Looking for Mr. Goodbar (film)
| Looking for Mr. Goodbar | |
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| Directed by | Richard Brooks |
| Produced by | Freddie Fields |
| Written by | Richard Brooks |
| Based on | Looking for Mr. Goodbar by Judith Rossner |
| Starring | Diane Keaton Tuesday Weld Richard Gere |
| Cinematography | William A. Fraker |
| Editing by | George Grenville |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | October 19, 1977 |
| Running time | 135 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Box office | $22,512,655 |
Looking for Mr. Goodbar is a 1977 film written for the screen and directed by Richard Brooks and starring Diane Keaton, Tuesday Weld, Richard Gere, and also features Tom Berenger. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Judith Rossner, which was in turn based on the real life murder of New York City schoolteacher Roseann Quinn.
Although the film was an award-nominated financial success and is considered a classic by some critics, it is out of print on VHS and to date has not been released on DVD or Blu-ray.[1][2]
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[edit] Plot
The 1977 film, starring Diane Keaton as Theresa Dunn, traces the sexual awakening of a young teacher searching for excitement outside of her mundane existence. Suffering with severe body image issues and a sense of inadequacy following a childhood surgery that left a large scar on her back, Irish American Theresa finds first love with her older, married university professor, who ends the affair as her time in college comes to an end. The end of the affair leaves Theresa feeling used, and she begins daydreaming about being reunited with her professor.
Theresa enters the sexual revolution of the 1970s feeling confused, as she is simultaneously repelled and attracted to the sexual experimentation she witnesses going on around her. Although she continues to teach by day, developing a reputation as a gifted and caring teacher to deaf children, at night she goes clubbing at a series of increasingly seedy bars, picking up men for one-night stands. The recreational sexual encounters slowly become an addiction, as Theresa begins pursuing more dangerous men with violent sexual proclivities to enhance her "high".
An encounter with an Italian thug named Tony (Richard Gere) develops into a nascent relationship, and the two begin regularly meeting for increasingly rough and dangerous sex, culminating in Tony's introduction of a switchblade knife into their sex play. Meanwhile, Theresa attempts to date a boy from her neighborhood named James, whom her family holds up as the paragon of Irish-American youth. The relationship quickly falters, as James turns out to be just as shallow and emotionally manipulative as Tony.
Theresa ultimately breaks up with Tony following a disastrous "date" to his mother's birthday party, during which the volatile Tony verbally abuses his family and starts a fist fight. With the new year approaching, Theresa resolves to leave her clubbing behind and take control of her life. Seeking one final hookup on New Year's Eve, Theresa picks up a man named Gary, who turns out to be a sexually confused war veteran. At Theresa's apartment, Gary finds himself unnable to attain an erection. Misreading Theresa's frustration as her questioning his sexuality, Gary attacks her and begins beating and raping her. After Theresa screams "Do it!" Gary stabs her to death. Theresa's dead face drifts farther away from the screen and into a black void as the film ends.
[edit] Cast
- Diane Keaton ... Theresa Dunn
- Tuesday Weld ... Katherine
- William Atherton ... James
- Richard Kiley ... Mr. Dunn
- Richard Gere ... Tony
- LeVar Burton ... Cap Jackson
- Brian Dennehy ... Surgeon
- Alan Feinstein ... Martin
- Tom Berenger ... Gary
[edit] Awards
Tuesday Weld received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film, and William A. Fraker received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
Diane Keaton was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama for her performance in the film. She was not nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in this film, although she was nominated (and won) the same year for Annie Hall.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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