The Goodbye Girl (1977)
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87% of critics liked it
(15 reviews) -
83% of users liked it
(7,194 ratings)
Marsha Mason is known as "The Goodbye Girl" because of all the live-in boyfriends who have said ta-ta to her in the past few years. A former Broadway chorus dancer, the divorced Mason lives in the Manhattan apartment of her latest lost love with her daughter Quinn Cummings. Enter arrogant… More Marsha Mason is known as "The Goodbye Girl" because of all the live-in boyfriends who have said ta-ta to her in the past few years. A former Broadway chorus dancer, the divorced Mason lives in the Manhattan apartment of her latest lost love with her daughter Quinn Cummings. Enter arrogant actor Richard Dreyfuss, who has subleased the apartment from Mason's former boyfriend and moves in bag and baggage in the middle of the night. Dreyfuss and Mason spend the next few weeks getting in each other's way and fighting like cats and dogs. The wind is taken out of Dreyfuss' sails when he opens in a production of Richard III, which has been sabotaged by the director (Paul Benjamin), who insists that Dreyfuss portrays Richard as a hip-swinging homosexual. The play closes after one performance, and the once-overconfident Dreyfuss goes on a self-pitying drunken binge. Touched by his vulnerability, Mason begins falling in love with Dreyfuss despite her lousy track record with men. Richard Dreyfuss became the youngest ever "Best Actor" Oscar winner as a result of his performance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Herbert Ross
- Written By
- Neil Simon
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
- In Theaters
- Nov 30, 1977 Wide
- On DVD
- Jan 18, 2000
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Stagey, literal, and sentimental, this romantic film is mediocre in every respect, writing by Neil Simon, direction by Herbert Ross.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Broadway-like funny romantic comedy sitcom about struggling Manhattan actors, that has its awkward moments.
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Dreyfuss got his Oscar for this Neil Simon romantic comedy costarring Marsha Mason.
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Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Dreyfuss is great but the movie has not held up well.
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Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
Emblematic of the underside of 70s American film.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Richard Dreyfuss
as Elliott Garfield
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Marsha Mason
as Paula McFadden
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Quinn Cummings
as Lucy McFadden
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Paul Benedict
as Mark Morgenweiss
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Barbara Rhoades
as Donna
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Theresa Merritt
as Mrs. Crosby
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Michael Shawn
as Ronnie
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Patricia Pearcy
as Rhonda
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Raymond J. Barry
as Richard III Cast
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Victoria Boothby
as Mrs. Bodine
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Powers Boothe
as Richard III Cast
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Joseph Carberry
as Strip Club Customer
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Gene Castle
as Assistant Choreographer
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Loyita Chapel
as Strip Club Dancer
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Robert Costanzo
as Liquor Store Salesman
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Anita Dangler
as Mrs. Morganweiss
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Tom Everett
as Richard III Cast
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Clarence Felder
as Critic
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Jeanne Lange
as Richard III Cast
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Dana Laurita
as Cynthia
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Robert Lesser
as Richard III Cast
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Daniel Levans
as Dance Instructor
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David Matthau
as Furniture Mover
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Fred McCarren
as Richard III Cast
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Nicholas Mele
as Richard III Cast
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Maureen Moore
as Richard III Cast
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Milt Oberman
as Furniture Mover
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Joe Regalbuto
as Richard III Cast
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Marilyn Sokol
as Linda
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Esther Sutherland
as Strip Club Manager
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Nicol Williamson
as Oliver Frye
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Wendy Cutler
as Improvisation Group
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Andy Goldberg
as Improvisation Group
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Janice Fuller
as Richard III Cast
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Hubert Kelly
as Mugger
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Eddie Villery
as Painter
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Peter Vogt
as Richard III Cast
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Dave Cass
as Drunk
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Paul Willson
as Improvisation Group
