esrosedotblog

ROTH

This overlooked Philip Roth novelette/adaptation is dated to some extent. But, having been there, I can see how

Goodbye Columbus (1969)

fits in to the sixties canon.

There are two story lines: the sexual revolution and Jewish middle class excess.

One certainly clashes with the other and, in this case, the bourgeoisie win. Guilt will trump orgasms almost every time. Post-coital regret and all that.

Richard Benjamin and Ali McGraw are pretty good in this.

The sweet romance gets dunked into some of the most anti-semitic stuff you could see on the screen.

I guess it is OK to do it if you are one. The same as queers. We can bust ourselves but don't let any of the hets do it.

I liked it. I would not want to see it again.

I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5.

This is early Roth. He went on to work this theme in great bold strokes (so to speak) with Portnoy's Complaint. Richard Benjamin played Portnoy in the movie version. A Roth regular. As far as it went.

I have never much liked Roth's later stuff.

I think he has his head up his ass.

But the early things were charming and enjoyable and a bit daring for the time. Philip Roth. A minor major writer.