The Goodbye People (film)

Last updated
The Goodbye People
The Goodbye People poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Herb Gardner
Screenplay byHerb Gardner
Based on The Goodbye People
by Herb Gardner
Produced byMel Howard
David V. Picker
Starring Judd Hirsch
Martin Balsam
Pamela Reed
Vincent Gugleotti
Gene Saks
Ron Silver
Cinematography John Lindley
Edited byRick Shaine
Production
companies
Coney Island Productions
Embassy Pictures
Distributed by Castle Hill Productions
Release dates
  • May 1984 (1984-05)(Cannes Film Festival)
  • 1984 (1984)(Toronto)
  • January 31, 1986 (1986-01-31)(New York)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.5 million

The Goodbye People is a 1984 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Herb Gardner, based on his 1968 play The Goodbye People . The film stars Judd Hirsch, Martin Balsam, Pamela Reed, Vincent Gugleotti, Gene Saks and Ron Silver. First screened at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival, it wasn't released in the United States until 1986.

Contents

Plot

Arthur Korman is a 40-year old man stuck in a job he hates and visits Coney Island every morning to view the sunrise. There he meets Max Silverman, the former owner of a hot dog stand at the beach, and his daughter Shirley, who dreams of re-opening the stand since his heart attack. [1]

Cast

Production

The film was originally planned in 1969 by United Artists with David V. Picker and Norman Lear producing. After the administration at United Artists changed, the film was picked up by Embassy Pictures. [2] Bob Fosse considered making the film in 1974. [3]

Hirsch, Balsam, Picker and Gardner all worked for scale to keep the budget down to $2.5 million. [2] Filming took place over 8 weeks in Coney Island in April and May 1983, with the weather in April being the very bad. [3]

Release

The film was screened at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival and at the Toronto International Film Festival and opened for one week in Toronto during 1984. [2]

The film was due to be released in New York in 1984 but was delayed due to an extended run of The Gods Must Be Crazy . Following the sale of Embassy Pictures to the Coca-Cola Company in 1985 and then to Dino de Laurentiis, the worldwide theatrical rights were sold to Lear. [2]

Lear financed a release in New York and Los Angeles, with the film opening in New York on January 31, 1986 and in Los Angeles on February 14. It was distributed through Castle Hill Productions with Castle Hill handling the rest of the release dates for a return of the gross after Lear had recouped his marketing costs. [2] [4] [5] [6]

The film was due to be released on home video in the first quarter of 1986 by Embassy Home Communications but the release was delayed to enable the theatrical release to take place. [2]

Critical reception

Leonard Klady at Variety wrote: "Based on his 15-year old stage flop of the same name, neither time nor the transferal of media has improved the story of three eccentric losers who band together in hopes of changing their luck... The uneasy alliance between the characters is treated in a glib fashion by Gardner. The dialog is superficial, laced with presumably comic barbs. However, underlying it all is an illsuited strain of sentimentality." [1] The reviewer for People wrote: "The three make a wonderfully human trio, playing off and to each other's eccentricities with warmth and humor. First-time director Herb Gardner, who also wrote the play of the same name, proves equally adept behind the pen and the camera... the movie, shot on location, offers a beautifully nostalgic portrait of Coney Island, the skeletons of its once-monumental attractions creating a dual sense of foreboding and serenity. 'The Goodbye People' meets these contradictions head-on, turning a story of life and death into a witty celebration of spirit." [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Lambert</span> French actor (born 1957)

Christophe Guy Denis "Christopher" Lambert is a French-American actor, producer, and writer. He started his career playing supporting parts in several French films, and became internationally famous for portraying Tarzan in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984). For his performance in the film Subway (1985), he received the César Award for Best Actor. His other notable acting roles include Connor MacLeod in the adventure-fantasy film Highlander (1986) and the subsequent franchise of the same name, Raiden in Mortal Kombat (1995), Methodius in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), and Arne Seslum in Hail, Caesar! (2016). He also served as executive producer for Nine Months (1995).

<i>El Norte</i> (film) 1983 film by Gregory Nava

El Norte is a 1983 independent drama film, directed by Gregory Nava. The screenplay was written by Gregory Nava and Anna Thomas, based on Nava's story. The movie was first presented at the Telluride Film Festival in 1983, and its wide release was in January 1984.

<i>A Thousand Clowns</i> 1965 film adaptation from a 1962 play by Herb Gardner

A Thousand Clowns is a 1965 American comedy-drama film directed by Fred Coe and starring Jason Robards, Barbara Harris, Martin Balsam, and Barry Gordon. An adaptation of a 1962 play by Herb Gardner, it tells the story of an eccentric comedy writer who is forced to conform to society to retain legal custody of his nephew.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judd Hirsch</span> American actor (born 1935)

Judd Seymore Hirsch is an American actor. He is known for playing Alex Rieger on the television comedy series Taxi (1978–1983), John Lacey on the NBC series Dear John (1988–1992), and Alan Eppes on the CBS series Numb3rs (2005–2010). He is also well known for his career in theatre and for his roles in films such as Ordinary People (1980), Running on Empty (1988), Independence Day (1996), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), Uncut Gems (2019), and The Fabelmans (2022).

<i>De-Lovely</i> 2004 film by Irwin Winkler

De-Lovely is a 2004 American musical biopic directed by Irwin Winkler and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. The screenplay by Jay Cocks is based on the life and career of Cole Porter, from his first meeting with his wife, Linda Lee Thomas, until his death. It is the second biopic about the composer, following 1946's Night and Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbia Pictures Television</span> American content company

Columbia Pictures Television, Inc. was launched on May 6, 1974, by Columbia Pictures as an American television production and distribution studio. It is the second name of the Columbia Pictures television division Screen Gems (SG) and the third name of Pioneer Telefilms. The company was active from 1974 until New Year's Day 2001, when it was folded into Columbia TriStar Television, a merger between Columbia Pictures Television and TriStar Television. A separate entity of CPT continues to exist on paper as an intellectual property holder, and under the moniker "CPT Holdings" to hold the copyright for the TV show The Young and the Restless, as well as old incarnations from the company's television library such as What's Happening!!

<i>The Goodbye People</i>

The Goodbye People is a play by Herb Gardner. The play had a brief run on Broadway in 1968 and was made into a film which was released in 1986.

<i>The April Fools</i> 1969 film by Stuart Rosenberg

The April Fools is a 1969 American romantic comedy film directed by Stuart Rosenberg and starring Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve.

Heartsounds is an American drama television film directed by Glenn Jordan and written by Fay Kanin, based on the book Heartsounds: The Story of a Love and Loss by Martha Weinman Lear. It stars Mary Tyler Moore and James Garner, with Sam Wanamaker, Wendy Crewson, David Gardner, and Carl Marotte in supporting roles. Produced by Embassy Television, the film premiered on ABC on September 30, 1984, as part of the anthology series ABC Theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Storm de Hirsch</span> American poet and film director (1912–2000)

Storm de Hirsch (1912–2000) was an American poet and filmmaker. She was a key figure in the New York avant-garde film scene of the 1960s, and one of the founding members of the Film-Makers' Cooperative. Although often overlooked by historians, in recent years she has been recognized as a pioneer of underground cinema.

<i>The Fringe Dwellers</i> 1986 Australian film

The Fringe Dwellers is a 1986 film directed by Bruce Beresford, based on the 1961 novel The Fringe Dwellers by Western Australian author Nene Gare. The film is about a young Aboriginal girl who dreams of life beyond the family camp that sits on the fringe of white society.

<i>Homesdale</i> 1971 Australian film

Homesdale is a 1971 Australian film directed by Peter Weir. Homesdale is a black comedy about visitors at a guest-house acting out their violent private fantasies and games under the control of the house staff.

<i>Middle of the Night</i> 1959 film

Middle of the Night is a 1959 American drama film directed by Delbert Mann and starring Kim Novak and Fredric March. This story of a May-December romance was adapted by Paddy Chayefsky from his own 1954 teleplay and 1956 Broadway play, both of the same name. The film was entered into the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or, and was released by Columbia Pictures.

<i>The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie</i> (film) 1969 British film by Ronald Neame

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is a 1969 British drama film directed by Ronald Neame from a screenplay written by Jay Presson Allen, adapted from her own stage play, which was in turn based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Muriel Spark. The film stars Maggie Smith in the title role as an unrestrained teacher at a girls' school in Edinburgh. Celia Johnson, Robert Stephens, Pamela Franklin, and Gordon Jackson are featured in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juozas Budraitis</span> Lithuanian actor (born 1940)

Juozas Budraitis is a Lithuanian actor. He has appeared in more than 60 films and television shows since 1966. He starred in the Soviet film Wounded Game, which was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film Festival. Budraitis also played a minor role in the finale of the period drama miniseries The Queen's Gambit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Costner filmography</span>

American actor, director, and producer Kevin Costner started his acting career in 1981 by starring in the romantic comedy independent film Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. He went on to appear in the films Testament (1983), and Shadows Run Black (1984) before co-starring in the 1985 ensemble western film Silverado alongside Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, and Danny Glover. The same year, he starred in the comedy film Fandango with Judd Nelson, as well as American Flyers with David Marshall Grant. In 1987, Costner starred as Eliot Ness in the crime film The Untouchables with Robert De Niro and Sean Connery. The following year, he starred as Crash Davis in the romantic comedy sports film Bull Durham with Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. The film is on AFI's 10 Top 10 for Greatest Sports Movies. Costner then starred in the sports fantasy drama film Field of Dreams with James Earl Jones. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, and was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay. In 2017, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". It is also on AFI's 10 Top 10 for Greatest Fantasy Movies.

<i>Retribution</i> (1987 film) 1987 American film

Retribution is a 1987 American horror film directed by Guy Magar, written by Magar and Lee Wasserman, and starring Dennis Lipscomb as a suicidal man who is possessed by a vengeful spirit.

<i>Goodbye in the Mirror</i> 1964 American film

Goodbye in the Mirror is a 1964 black-and-white experimental film produced and directed by Storm de Hirsch.

Al Clark is an Australian film producer. He is best known for his producer role on TheAdventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and his executive producer role on the film, Chopper. Clark is also the author of four books. Time Flies and Time Flies Too are Clark's memoirs, which merge the early days of punk and new wave popular music with the truncated British film renaissance of the 1980s and the world of international film finance, and later chronicle his move to Australia and his work there. Clark's first book Raymond Chandler in Hollywood provides an insight into the work of the writer of detective fiction and includes interviews with many of the Hollywood figures who were associated with Raymond Chandler and his films. His second book Making Priscilla, also titled The Lavender Bus: How a Hit Movie Was Made and Sold, is a behind-the-scenes tale outlining the follies of film-making and how The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert became an international success.

References

  1. 1 2 Klady, Leonard (September 12, 1984). "Film Reviews: 'The Goodbye People'". Variety .
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Greenberg, James (January 15, 1986). "'Goodbye' 2nd Release Chance Via Castle Hill Prods". Daily Variety . p. 46.
  3. 1 2 The Goodbye People at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
  4. Maslin, Janet (January 31, 1986). "The Screen: Nostalgia In 'Goodbye People'". The New York Times . p. C5. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  5. Charles Champlin (1986-02-20). "Gardner Says Hello To Those 'Goodbye People'". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  6. "Picks and Pans Review: The Goodbye People". People.com. 1986-02-03. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  7. Novak, Ralph; Cunneff, Tom; and Hellman, Ira. "Picks and Pans Review: 'The Goodbye People' people.com, February 3, 1986, Vol. 25, No.5