Comedy,Romance,TV Movie
United States of America
The Goodbye Girl is a 1977 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason. The film is based on a screenplay by Neil Simon.
The story follows Paula McFadden, a former Broadway dancer who is raising her daughter Lucy alone after her former lover Tony DeSanti leaves her to pursue a European film role. Elliot Garfield, a struggling actor, sublets Tony's apartment and moves in with Paula and Lucy. Initially, Paula is hostile towards Elliot, whom she sees as just another actor, but Lucy quickly develops a strong bond with Elliot.
Elliot is cast in a lead role in a Shakespeare play, which he initially struggles with because the director wants him to play the character as overly effeminate. However, Elliot is determined to make the most of the opportunity and impresses audiences with his performance. As he spends more time with Paula and Lucy, he begins to develop feelings for Paula, who is still angry and resentful towards Tony.
Despite their initial problems, Paula and Elliot soon develop a deep friendship and eventually fall in love. However, when Tony unexpectedly returns to New York, Paula is forced to confront her feelings for both men and make a difficult decision about her future.
The Goodbye Girl was a critical and commercial success, earning four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and winning two for Best Actor (Dreyfuss) and Best Supporting Actress (Quinn Cummings as Lucy). The film is also notable for its use of Simon's signature humorous and witty dialogue.
