Greetings (1968)

92% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(1,387 ratings)

If for nothing else, Greetings would be memorable as the second feature-length directorial effort of Brian DePalma (his first, 1966's The Wedding Party, was released shortly afterward). A satire of late-1960s manners and mores, the film aims its barbs at Lyndon B. Johnson, Vietnam, the draft, the… More If for nothing else, Greetings would be memorable as the second feature-length directorial effort of Brian DePalma (his first, 1966's The Wedding Party, was released shortly afterward). A satire of late-1960s manners and mores, the film aims its barbs at Lyndon B. Johnson, Vietnam, the draft, the counterculture, Greenwich Village and the John F. Kennedy assassination. Billed first, Robert DeNiro actually has a supporting role as a young longhair who tries to help his best pal (Jonathan Warden) flunk his Army physical. Gerrit Graham is a JFK conspiracy theorist who may well have good reason to be paranoid. Though largely ignored by the mainstream press in America, Greetings was effusively honored at the 1969 Berlin Film Festival. The film was originally rated X due to its considerable sexual content. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Brian DePalma, Brian J. De Palma
Written By: Charles Hirsch, Brian DePalma
Genres: Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1968 Wide
On DVD: Nov 1, 2002

Critic Reviews

Howard Thompson, New York Times
Most of it is strained and unfunny, with some generous nudity for nudity's sake and a hip sprinkling of four-letter words.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
What holds the film together is not its plot (there isn't one) but its attitude, its general instinct for what is funny in our society.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
It's all served up with good humor, self-indulgence, a touch of wit, and once in a while a fine satirical relish.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This modest film by the young Brian De Palma, starring the young Robert De Niro, is one of the first features that dealt with Vietnam.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Brian De Palma's breezy, Godardian first feature distills the heady atmosphere of Greenwich Village in an era of countercultural experimentation and anti-war protest.
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
Messy, but lively and surprisingly funny.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Prickly comedy of alienation
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Greetings, and salutations to a career destined to be pockmarked by provocation.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Silly and substantial.
, Film4
What happened to a vivacious, talented director who could in 1968 co-write, direct and edit this movie for $40,000 yet 30 years later made Mission: Impossible?

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Conner R

Almost too relevant for its own good, this is a hauntingly realistic interpretation of life in the 60s. It consists of draft dodging techniques, clues to the Kennedy assassination and making low budget porn. Following three friends, you really get a sense of what it was like to be a… More
Almost too relevant for its own good, this is a hauntingly realistic interpretation of life in the 60s. It consists of draft dodging techniques, clues to the Kennedy assassination and making low budget porn. Following three friends, you really get a sense of what it was like to be a guy in his 20s at the brink of the Vietnam War. It’s a subject that you don’t often see that much in film, but this does it so well that I don’t see the need to do it anywhere else. Brian De Palma presents a very experimental looking film that takes the camera places it doesn’t usually go. With a series of jump cuts, odd focus changes and panning, you’re being given a lens that wasn’t typical of the time period. It also happens to be Robert De Niro’s first starring role and an amazing one at that. Jon Rubin is an intellectual peeping tom that uses his manipulation skills to lure girls and film them stripping nude.
Lady D

A quirky early film for De Niro, where it doesn?t really give his acting skills chance to shine through and yet, it is strangely intriguing. It feels like the type of movie which could have developed a Cult following, being an either love it or hate it type of film and yet I?m… More
A quirky early film for De Niro, where it doesn?t really give his acting skills chance to shine through and yet, it is strangely intriguing. It feels like the type of movie which could have developed a Cult following, being an either love it or hate it type of film and yet I?m guessing as a lesser known title, this didn?t seem to be the case.
Stephen M

A fascinating time-capsule from Brian De Palma, featuring Robert De Niro. The pair had previously worked together in 1963 on a film called "The Wedding Party", which still hadn't been released theatrically by the time "Greetings" came out in 1968. You can tell… More
A fascinating time-capsule from Brian De Palma, featuring Robert De Niro. The pair had previously worked together in 1963 on a film called "The Wedding Party", which still hadn't been released theatrically by the time "Greetings" came out in 1968. You can tell how dated this film is by listing its primary interests: draft-dodging, the Vietnam War in general and conspiracy theories surrounding President Kennedy's assassination. In fact, just about the only topic the film deals with which hasn't dated is that ageless concern of young people the world over, getting laid. There's no discernible plot or a particular point being made here; it's just an irreverent, episodic, freewheeling, ballsy poke in the eye to the prevailing sacred cows of the time. De Palma's thematic interest in voyeurism can be traced back to De Niro's character in "Greetings", Jon Rubin, who would be further developed in the superior sequel, "Hi, Mom!" a couple of years later. Gerrit Graham is very funny as an obsessive critic of the Warren Commission, and there's a great scene where he meets a paranoid eyewitness to the JFK assassination in a bookstore: "There's a plaster cast of the pillow that was used to smother my aunt!"
Mike T

The objectives of this peculiar film are clouded by its microscopic budget, and as a result it drags even at the short length of 88 minutes. The dialogue exchanged between the talented young actors is its only real appeal.
Emily B

An early film for Brian De Palma, and the debut role for Robert De Niro. "Greetings" follows three friends in late 60s New York all trying to avoid being drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam. We have De Niro's "Jon", the peeping tom (whose film within a… More
An early film for Brian De Palma, and the debut role for Robert De Niro. "Greetings" follows three friends in late 60s New York all trying to avoid being drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam. We have De Niro's "Jon", the peeping tom (whose film within a film is one of the funniest sequences), then there's Gerrit Graham's "Lloyd", who has an obsession with the Kennedy Assassination, finally there's "Paul" (Jonathan Warden) who seems to be the most normal of the bunch. The little touches De Palma puts in give it a very Godardian feel, with title cards, jump cuts, speeded up film etc. As a flowing film it doesn't really work but as a series of satirical sketches I rather enjoyed it. In my opinion a rather underated film from the counter-culture era, also De Niro reprised his role in the sequel "Hi, Mom!"
Ivan D

Very, very underrated film, and in my opinion, this is one of Brian De Palma's finest films. It is great to see Robert DeNiro in his humble years, and this is certainly not an exception for me. His performance and the film itself is very natural, but still with artistic touch.… More
Very, very underrated film, and in my opinion, this is one of Brian De Palma's finest films. It is great to see Robert DeNiro in his humble years, and this is certainly not an exception for me. His performance and the film itself is very natural, but still with artistic touch. The amateurish look of the film added to its humor, and the editing was good. The ending determined the fate of the three main characters, each having a semi-tragic feeling, but still be giving your face a weird smile as the credit rolls. I was very surprised by "Greetings" as a whole, I never thought it will be this good, because I just picked my copy of this in a "sale" bin, so thank god I've bought this unique film. The non-linear approach to the film made the film one-of-a-kind, filled with quick cuts and colorful title cards to separate the episodic scenes. The "peeping tom" scene was very unforgettable, one proof that Brian De Palma, even at a young age, can make a film that is both artistic and humorous. The satirical approach to hot issues at the time was hilarious, especially the one about the JFK assassination and how can it drive a normal person into paranoia. "Greetings" is literally a hidden gem, one that I really did not expect to be that good.