Looking for Mr. Goodbar

[popoboy]

Excellent film that, to my knowledge, has never even been released on dvd...I remember a VHS copy from years ago. Would love to see this film finally released and given credit due! Diane Keaton was amazing in this film and it's a great slice of 70's disco, creepy nightlife, atmosphere! I've always wondered if this wasn't released on dvd because of music rights issues, as there are a lot of great disco tunes used on the soundtrack. Also a great chance to see a very young Richard Gere and Tom Berenger!!! C'mon Paramount...release this one already!

[moonstruck]

Couldn't agree more. I've only ever seen it edited. Even then, it was compelling. I am sure it has to do with the music rights. Wonder if there is a way to light a fire under Paramount.

[Batmon77]

I would like to see this in BD as well. Its hard to find and not on Netflix.
Im tempted to acquire a VHS version online.

[uther]

And Keaton went topless.

[erlinmeyer]

One of the Laserdiscs that is still waiting for the BD to replace it...down to a couple of hundred with no BD counterpart.

[WaverBoy]

There's a very nice DVD-quality anamorphic widescreen version of this floating around on the web; I've searched in vain for a legit source it might have been ripped from. It must have been put up uncut for streaming somewhere, or had an obscure foreign DVD release, as it's definitely professionally mastered.

[Fred Sliman]

Long overdue for Paramount to clear up the music issues with this (and Little Darlings and American Hot Wax). The audiences have been waiting a good while now. Shocking something this major has been left to flounder.

[Luke B.]

This film seems to be very good.
My interest in watching it started because of Madonna's Bad Girl video-clip, which was inspired by this film. At first, I thought that the clip were made with scenes from some great film she did, 'cause it is absolutely beautiful and stunning. Also, the presence of Christopher Walken made me think it were made with scenes from some film she did.
To my disappoint, it's just a fantastic vide-clip, not a film.
Now, I need to watch this film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUII7DTACf4

[spanky87]

FYI: TCM is airing this on July 14th.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

LFMG is an amazing '70's flick. Great time capsule of the era, and possibly Diane Keaton's best work. Amazing 'disco/rock/pop soundtrack as well. '70's NYC may as well have been another character in the film. The novel the film is based on is also worth checking out.

[Show spoiler]Having read the novel before seeing the film, I was glad that they kept the very downbeat ending in the movie....It was also worth noting that this story was based on actual events...

Unfortunately, I've only seen this once on a sub-par print several years back; it's unavailability makes it tough to track down.

I also suspect that part/all of the reason this film hasn't made it to DVD/Blu is because of the copyright(s) involving all of the music on the soundtrack. That seems to be the typical reason that many never-released older films are being held up from being available on current home video formats.

I would really like to see this released to DVD/Blu at some point in the near future. The Criterion Collection is the perfect label/venue, since IMHO LFMG is iconic enough to deserve inclusion here.

[Riddler The Slag]

I thought this was nothing but a lyric in a Weird Al song.

[Vw Driver]

Saw this the other day, simply amazing, hoping for that bluray someday.

[Batmon77]

Ive acquired the VHS and a clean bootleg DVD.

Great look into the NYC singles bar scenes of the era.

But at times its no better than a TV movie.

[Starman22]

This is my first time to see this movie 2 month ago and I'm still surprise never release DVD yet and so I like it and want Blu-ray... hope neither Paramount or Criterion should get it.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Too bad LFMG still isn't hasn't made it's way to Region 1 DVD/Blu-ray. It's a classic, iconic film that really deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

I suspect a lot of film fans haven't seen this due to it's unavailability on home video.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Originally Posted by deepseababy

1+ for Looking for Mr. Goodbar. Just read the book and was mesmerised by the story. I have never seen the film and have little to no chance to see it now given the copyright issues, other than in some low-res Youtube upload that has been dubbed over. I'm incredibly eager, but not keen enough to see it in some shitty version with compromised sound/picture. I'll wait - but the question is how long? I'm amazed this film, which is not even obscure (look at the cast), could be embroiled in copyright issues for so long. Perhaps not "embroiled", but noticeably absent from DVD/Blu-ray. I mean DVD has existed for years.

Originally Posted by Jaymole

Looking for Mr Goodbar has been one of my most wanted films for ages on DVD or Blu-ray. I did finally break down and get it on a decent looking DVD 2 years ago as i don't think they will ever resolve the music rights.

I'm pulling this quote from a recent post made in the Criterion Collection dedicated forum, since it's just as appropriate in this thread.

I also read the LFMG book years ago, and also felt the story was compelling & disturbing. I have seen the LFMG film years ago, but the print was awful - which really marred my enjoyment of the film. It's too bad that the film has never been widely available on home video since the VHS days.

To me, the book & film is really about the sexual revolution of the 1960's/1970's. The main character (Diane Keaton) didn't want to fall into the "traditional" role of getting married, settling down, and being a housewife - probably because that's what her parents wanted her to do. Her behavior was an act of rebellion to a large extent.

That all being said, it's obvious that LFMG is a cautionary tale of sorts

[Show spoiler]about being careful whom you bring home...however, plenty of women (and men, obviously) from the '70's - today are sexually active in non-monogamous relationships, and don't end up killed by their random hook-ups; I don't think the film is trying to insult the intelligence of the viewer by making them think that this is really a serious threat. I actually believe that if you're living this lifestyle you're more at risk of getting a potentially deadly (or at least incurable) STD than you are of getting killed by your partner - if you're not careful, that is.

[Dragun]

The Laemmle Noho 7 theater in North Hollywood is showing Looking for Mr. Goodbar on Thursday May 2nd at 7:30.

Link to buy tickets

On the FB invite the format is listed as "Blu-Ray." Does this mean a Blu-Ray release is imminent?

[slimdude]

Oh shucks! I thought this was FINALLY coming out on DVD. I guess I'll have to hold on to my VHS.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Still languishing in music rights hell no doubt.

[Aclea]

Goodbar and American Hot Wax have both been described by labels like Shout in newspaper and magazine articles in the past as simply far too expensive to clear the music rights for home video. Goodbar apparently also has the problem that one of the artists hates their song being associated with the film and reportedly won't cut a deal at any price.