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IMDbPro

Private Benjamin

  • 1980
  • 6
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
29K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
625
7,152
Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin (1980)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:42
1 Video
57 Photos
SatireComedyWar

A sheltered young high-society woman joins the United States Army on a whim and finds herself in a trickier situation than she ever expected.A sheltered young high-society woman joins the United States Army on a whim and finds herself in a trickier situation than she ever expected.A sheltered young high-society woman joins the United States Army on a whim and finds herself in a trickier situation than she ever expected.

  • Director
    • Howard Zieff
  • Writers
    • Nancy Meyers
    • Charles Shyer
    • Harvey Miller
  • Stars
    • Goldie Hawn
    • Eileen Brennan
    • Armand Assante
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    29K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    625
    7,152
    • Director
      • Howard Zieff
    • Writers
      • Nancy Meyers
      • Charles Shyer
      • Harvey Miller
    • Stars
      • Goldie Hawn
      • Eileen Brennan
      • Armand Assante
    • 80User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 1 win & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Private Benjamin
    Trailer 2:42
    Private Benjamin

    Photos57

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    Top cast57

    Edit
    Goldie Hawn
    Goldie Hawn
    • Judy Benjamin
    Eileen Brennan
    Eileen Brennan
    • Capt. Doreen Lewis
    Armand Assante
    Armand Assante
    • Henrí Trémont
    Robert Webber
    Robert Webber
    • Col. Clay Thornbush
    Sam Wanamaker
    Sam Wanamaker
    • Teddy Benjamin
    Barbara Barrie
    Barbara Barrie
    • Harriet Benjamin
    Mary Kay Place
    Mary Kay Place
    • Pvt. Mary Lou Glass
    Harry Dean Stanton
    Harry Dean Stanton
    • Sgt. Jim Ballard
    Albert Brooks
    Albert Brooks
    • Yale Goodman
    Alan Oppenheimer
    Alan Oppenheimer
    • Rabbi
    Estelle Marlov
    • Vocalist at Wedding
    Everett Covin
    • Bandleader
    Robert Hanley
    Robert Hanley
    • Arnie
    Lee Wallace
    Lee Wallace
    • Mr. Waxman
    James Dybas
    James Dybas
    • Photographer
    Gretchen Wyler
    Gretchen Wyler
    • Aunt Kissy
    Maxine Stuart
    Maxine Stuart
    • Aunt Betty
    Lillian Adams
    Lillian Adams
    • Mrs. Goodman
    • Director
      • Howard Zieff
    • Writers
      • Nancy Meyers
      • Charles Shyer
      • Harvey Miller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Goldie Hawn signed onto Private Benjamin in June 1979 and went through boot camp training for six weeks.
    • Goofs
      When the girls are in the war games and capture the Red Team truck the Sgt throws the keys away. Army vehicles do not require keys to start. The ignition is hardwired to a start button on the dash. EDIT: Every vehicle in the Army then required a key. If the vehicle did have a starter button (a switch on floor akin to the old headlight dimmer switches in cars) it would still be secured when parked by a chain welded to the floor and running up through the steering wheel and secured with a padlock. You can start it, but you can't steer it unless you have the key. Throwing away the key isn't a factual mistake.
    • Quotes

      [after sex]

      Judy Benjamin: Now I know what I've been faking all these years.

      Henri Tremont: That was your first?

      Judy Benjamin: And second.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue:

      When Judy Benjamin was eight years old, she confessed her life's desire to her best friend.

      "All I want," Judy whispered, "is a big house... nice clothes, two closets, a live-in maid, and a professional man for a husband."

      Today, all of Judy's dreams come true.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Why Would I Lie?, Terror Train, Gloria, Private Benjamin (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Hava Nagila
      (uncredited)

      Israeli folk song

      played at Judy and Yale's wedding reception

    User reviews80

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    Perfect comedy to reflect 1980s sensibilities.

    Goldie Hawn and I are the same age. Well she is actually 4 months older. I first saw her in the 1960s TV show "Laugh In" which we all enjoyed in college.

    Here she is Judy Benjamin, in a great stroke of bad luck her husband dies on their wedding night. Distraught and not sure what to do with herself she goes to the Army recruiting office. In a good performance by Harry Dean Stanton (as the recruiter) he tells her this tall tale of what she would look forward to, a private room, a selecting of jobs, and if she didn't like it she could quit any time she wanted.

    With that vision she showed up for 6 weeks basic training totally unprepared. The comedy kicks into high gear as she tries to cope, almost washing out, ultimately deciding to tough it out and become an exemplary military woman. Back then, in her early 30s, Hawn was unique and this military comedy fits her talents well.
    • TxMike
    • Jan 3, 2021
    • Permalink

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Private Benjamin?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 26, 1981 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Schütze Benjamin
    • Filming locations
      • Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $9,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $69,847,348
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,739,769
      • Oct 12, 1980
    • Gross worldwide
      • $69,847,348
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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