Private Benjamin

Director: Howard Zieff Howard Zieff

Overview

"Warner Bros' DVD release of Private Benjamin is a big disappointment for two obvious reasons. First of all, the film can only be viewed in full-screen, pan-and-scan format. Secondly, the film's soundtrack only comes in Dolby Stereo 2.0. The DVD contains English and French soundtracks, and can be viewed with English, French, or Spanish subtitles. It also has colorful interactive menus and good bios/filmographies on its nine main stars, including Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, and Armand Assante, as well as director Howard Zieff, musician Bill Conti, and writers/producers Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer, and Harvey Miller. The film also comes with a theatrical trailer and recommendations (or advertisements) for nine other titles. One wishes that the attention given to advertising the other titles would have been focused on better production notes, a better soundtrack, or, especially, presenting this classic film in widescreen."

Product Details

Release Date:	10/29/1997
UPC:	0085391107521
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	R
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	1:50:00
Sales rank:	4,335

Special Features

Interactive menus; Production notes; Scene access; Theatrical trailer; Languages: English, Français; Subtitles: English, Français, Español

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Goldie Hawn	Judy Benjamin
Eileen Brennan	Doreen Lewis
Armand Assante	Henri Tremont
Sam Wanamaker	Teddy Benjamin
Harry Dean Stanton	Sgt. Jim Ballard
Robert Webber	Clay Thornbush
Albert Brooks	Yale Goodman
Barbara Barrie	Harriet
Mary Kay Place	Pvt. Mary Lou Glass
Alan Oppenheimer	Rabbi
Gretchen Wyler	Aunt Kissy
Sally Kirkland	Helga
Maxine Stuart	Aunt Betty
Estelle Marlov	Actor
Everett Covin	Band Leader
Robert Hanley	Arnie
Lee Wallace	Mr. Waxman
James Dybas	Actor
Lillian Adams	Mrs. Goodman
Sandy Weintraub	Actor
Tim Haldeman	Stanley Goodman
Kopi Sotiropulos	Limo Passerby
Stu Nahan	Newscaster
J.P. Bumstead	Induction Officer
Hal Williams	Sgt. L.C. Ross
Toni Kalem	Pvt. Ganelli
Damita Jo Freeman	Pvt. Gloria Moe
Alston Ahern	Pvt. P.J. Soyer
P.J. Soles	Pvt. Wanda Winter
Craig T. Nelson	Capt. William Woodbridge
James Barnett	Actor
Raymond Oliver	Actor
Robin Hoff	Red Team Soldier
Ed Lewis	Actor
Carrol Davis Carson	Actor
Clay Wright	Actor
Richard Herd	General Foley
Denise Halma	Actor
Lilyan Chauvin	Mrs. Tremont
Elie Liardet	Actor
Estelle Marlow	Actor
Danny Wells	Slick Guy
Keone Young	Kim Osaka
Paul Marin	Leo Lemish
Mimi Maynard	Liz Lemish
Alice Hirson	Mrs. Thornbush
Wil Albert	Lt. Rahmi
Allison Caine	Voices
Bill Conti	Composer

Technical Credits

Nancy Meyers

Harvey Miller

Charles Shyer

Howard Zieff	Director
Nancy Meyers	Screenwriter,Producer
Harvey Miller	Screenwriter,Producer
Charles Shyer	Screenwriter,Producer
Goldie Hawn	Executive Producer,Producer
Robert Peterson	Special Effects,Special Effects
Marty Bolger	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Private Benjamin is a beloved film, a rallying call for burgeoning feminists and one of Goldie Hawn's most recognizable star vehicles. However, its narrative is also a mess and only funny in spots. The film doesn't understand what it wants to be -- a goofy military sendup or a tale of a spoiled young woman growing into independence. A smarter script would have had it both ways, but this one meanders, jumping in and out of the barracks and finishing with a third act that has nothing to do with the armed forces. If it had been filmed in the 1990s, Private Benjamin might have taken place entirely within basic training, centering on the struggles of Hawn's Judy Benjamin as she makes painful but funny strides to trade her jewelry for artillery. That might have been too tight and formulaic, but at least it would have been internally consistent. As is, the film jumps from a funny opener involving the absurd death of Judy's new husband (Albert Brooks), to Judy's pronounced difficulties in training, to her sudden rebound to head of the class, where she scores an assignment so select that only men had received it. Little explanation is given for her transition between these stations. And the third act, involving her engagement to a French skeezeball (Armand Assante), can only be considered a very dated, and hollow, feminist victory. The best way to explain the widespread appeal is the viewing public's much-deserved adoration of Hawn, who has some brilliant moments and became one of the most reliable comedic actresses of her generation. When Private Benjamin does trust its sillier instincts, it's a winner.