Private Benjamin

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Private Benjamin

Private Benjamin movie poster
Directed by Howard Zieff
Produced by Nancy Meyers
Harvey Miller
Charles Shyer
Goldie Hawn (executive producer)
Written by Nancy Meyers
Harvey Miller
Starring Goldie Hawn
Eileen Brennan
Armand Assante
Music by Bill Conti
Barry De Vorzon
Cinematography David M. Walsh
Editing by Sheldon Kahn
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) October 7, 1980
Running time 109 min
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
IMDb profile

Private Benjamin is a 1980 comedy film starring Goldie Hawn. The film was one of the biggest box office hits of 1980, and also spawned a short-lived television series. The film is ranked 82 on the American Film Institute's "100 Funniest Movies" poll[1], and 58 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies"[2].

Contents

[edit] Plot details

Hawn plays Judy Benjamin, a spoiled, wealthy Jewish woman, who joins the army after her new husband dies on their wedding night. Naively believing it to be a more glamorous career than it is, life in the army is a rude awakening for Judy who has so far lived a pampered existence. However, she is forced to re-evaluate her life and decides to stick it out, eventually leading to promotion (much to the dismay of her superior, Captain Doreen Lewis).

During her stint in the army, Judy meets Henri Tremont, a dashing French doctor. However, their romance is short-lived when he returns to Paris and she to her army career. Later, Judy manages to be assigned to NATO headquarters in Paris where she meets up with Henri again. He later proposes marriage, to which she accepts but she is forced to give up her career in the army in order to do so.

However, later into the relationship, Judy discovers Henri's controlling side and is also forced into signing a complicated prenuptial agreement in his favour. Then when she finds out Henri has already been unfaithful to her, she realises that she is in danger of losing the new-found independence that it took her a lifetime to achieve and walks out of her wedding just before they take their vows.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Awards and nominations

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Goldie Hawn), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Eileen Brennan) and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.

[edit] Television series

In 1981, Private Benjamin was made into a television series starring Lorna Patterson, Eileen Brennan, Hal Williams, Wendie Jo Sperber and Joel Brooks (it originally aired 1981 – 1983).

[edit] Quotes

  • "I think they sent me to the wrong place. You see, I did join the Army, but I joined a different one. I joined the one with the condos and the private rooms"
  • "What, the army couldn't afford drapes? I'll be up at the crack of dawn here."
  • "Oh, I have never looked worse in my life. Has anybody ever died from basic (training)?"
  • (After being issued an army uniform) "Excuse me, sir, is green the only color these come in?"
  • (After arriving at the army base) "Where are the yachts?"
  • (Discussing her gold-digging ex-husband) "My therapist said that I had a neurotic need to find a father figure. And he had a neurotic need to find a father-in-law who had a lot of money."
  • (During her marriage vows) "Henri, I know this is a very awkward time to do this. But I wanna break up!"
  • Recruitment officer: A lady with your education and background could easily land an assignment in Europe
    Judy: Europe? I do need to get away.
  • Mother-in-law: Just one thing. If you can remember. What were Yale's last words?"
    Judy: I'm cumming!"

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.infoplease.com/ipea/A0882207.html
  2. ^ Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies" on Lists of Bests

[edit] External links