US (1977): Romance/Comedy
Marsha Mason is known as "The Goodbye Girl" because of all the live-in boyfriends who have said ta-ta to her in the past few years. A former Broadway chorus dancer, the divorced Mason lives in the Manhattan apartment of her latest lost love with her daughter Quinn Cummings. Enter arrogant actor Richard Dreyfuss, who has subleased the apartment from Mason's former boyfriend and moves in bag and baggage in the middle of the night. Dreyfuss and Mason spend the next few weeks getting in each other's way and fighting like cats and dogs. The wind is taken out of Dreyfuss' sails when he opens in a production of Richard III, which has been sabotaged by the director (Paul Benjamin), who insists that Dreyfuss portrays Richard as a hip-swinging homosexual. The play closes after one performance, and the once-overconfident Dreyfuss goes on a self-pitying drunken binge. Touched by his vulnerability, Mason begins falling in love with Dreyfuss despite her lousy track record with men. Dreyfuss takes a series of small jobs to keep food on the table, then is offered a fat movie contract -- provided he leaves town to go on location immediately. (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)
Originally titled "Bogart Slept Here" with Robert De Niro as leading man and Mike Nichols as director. The story was supposedly based on Dustin Hoffman's life as a struggling actor (Hoffman wanted a part ion the film but was turned down). Artistic differences ultimately forced De Niro and Nichols out, two weeks into the shoot. Dreyfuss became the youngest ever "best actor" Oscar winner as a result of his virtuoso performance. Herbert Ross directs for MGM-Warner Bros.
5 nominations, 1 Award
· Actor 1977: Richard Dreyfuss
· Best Picture 1977: Ray Stark - Producer (Stark, MGM/Warner Bros.)
· Actress 1977: Marsha Mason
· Supporting Actress 1977: Quinn Cummings
· Writing (Best Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1977: Neil Simon