Richard Benjamin
The Films of Richard Benjamin
GOODBYE, COLUMBUS (1969)
Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw make their screen debuts in this film which won the 1970 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium.. Based on the novella by Philip Roth, it takes a piercing, satirical look at the issues of class and assimilation into mainstream American life, as well as a very 60's take on premarital sex, ill-timed pregnancies and morality. At the time it was released Goodbye,Columbus was considered controversial by many Jewish groups who were offended by the film's portrait of materialism. Ali MacGraw plays the stereotypical "Jewish-American-Princess”, who attends Radcliffe College and lives in wealthy, upstate Westchester while Richard Benjamin as Neil Klugman, is a highly intelligent, poor, working class army veteran, who lives in the Bronx and works in a library. Even with their differences, they are attracted to each other, and a summer romance blossoms. As the relationship grows, the cross-class affair upsets MacGraw’s parents who see him as a loser and a reflection of their roots, while he is repulsed by their materialism. (introduced, and followed by, a Q & A with Richard Benjamin)
Rating: PG
Running Time: 102 Minutes
Sat., Sept. 6th, 12 noon
Silver City Cinema, Leadville
CATCH-22 (1970)
Based on the popular novel by Joseph Heller and adapted for the screen by Buck Henry, this alternately funny and dark film was directed by Mike Nichols. Richard Benjamin, part of an all-star cast, including his wife Paula Prentiss, Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Orson Welles, Buck Henry, Martin Sheen, Anthony Perkins, Jon Voight and Jack Gilford, give exemplary performances in a unique story that explores the contradictions of war and the mass insanity that accompanies it. On a United States Air Force base on a Mediterranean island, Yossarian (Alan Arkin), a bombardier with the 256th Bomber Squadron during World War II, asks his commanders to ground him on the basis of being insane. He is told that simply asking to be grounded shows an understanding of the danger and, therefore, proves he is actually sane. The designation ‘Catch-22’ is the military code used to deny him his wish. Frustrated into submission, Arkin must endure the horrors of the frontlines. The film's title came to denote any problem with a paradoxically impossible solution. (introduced, and followed by, a Q & A with Richard Benjamin)
Rating: R
Running Time: 122 minutes
Sun., Sept. 7th, 12 noon
Silver City Cinema, Leadville
MERMAIDS (1990)
Directed by Richard Benjamin. Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci (in her movie debut) star in this engaging story about young love and new love set in the early 60's. Narrated by Ryder's teenaged character, Charlotte, the film follows the teenage years of Charlotte, whose Mom has moved 18 times in the past 15 years after getting herself into situations she has to flee due to her commitment phobia. Her kids long for normalcy. The girls have different fathers that they never see. Charlotte becomes obsessed with Catholicism and decides to become a nun, drawn to the calm and quiet of nuns and convents. Yet, she is drawn to Joe, a handsome school bus driver/church bell ringer she meets, who is ten years her senior. In a vibrant performance, Cher, plays a self-obsessed, flamboyant and unorthodox woman who falls for Bob Hoskins, a loveable shoe store owner who would like to bring stability to the family. (introduced by director Richard Benjamin)
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 110 minutes
Sat., Sept. 6th, 5pm
Silver City Cinema, Leadville