- Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Quinn Cummings, Paul Benedict, Barbara Rhoades
- Directors: Herbert Ross
- Writers: Neil Simon
- Producers: Ray Stark, Roger M. Rothstein
- Format: Colour, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language English
- Subtitles: English, French
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.77:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: 9 Nov 2010
- Run Time: 111 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0045HCJ76
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 26,732 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details |
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Goodbye Girl is a bittersweet comedy about relationships and taking chances. Though it deals with the human condition, what most quickly comes to mind are those wickedly comedic scenes featuring Richard Dreyfuss in an Oscar-winning role. He plays a struggling actor with a sharp tongue who has sublet an apartment from single mom Marcia Mason, a divorcie with horrific taste in men, who are always running out on her. She is left high and dry once more, stuck sharing her apartment with Dreyfuss when he hasn't the heart to enforce his lease and toss out mother and daughter.
Neil Simon's play shines under the direction of Herbert Ross as these two mismatched people find their contempt changing into mutual admiration. Quinn Cummings is more interesting than most precocious child stars; she seems brighter and her manner is prickly instead of cloying. Watch this film just for the scene in which Dreyfuss plays Richard III in an off-off-Broadway play. He lisps, he limps, he screams. It is the worst cinema you will ever see--and thoroughly hilarious. --Rochelle O'Gorman
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
With the current remake of Neil Simon's 'The Goodbye Girl' showing on television at the moment, it reminded me of this original film production, one of the better films from the 1970s, and one of the better films to derive from a Broadway play to keep much of the same character as the play. This film won numerous awards: Best Actor Oscar/Best Actor Golden Globe/Best Actor BAFTA for Richard Dreyfus; Best Picture Golden Globe; Best Actress Golden Globe/Best Actress Oscar Nomination for Marsha Mason; Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination for Quinn Cummings; Best Writing Oscar Nomination for Neil Simon, and the list goes on...
Neil Simon's play is dialogue driven rather than action-driven; this sometimes means the kiss of death for film, but in this production, it works beautifully. Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason (married to Neil Simon at the time) make a lively, comfortably uncomfortable duo as the new-to-New-York actor Elliot Garfield and the down-on-her-luck 'Goodbye Girl' Paula McFadden. Garfield shows up the night McFadden was dumped by her actor-boyfriend (not the first time this has happened, we soon discover); Garfield has been given the lease to the apartment that McFadden occupies with her daughter Lucy (admirably played by Quinn Cummings) -- much of the 'action' of the film takes place within the confines of this apartment (the primary set for the stage play) -- the relationship as Garfield and McFadden negotiate an unsettled truce which eventually becomes a friendship and then finally a love affair, with Lucy providing colour commentary all along the way.
Garfield is booked to play Richard III in the worst of all possible interpretations of the play; it closes in short order with atrocious reviews. McFadden tries to resurrect her dancing career, realising that she has passed the realistic age for most Broadway productions (certainly at that time). When Garfield gets the offer of a lifetime, he too plans to leave town, setting McFadden up for failure with a relationship once again, but at least she still has the apartment, right?
The dialogue is comedic and realistic at the same time -- the rapid-fire banter is classic Simon stage or screen; the impossible situations that cause characters to be constantly on the verge of a nervous breakdown until small miracles creep in to keep life sane are also far more true to life than most people feel comfortable admitting. Herbert Ross is to be commended with his direction here, in that he made the film a great film while retaining the crucial aspects of the great play.
Everyone should see this film, a romantic comedy/drama with a serious edge and ironic undertow.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase
Richard Dreyfeuss is one of those actors that you either love or hate. I happen to think he is a very good actor and have enjoyed him in most of his films. This movie is easily one of his best works and my favourite! It’s no wonder that he got an Academy Award for this film! Marsha Mason is just great and they compliment each other perfectly. The Goodbye Girl is a wonderfully warm, funny and beautifully romantic movie that is rich and warm and a joy to experience! I would highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to watch a movie about two people who are searching for true love and have found each other.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One for a great night in with your other half...at least, it is if you are a couple of softies like us. A lovely storyline...but don't forget the tissues!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Failed to see
I couldn't see it as it was on the American band not the English. Frustrating as I love this film! My own fault though - I took a risk and it failed to come off!
Published 8 months ago by Jeannie
One Of The Greatest Romantic Comedies
People often talk about When Harry Met Sally [DVD] [1989] as a benchmark romcom, but this one is surely a genre masterpiece. Didn't Dreyfus win an Oscar? Read more
Published 11 months ago by Philoctetes
goodbye girl- hello nostalgia!
Bought this film after being reminded of having heard the current Rumer cd. Brought back many happy memories. Read more
Published 13 months ago by 1961fio
A feel good movie
The Goodbye Girl (Richard Dreyfuss) Region 2 This is such a fun movie! Somehow they don't make adult comedies like this anymore. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Margaret
It's hard to describe your favourite film...
I'm compelled to write a review for this film, my first ever review, out of massive shock and disappointment that this film is not available for region 2! Read more
Published 17 months ago by Sopipofi
Best romantic comedy ever.
These days romantic comedies come with the additional tag 'chick flick.' Not so The Goodbye Girl. Easily one of my favourite films, the screenplay by Neil Simon and the acting by... Read more
Published 22 months ago by T. A. Wright
Romantic and witty comedy at it's funniest and most moving
Having loved this film since I was 17 I am delighted to learn that it is now available on DVD. I love the chemistry between Richard Drefuss and Marsha Mason and the beautiful score... Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2010 by Rbee
My favourite film
Brilliant acting, whip crack repartee and one-liners which make you shout with laughter. A great and oscar winning performance by Dreyfuss and the first appearance of Richard the... Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2004 by Constant Reader
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
