Private Benjamin (1980)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Howard Zieff

Writers:

Nancy Meyers (written by) &
Charles Shyer (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

10 October 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The army was no laughing matter until Judy Benjamin joined it.

Plot:

A sheltered young high society woman joins the army on a whim and finds herself in a more difficult situation than she ever expected.

Plot Keywords:

Army | NATO | Wedding Night | Wedding | War Game

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Goldie Hawn	...	Pvt. Judy Benjamin - Judy Goodman
Eileen Brennan	...	Capt. Doreen Lewis
Armand Assante	...	Henri Alan Tremont
Robert Webber	...	Col. Clay Thornbush
Sam Wanamaker	...	Teddy Benjamin
Barbara Barrie	...	Harriet Benjamin
Mary Kay Place	...	Pvt. Mary Lou Glass
Harry Dean Stanton	...	1st Sgt. Jim Ballard
Albert Brooks	...	Yale Goodman
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Rabbi
Estelle Marlov	...	Vocalist at Wedding
Everett Covin	...	Bandleader
Robert Hanley	...	Arnie
Lee Wallace	...	Mr. Waxman
James Dybas	...	Photographer
Gretchen Wyler	...	Aunt Kissy
Maxine Stuart	...	Aunt Betty
Lillian Adams	...	Mrs. Goodman
Sandy Weintraub	...	Harvey Goodman
Tim Haldeman	...	Stanley Goodman
Kopi Sotiropulos	...	Limo Passerby
Stu Nahan	...	Newscaster
J.P. Bumstead	...	Induction Officer
Hal Williams	...	Sgt. L.C. Ross
Toni Kalem	...	Pvt. Gianelli
Damita Jo Freeman	...	Pvt. Gloria Moe
Alston Ahern	...	Pvt. P.J. Soyer
P.J. Soles	...	Pvt. Wanda Winter
Craig T. Nelson	...	Capt. William Woodbridge
James R. Barnett	...	Drill Instructor
Ray Oliver	...	Red Team Soldier #1
Robin Hoff	...	Red Team Soldier #2
Ed Lewis	...	Red Team Soldier #3
Carrol Davis Carson	...	Referee
Clay Wright	...	Helicopter Pilot (as Clayton D. Wright)
Danny Wells	...	Slick Guy
Keone Young	...	Kim Osaka
George Roberts	...	Johnny Rourke
Helen Baron	...	Selma Lemish
Paul Marin	...	Leo Lemish
Mimi Maynard	...	Liz Lemish
Alice Hirson	...	Mrs. Thornbush
Wil Albert	...	Lt. Rahmi
Richard Herd	...	Brig. Gen. Foley
Sally Kirkland	...	Helga
Denise Halma	...	Gabrielle
Lilyan Chauvin	...	Mrs. Tremont
David Olivier	...	Jean Claude
Elie Liardet	...	Mayor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Allison Caine	...	Additional Voice (uncredited)
Stéphane Grappelli	...	Wedding Violinist (uncredited)
Heather Haase	...	Young Judy Goodman (uncredited)

Directed by
Howard Zieff

Writing credits
Nancy Meyers		(written by) &
Charles Shyer		(written by) &
Harvey Miller		(written by)

Produced by
Goldie Hawn	....	executive producer
Nancy Meyers	....	producer
Harvey Miller	....	producer
Charles Shyer	....	producer

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
David M. Walsh		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sheldon Kahn

Casting by
Wallis Nicita		(as Wally Nicita)
Jessica Overwise

Production Design by
Robert F. Boyle		(as Robert Boyle)
Jeffrey Howard

Set Decoration by
Arthur Jeph Parker

Costume Design by
Betsy Cox

Makeup Department
Kathryn Blondell	....	hair stylist
Rita Bordonaro	....	hair stylist
E. Thomas Case	....	makeup artist
Ricardo Romero Jones	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Henri Jaquillard	....	production manager: France
David Silver	....	unit production manager
Juliette Toutain	....	unit manager: France

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ross Brown	....	second assistant director
Louis Pitzele	....	first assistant director: France
Jerry Sobul	....	first assistant director
Eric Stacey	....	key second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Harold Broner	....	construction coordinator
Paul De Santis	....	assistant property master
Serge Douy	....	art director: France
Jeffrey Howard	....	assistant art director
Sherman Labby	....	production illustrator
Bill MacSems	....	property master

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Richard Alexander)
Martin Raymond Bolger	....	sound mixer
Jim Bullock	....	sound effects editor (as Jimmie Bullock)
Milton C. Burrow	....	sound effects editor
Andy MacDonald	....	sound re-recording mixer
William L. Manger	....	supervising sound editor
Charles E. Moran	....	sound effects editor
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hal Whitby	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Robert Peterson	....	special effects

Stunts
Gina Picerni	....	stunt double
Glynn Rubin	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Edesa	....	camera operator
Norman Harris	....	gaffer
Paul Jacobsen	....	electrician
Paul Jacobsen	....	rigger
Ron Kenyon	....	best boy
Richard Moran	....	key grip
John R. Shannon	....	still photographer
Ken Fisher	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Johnny Walker	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James M. George	....	costumer: men (as Jim George)
Victoria Snow	....	costumer: women

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Lois Freeman	....	associate film editor
Joe Mosca	....	assistant film editor
John Walker	....	color technician
Clayton Collins	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Eugene Marks	....	music editor
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
John M. Woodward	....	transportation coordinator
Gina August	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Betty Chaplin	....	script supervisor
Lynne Coke	....	assistant to producers
Joan Eisenberg	....	unit publicist
Gene Fioramonti	....	location manager
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Edouard Garrouste	....	production coordinator: France
Deloris Claris Horn	....	assistant: Ms. Hawn
Bridgette Kelley	....	assistant to producers
Patrick Meunier	....	location manager: France
Lee Stitch	....	production coordinator
Barry Wexler	....	crab dolly operator

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Angel's Gate Park - 3601 Gaffey Street, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

According to Goldie Hawn's memoirs, Arthur Hiller was first choice to direct, but pulled out of the project.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: After Judy has arranged her posting to Europe, there are aerial shots of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. This is followed by a voice-over of Judy describing how lovely it is "here in Belgium". The next shot shows her posting location - S.H.A.P.E. headquarters, which actually is in Belgium - followed by another shot with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Why would she live in Paris if she works in Mons, 2.5 hour's drive away?

Quotes:

Judy Benjamin: Daddy - Mom just fainted.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Bridal Chorus

Booooooo.

I can't understand why so many people hated this film, it's always been one of my favorite comedies. I will admit some valid points have been raised here regarding it's weak points. "Private Benjamin" is almost condescendingly feminist at times, particularly in the last half, and I say that in regards to the gross caricatures that the script gives us of stereotypical men who are out to control and manipulate women, as well as the women who are content to simply rely on men and marriage to give them an identity.

However, I think many people forget that this is a comedy and a satire. Like all good comedy, "Private Benjamin" gives us the chance to laugh at ourselves as well as its likeable protagonist. I think Goldie Hawn was great in this film, she really gives Judy a certain depth that goes beyond simply following the direction of the script. Her facial expressions are priceless and evoke some real laughs in the comedy segments, while the more thoughtful parts of the film give her a chance to reveal a vulnerability too. When Judy finally asserts herself as an individual in the film's conclusion, it really rings true thanks to Hawn.

Eileen Brennan is also classic here. She may be playing a one-note type of character, but she plays it to the hilt. Again, I don't think it's a crime that Brennan (and the military in general) are depicted as unpleasant, because it's also these same things that help Judy to find herself, and the film definitely shows the audience that, too.

The sudden shift from slapstick-type humor to a more subtle type of satire may seem jarring for some viewers, but for me I thought it was fine, since watching poor Judy go through hell in basic training would have been boring for an hour and a half anyway.

I get a real kick out of this movie even to this day. "Henri, look....there's Claire!"