Greetings (1968)

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writers:

Charles Hirsch (written by) and
Brian De Palma (written by)

Release Date:

28 January 1970 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

An offbeat, episodic film about three friends, Paul, a shy love-seeker, Lloyd, a vibrant conspiracy nut...

Plot Keywords:

Kennedy Assassination | Vietnam | Statue Of Liberty | Friendship | Sexuality

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Jonathan Warden	...	Paul Shaw
Robert De Niro	...	Jon Rubin
Gerrit Graham	...	Lloyd Clay
Richard Hamilton	...	Pop Artist
Megan McCormick	...	Marina
Tina Hirsch	...	Tina (as Bettina Kugel)
Jack Cowley	...	Fashion Photographer
Jane Lee Salmons	...	Model
Ashley Oliver	...	Bronx Secretary
Melvin Morgulis	...	'Rat' Vendor
Cynthia Peltz	...	Divorcee
Peter Maloney	...	Earl Roberts
Rutanya Alda	...	Linda (Shoplifter) (as Ruth Alda)
Ted Lescault	...	Bookstore Manager
Mona Feit	...	Mystic
M. Dobish	...	T.V. Cameraman
Richard Landis	...	Ex-G.I.
Carol Patton	...	Blonde in Park
Allen Garfield	...	Smut Peddler (as Alan Garfield)
Sara-Jo Edlin	...	Nymphomaniac
Roz Kelly	...	Photographer (Vietnam Film)
Ray Tuttle	...	Himself - TV News Correspondent
Tisa Chiang	...	Vietnamese Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian De Palma	...	Man in front of draft office smoking (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian De Palma

Writing credits
Charles Hirsch		(written by) and
Brian De Palma		(written by)

Produced by
Charles Hirsch	....	producer

Original Music by
Eric Kaz
J. Stephen Soles		(as Stephen Soles)
Artie Traum

Cinematography by
Robert Fiore		(cameraman)

Film Editing by
Brian De Palma

Production Management
George Manasse	....	production manager

Sound Department
Jeffrey Lesser	....	sound
Charles Pitts	....	sound
Bill Daly	....	sound transferer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ronald Roose	....	lighting
Daniel Weiss	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Chuck Shields	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Jeffrey Lesser	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Stephen Day	....	assistant to producer
Lee Harrison	....	script girl
Chuck Shields	....	titles
Karen Gilbert	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Mary Imperato	....	thanks

Production Companies

• West End Films

Distributors

• Vidmark Entertainment (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Minerva Pictures (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Carlotta Films (France) (re-release)
• Sigma III Corp.

Other Companies

• Bocour Artists Colors  thanks
• Bookmasters  thanks
• Cafe Figaro  thanks
• City of New York, The  thanks
• Jack Cowley Studios  thanks
• What Not Shop  thanks

Also Known As:

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA (DVD rating) | UK:18 | USA:R | USA:X (original rating) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bookmasters Book Store, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

West End Films

Trivia:

This was the first film in the United States to receive an "X" rating (in its original release). It opened in New York on 15 December 1968.

Quotes:

Jon Rubin:You've heard of 'Pop Art' right? Well this is 'Peep Art'.

Movie Connections:

References A Dandy in Aspic (1968)

Soundtrack:

So Loose and So Slow

Very Dated, but Fun, Satire

This film doesn't really have any storyline to speak of. Basically it is an episodic comedy-drama, set in New York in the late 60s, revolving around three friends as they try to avoid being drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam, while experiencing various elements of the late 1960s counterculture.

The film uses a a style very reminiscent of the French "Nouvelle Vague" films, such as hand-held cameras, on-screen captions commenting on the action and speeded-up film.

The film is probably most well-known today for marking an early appearance by Robert De Niro (here aged 24) as voyeuristic amateur film-maker Jon Rubin, and for being an early film from director Brian De Palma.

The film is, luckily, worth watching for much more than this though. It is an interesting snapshot of it's times and, although very dated, it is often quite funny. The main problem is that the film hasn't aged very well and there's no structure to it, many episodes by far outstay their welcome.