When I arrived at N.C. State, I found myself eager to be a bit more sophisticated in my reading. This led to my first trip to the Reader’s Corner, a nearby used bookstore that had a literary section of bookshelves. On that first trip, I bought a copy of Phillip Roth’s Goodbye, Columbus. it was an odd experience starting college while reading about a recent graduate dealing with life without school. I really enjoyed the book and discovered there was a movie made. However, none of my local video stores carried a copy on the shelf. This stunk since I was a big fan of Richard Benjamin from watching Quark on TV. He seemed perfect for the main characters. It was a long time before I finally had a chance to see Goodbye, Columbus on VHS. And it was so worth it.
While hanging out at a country club pool with his cousin, Neil Klugman (Westworld‘s Richard Benjamin) encounters Brenda Patimkin (The Getaway‘s Ali MacGraw) when she asks him to hold her sunglasses as she takes a plunge. She gets out of the pool and leaves with a guy before Neil talk to her. Her barely gets her name from his cousin. He gets home to the Bronx and calls every Patimkin in the “suburban” phone book until he reaches Brenda. She doesn’t remember him, but she’s up for meeting him again. While both are Jewish, they are from different worlds. Her family is rather rich since dad (Quincy M.E. & The Odd Couple‘s Jack Klugman) runs a successful plumbing business. She’s enrolled at Radcliffe. He’s a Rutgers graduate working at a public library. The first date gets delayed as she plays tennis with a friend until the sun goes down. But the two find themselves clicking. He gets to know her family including her brother Ron (Michael Meyers) who was a big star on the basketball team at Ohio State (he’s the key to the title). He has to deal with Brenda’s very extremely protective parents. This really comes to play when he’s eager to go beyond heavy petting with her. Can their relationship go to the next level?
Goodbye, Columbus is the perfect double feature for The Graduate. They’re both about recent college graduates in the late ’60s, but with a few major differences. Richard Benjamin isn’t sleeping with Jack Klugman’s wife (Doctor Detroit‘s Nan Martin). He also has a real job and isn’t unsure about his future like Dennis Hoffman. Benjamin has biggest problem in Goodbye, Columbus including whether he’ll be able to stick with Ali MacGraw because of their socio-economic differences. Director Larry Peerce does a fine job showing his outsider status at Brenda’s home. This really comes into play when her mother isn’t too thrilled at her bringing him home for his vacation.
What gets me is that both Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw were around 30 when they played characters that were a decade younger. Both of them pull it off. You can believe they need to be carded for beer. You also don’t doubt their attraction for each other. Michael Meyers gives a great performance as the brother who misses his glory days. This was his only acting role. He’d become a doctor. Jack Klugman is as great as always. Goodbye, Columbus gets to the heart of the book and the characters.
The Video is 1.85:1 anamorphic. The transfer is from a new 4K scan of the films original 35mm camera negative. Things looks sweet with the details of the rumpus room in Brenda’s house. The Audio is DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono. Things sound bold and groovy during the party scene. The movie is subtitled in English.
Audio Commentary with Bill Ackerman had him get into the cast and crew and give context to the film.
Gone to Heaven (14:56) is a video interview with composer Charles Fox. He shares how this was his third film to score. His first two were Barbarella and The Green Slime. Later he’d be responsible for the opening theme songs to The Love Boat and Love American Style. He talks about working with The Association.
An Evening at the Academy (32:44) is a 2016 reunion of the cast and crew on stage after a screening. Composer Charles Fox welcomes us to the evening. He’s happy to honor director Larry Peerce. Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw reunite. Peter Bart moderates. Ali MacGraw talks about her anxieties making the film as a young actress. Larry swears he discovered Ali getting off a bus when he took a break from auditioning. Richard Benjamin was there. He remembers she just had an aura about her.
Image Gallery (5:16) features artwork, posters and press photos.
Limited Edition Illustrated Booklet with essay by Jim Healy.
Easter Egg (4:56) is found by clicking the FCE logo at the bottom of the special features page. I won’t give it away except to say it features Jack Klugman.
Fun City Editions presents Goodbye, Columbus. Directed by Larry Peerce. Screenplay by Arnold Schulman. Starring Richard Benjamin, Ali MacGraw, Jack Klugman, Nan Martin, Michael Meyers, Lori Shelle, Monroe Arnold, Kay Cummings, Sylvie Strause and Royce Wallace. Running Time: 102 minutes. Rating: Rated R. Release Date: January 20, 2025.
