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To go
to a complete listing of
tapes in the Collection, click here.
Is Private Benjamin a hilarious Hollywood comedy about feminism or a wry social commentary on growing up a Jewish woman in America? Goldie Hawn plays Judy Benjamin – a spoiled young woman from a wealthy Philadelphia family. When her boorish husband drops dead on their wedding night, Judy becomes distraught – for the first time in her life, she is alone. What's a girl to do?
Join the army! Judy enlists under the impression that she can live a cushy military lifestyle in an exotic paradise. But she quickly finds herself in a rugged boot camp at the mercy of a leathery drill sergeant (Eileen Brennan). In a series of comical scenes contrasting Judy's expectations with the realities of the army, Judy learns to tough it out. In the process, she earns a medal for moxie.
1980, 110 mins.
While you watch, consider . . .
•The stereotypical Jewish situations and dialogue: Yale conducting business on his wedding day; Judy fussing over her honeymoon hair; Judy’s parents denying the truth about their little girl in the army. •The seduction scene between Judy and suitor Henri.
•Judy’s growth, independence, and ultimate rejection of her former life. This title is distributed by Warner Brothers. (http://www.wbstore.com).
Other films of interest:
Biloxi Blues A Jewish man’s experiences with antisemitism in boot camp during World War II.
Crossing Delancey The encounters of a modern Jewish woman with a narcissistic writer and a quiet, traditional Jewish man.
Goodbye, Columbus The encounter of poor, literary Neil Klugman and sexy and spoiled Brenda Patimkin.