Her performance, in this noteworthy movie, was great. This is not an upbeat movie and does not have any heroes. None of the characters in this movie are particularly likable, especially the Richard Benjamin character whose perpetual scowl reflects a condescending arrogance that adds to the movie's negativity. But that does not mean that this is a bad movie. Quite the contrary. It's a well acted, well-scripted movie that tells a story. But don't expect a happy story.

Truly a period piece, Goodbye, Columbus is, certainly, an attempt to show the differences between two people of the Jewish religion. While I agree with many of the folks that commented on this film regarding the differences between Brenda's family and Neil's family, I don't see it as a matter of the wealthier character's family having no class and the poorer character having much more. I knew many families that were similar. My upbringing was more similar to Neil's as we were not wealthy. Klugman convey's the typical successful Jewish business man with a good heart. He works hard to provide a very comfortable environment for his wife and children. He is a very loving father and doesn't flaunt his wealth in the film. His family means everything to him. Benjamin's character, while exposed on occasion to the "good life", is content in knowing that he's OK despite his modest position in life. What's important in this film is that he knows there may be something in life that is better than working in a library, but he's not about to sell his soul to get rich just for the sake of being able to live the Potimkin's lifestyle. This film accurately portrays a young man early in his career and life and one of his early attempts at choosing between a safe secure future by marrying a beautiful, intelligent and not-too-spoiled Jewish girl or trying to see if he's really in love with HER and not the family money or trappings. This was a relatively low budget film that made you think. It tried to show how tough it is for a poorer man to deal with his demons in choosing the kind of woman and life he wanted. All in all, this film is an accurate slice of life in the Jewish community and is as relevant today as it was then.

This film oozes charm. There are some similarities to "The Graduate" but messages conveyed are less heavy-handed. There are so many memorable scenes: the kid in the library, introducing college grads to each other, the wedding, etc. The casting is excellent and the resemblance of the younger daughter to the father is uncanny. The character "Ron" steals the show in some respects (I love to shake hands as he does when I encounter snobs). This is probably Richard Benjamin's best role and finest performance. I first saw this film when I was about ten. I've seen it about four times in total. It's certainly not for everyone. If you loved "Top Gun", skip it. If you like to champion good films that have been overlooked, check it out.

I saw Goodbye, Columbus when it was released and found it almost as profound and moving as The Graduate. Why has this movie been so neglected and forgotten? Why is it not shown on network or cable? It's terrific and still timely. Anyone have any ideas?

I had only a vague recollection of this film, but remembered it being rather unique. I bought the DVD because the film rarely shows up on TV. I was not disappointed. After 35 years, it holds up remarkably well. Sure, many props are out of date (cars, wired telephones), as are some of the cinematic techniques (clumsy zoom shots, montages), but the issues of social class and ethnic stereotypes remain highly relevant.

The disenfranchised and disillusioned hero became a staple of late 1960s movies, and this film actually makes a fine companion piece to "The Graduate." However, the two films diverge widely in resolving their conflicts, making the comparison all the more interesting.

Much of the credit for the success of this film, which is never less than engrossing, goes to the performers. Ali MacGraw is a revelation. In the years since, she has proved to be less than a great actress. Here, she's sensational. She's practically on screen the whole time, giving charm and nuance to the central character she plays. Jack Klugman is entirely convincing as her benevolent and loving father. Richard Benjamin does outstanding work as well. Supporting players are vulgar stereotypes, but serve as shorthand in getting the major themes across.

The film is an expert blend of humor and drama, leaving the audience with much to think about after it's over. Highly recommended.