Depending on your age, you may never have heard of this film, and you may be unimpressed by the nude scene, but in its proper context, this was a big deal.
Goodbye, Columbus was an adaptation of a National Book Award winner, was one of the box office hits of 1969, was well received by most critics, and was a Golden Globes nominee as the “Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.”
Ali MacGraw was a fresh face acting in her first significant role, and the Golden Globes picked her as the most promising newcomer.
It’s interesting to look back at those “most promising” selections. Some of them did indeed become major international stars like Jessica Lange and Diana Ross, others seemed to disappear with barely a trace like Camilla Sparv and Celia Kaye, and still others faded into mediocrity like Marilyn Hassett and Irene Miracle. And then there was Pia Zadora, who is remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is still the most underrated movie of all time.
I went to a double feature in 1971 in Philadelphia and the top billed movie I was eagerly anticipating was “Goodbye Columbus.” The under feature was a movie I had never heard of and the name didn’t sound particularly promising. It was “The French Connection.”