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Actors: Ali Magraw, Richard Benjamin, Jack Klugman
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Goodbye, Columbus |
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This film, adapted from Philip Roth's prize-winning novella is about a summer romance between two very different young people. Neil (Richard Benjamin, in his film debut) is a young New Yorker who has no money or important connections. He falls for Brenda Patimkin (Ali Magraw, before Love Story would make her a superstar), a rich, brainy, beautiful yet spoiled girl from the other side of the tracks (suburbia).
Much of the film alternates between scenes of Neil working at the New York Public Library and living in his aunt and uncle's down-at-the-heels Bronx apartment, versus visiting Brenda at the Patimkins' fancy digs, where the family leads a charmed life. The clan is frequently shown at leisure or going over details regarding Brenda's brother's upcoming wedding.
Neil is visibly uncomfortable in the Patimkins' nouveau riche milieu, especially at the fancy country club where they belong. One reason for this is that Mr. Patimkin feels Neil is going nowhere in his career, while Mrs. Patimkin is openly snobbish. While there is a real spark between Neil and Brenda, it will be difficult for them to sustain their relationship, given the socioeconomic differences between them.
--Elana Starr, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Goodbye, Columbus |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1960's-1970's
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Lover is...
- of a different social class
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- librarian
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Jewish
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Body type
- (woman) average
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Jewish
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Water?
Yes
Water:
- swimming on
City?
Yes
City:
- dirty, grimy (like New York)
Small town?
Yes
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- depressed/sad
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Elana Starr
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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