Goodbye, Columbus

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Goodbye, Columbus

PG

Released Apr 3, 1969

1h 45m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Neil Klugman (Richard Benjamin), a young librarian in New Jersey, has eyes for Brenda Patimkin (Ali MacGraw), a beautiful Radcliffe student. Although they are both Jewish, Brenda's family is much wealthier and more conservative than Neil's. As there relationship matures, their differing cultural backgrounds cause Brenda's mother (Nan Martin) to have trepidations about the couple. As their disparate ideas about sex and birth control come to the fore, their feelings for each other are tested.

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Harvey G. Cox

Tempo (National Council of Churches)

Despite its flaws, some of them major ones, Goodbye, Columbus is a successful flick. The photography [is strong], especially during the expressionistic sequences centered on the young lovers themselves.

Jan 7, 2021

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Jacob Brackman

Esquire Magazine

Does it seem picayune to require that moves make sense on their own terms?

Aug 13, 2020

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Paul Schrader

Los Angeles Free Press

It is rich and wonderful; and although flawed and far from being the best film of the year, I think it will deeply touch more people than any other film this year.

Jan 24, 2020

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Jamie Gillies

Apollo Guide

Perhaps the most successful of the three Philip Roth adaptations on the big screen.

Rated: 80/100

Sep 10, 2007

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Steve Crum

Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

Dated adult fare from 1969 with Benjamin and MacGraw.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 8, 2006

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

This well-observed comedy knows the American Jewish bourgeois scene well.

Rated: A

Jun 28, 2005

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Audience Member

The dancing was cringe but enjoyed it once again. Hadn't watched it since I was a teenager. Would they really have been such voracious eaters at the wedding? Quite shocking really.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The only reason I watched the movie was to see Ali McGraw's wardrobe, since it was apparent after the first 15 minutes I wasn't going to be interested in the film. I hope the book was more satisfying than this movie. The end of the film makes absolutely no sense, and I can't imagine it made sense in 1969, either. So be prepared to feel like you wasted your time. I also found the depiction of Jewish people and the way they eat - as if they've never seen food before - patently offensive.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

If you have something else to do, you'll probably wish, like me, that you had done it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

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steve d

Ali MacGraw stands out but you have seen it all before.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Blobbo remember from young blobhood, seeing in theater. Enjoyed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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delysid d

its a unique sort of film, i like it. a similar one was Next stop Grenwich Village

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/17/20

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Larry Peerce

Director

Richard Benjamin

Neil Klugman

Ali MacGraw

Brenda Patimkin

Jack Klugman

Ben Patimkin

Nan Martin

Mrs. Ben Patimkin

Michael Meyers

Ron Patimkin

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - Brenda's Diaphragm

2:13

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - Body or Mind?

1:45

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - I Was Pretty, Now I'm Prettier

2:03

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - Brenda's Awkward Brother

1:19

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - I'll Be Sweaty

1:18

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - The Closet Call

1:25

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - You're Next!

0:52

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - Meet the Parents

1:57

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - All It Takes is Once

2:13

Goodbye, Columbus: Official Clip - Do You Love Me?

2:02

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Synopsis

Neil Klugman (Richard Benjamin), a young librarian in New Jersey, has eyes for Brenda Patimkin (Ali MacGraw), a beautiful Radcliffe student. Although they are both Jewish, Brenda's family is much wealthier and more conservative than Neil's. As there relationship matures, their differing cultural backgrounds cause Brenda's mother (Nan Martin) to have trepidations about the couple. As their disparate ideas about sex and birth control come to the fore, their feelings for each other are tested.

Director: Larry Peerce
Producer: Stanley R. Jaffe
Screenwriter: Arnold Schulman
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Willow Tree
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 1969, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Runtime: 1h 45m

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