The Goodbye Girl (1977)

After being dumped by her live-in boyfriend, an unemployed dancer and her 10-year-old daughter are reluctantly forced to live with a struggling off-Broadway actor.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Neil Simon

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Quinn Cummings

Won 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Elliot Garfield
Marsha Mason	...	Paula McFadden
Quinn Cummings	...	Lucy McFadden
Paul Benedict	...	Mark
Barbara Rhoades	...	Donna
Theresa Merritt	...	Mrs. Crosby
Michael Shawn	...	Ronnie
Patricia Pearcy	...	Rhonda
Gene Castle	...	Assistant Choreographer
Daniel Levins	...	Dance Instructor (as Daniel Levans)
Marilyn Sokol	...	Linda
Anita Dangler	...	Mrs. Morganweiss
Victoria Boothby	...	Mrs. Bodine
Robert Costanzo	...	Liquor Store Salesman
Pancho González	...	Mugger (as Poncho Gonzalez)

Storyline

A divorced woman and her daughter come home to find that her boyfriend has left for an out of town job with no warning. This has happened before. The second surprise comes in the form of another actor who has sublet the apartment from her boyfriend (who did not mention the pair of females who would be in residence). After some negotiation the two decide to share the apartment even though she has vowed to stay away from actors.

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Plot Keywords:

single mother | apartment | actor | dancer | female | 

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Taglines:

Thank you Neil Simon for making us laugh at falling in love...again.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

30 November 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bogart Slept Here

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$102,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Rastar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of eleven movies made by writer Neil Simon and producer Ray Stark. The films, most made at Rastar Pictures with film studio Columbia, include Murder by Death (1976), The Cheap Detective (1978), California Suite (1978), Chapter Two (1979), The Sunshine Boys (1975), Seems Like Old Times (1980), The Goodbye Girl (1977), The Slugger's Wife (1985), Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986), Biloxi Blues (1988) and Lost in Yonkers (1993).

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Goofs

When a drunken Elliot leans out of their apartments bay window to yell at the world his body drags the curtain with him. But in the next exterior shot there is no curtain visible, and in the next interior shot the curtain has disappeared from the window altogether.

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Quotes

Elliot Garfield: Alright, here is the situation.
Paula McFadden: I know the situation.
Elliot Garfield: Just let me say this out loud alright? I mean, I don't really believe this myself. Number one, I'm starting work in the morning and I have no place to sleep tonight. Number two, you don't have any money and you've got my apartment. Also you have your daughter to think about.
Paula McFadden: I am thinking of her right now!
Elliot Garfield: Do me the courtesy of hearing me out. Please? You are not the only one who can scream rape, you know?
Paula McFadden: Ha.
Elliot Garfield: We are both in a bind. The two ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Cotton Candy (1978)

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Soundtracks

How About You?
(1941) (uncredited)
Music written by Burton Lane
Lyrics written by Ralph Freed
Played on a record and sung by Richard Dreyfuss

User Reviews

My favourite film

My favourite film of all time. Despite its academy awards at the time it remains largely unknown now which is sad. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you feel good. What more can you expect from a movie?