Private Benjamin (1980)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Howard Zieff

Writers:

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

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

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (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:

P.J. Soles, who plays Pvt. Wanda Winter also plays Stella the following year in the army flick Stripes (1981) with Bill Murray.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Judy is on the phone with the recruiter in the hotel room, a pack of cigarettes appears and disappears between shots.

Quotes:

Capt. Lewis: If Patton were alive, he would slap your face!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Down by the Riverside

Adorable, Classic and Flat Out Funny

Private Benjamin is a classic film comedy of the early 1980s. Filled with wonderfully funny moments, Goldie Hawn's best performance at the height of her film career, surprising twists and turns in the story line that keeps the audience guessing every moment how Judy Benjamin's lifelong journey will end up, and one of the finest casts of any comedy film ever made. The richly drawn characters of each member of the supporting cast is what helps make this film so memorable and even unique. Eileen Brennan's Captain Lewis is beyond inspired. She is a joy to watch every second she is on the screen. And each member of Judy's army unit - the poor overweight nebbish, the tough girl criminal, the Southern Belle is so perfectly cast and written, that one feels like they know their whole life's story. Then there's Judy's family - upper class Jewish stereotypes made famous by the Borscht Belt comedians - but SO funny! And the eccentric Euro-trash - uh-oh, more stereotypes. But again SO funny. Even though fun is poked at these characters endlessly, they somehow become real people, that the audience cares about - laughs at - but cares about. This is a real credit to the writers of the screenplay and again the great casting. With so much going on, so many characters, so many situations, be it a wedding, a funeral, boot camp, Paris in the Springtime, this film could so easily have become an unwieldy three ring circus. BUT, holding it all together is the magnificent Goldie Hawn, with her unflappable good spirits, her million dollar smile, her Laugh-In Go-Go girl good looks, and her disarming charm. This was a role in a lifetime for Goldie Hawn, and she more than rose to the occasion. She helped create a classic American Film.

And oh the priceless moments in the film: Captain Lewis' Blue Shower (no one in the audience ever saw that coming); the stoned Campfire chat of the soldiers - notice how it goes from absolute hilarity to that wonderful look of wistfulness on Judy's face; Judy's Turkish Boss' accent; Judy's friends joyful dance to "We Are Family"; and the intriguing unresolved ending. Haven't we all wondered whatever happened to our beloved Judy Benjamin after she walked down that long forest pathway at the end of the film? But her independence and growing strength, and all those wonderful characters she fought with and embraced in her life journey at a turning point in her life keep dancing and struggling and crying and laughing in our minds long after the film has ended.