A sheltered young high-society woman joins the United States Army on a whim and finds herself in a trickier situation than she ever expected.A sheltered young high-society woman joins the United States Army on a whim and finds herself in a trickier situation than she ever expected.A sheltered young high-society woman joins the United States Army on a whim and finds herself in a trickier situation than she ever expected.
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 1 win & 6 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGoldie Hawn signed onto Private Benjamin in June 1979 and went through boot camp training for six weeks.
- GoofsWhen the girls are in the war games and capture the Red Team truck the Sgt throws the keys away. Army vehicles do not require keys to start. The ignition is hardwired to a start button on the dash. EDIT: Every vehicle in the Army then required a key. If the vehicle did have a starter button (a switch on floor akin to the old headlight dimmer switches in cars) it would still be secured when parked by a chain welded to the floor and running up through the steering wheel and secured with a padlock. You can start it, but you can't steer it unless you have the key. Throwing away the key isn't a factual mistake.
- Quotes
[after sex]
Judy Benjamin: Now I know what I've been faking all these years.
Henri Tremont: That was your first?
Judy Benjamin: And second.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue:
When Judy Benjamin was eight years old, she confessed her life's desire to her best friend.
"All I want," Judy whispered, "is a big house... nice clothes, two closets, a live-in maid, and a professional man for a husband."
Today, all of Judy's dreams come true.
- SoundtracksHava Nagila
(uncredited)
Israeli folk song
played at Judy and Yale's wedding reception
Featured review
Judy Benjamin (Goldie Hawn) is a picky superficial newlywed who loses her husband (Albert Brooks) during wedding night sex on the bathroom floor. She's 28, married twice, and trained for nothing. Lying recruiter Jim Ballard (Harry Dean Stanton) tricks her to join the army. She's in for a rude awakening and wants to go home. Captain Lewis (Eileen Brennan) is her tough trainer. After being belittled by her father, she decides to stay rather than go home getting taken care of. She becomes a great private and rout the opposition in a war game. While on leave in New Orleans, she meets french doctor Henri Tremont (Armand Assante). Later, he would propose but he isn't prince charming.
Goldie Hawn is fun and Eileen Brennan is terrific. They are both great and the movie is actually uplifting. The movie should probably stay with basic training. The second half isn't quite as compelling and the comedy dries up. The movie is better off expanding on the first half and cut out the second half.
Goldie Hawn is fun and Eileen Brennan is terrific. They are both great and the movie is actually uplifting. The movie should probably stay with basic training. The second half isn't quite as compelling and the comedy dries up. The movie is better off expanding on the first half and cut out the second half.
- SnoopyStyle
- Jan 8, 2015
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $9,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $69,847,348
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,739,769
- Oct 12, 1980
- Gross worldwide
- $69,847,348
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