"I have seen the Golden Palace Of The Himalayas..."
Added 11/18/2009
If you're a fan of Neil Simon's then "Brighton Beach Memoirs"(1986) is a must-see. This is a well-made movie with an amazing ensemble cast and witty dialogue that had me laughing out loud. Eugene (Jonathan Silverman), a Jewish teenager, narrates the story of his time as an adolescent, growing up amidst a close-knit Jewish family in 1930s Brooklyn, comprising dad, Jack (Bob Dishy), mom Kate (Blythe Danner), brother Stanley (Brian Dillinger), widowed aunt Blanche (Judith Ivey), and cousins Nora (Lisa Waltz) and Laurie (Stacey Glick). Eugene's dad is a hardworking man who tries to manage the family on his meager income, supplemented by the wages of his older son Stanley who works for a haberdasher/slave driver Mr. Stroheim (Steven Hill). The performances of the ensemble cast, especially the comical antics of the lead performer (Silverman) coupled with the creative dialogue make this an immensely entertaining watch. I loved the way family dynamics were explored in this movie - how Eugene feels like he is being victimized and bullied (being constantly sent to the store by his mother complaining,"I'm always going to the store. When I grow up, that's all I'll be trained to do, go to the store"), how the role of males and females were still very traditional (the women stayed home, whilst the men went out to work), and the close bond between members of this family (Eugene's mom takes in her widowed sister and two daughters even though Jack is a low wage-earner).
The most comical aspects are scenes where the adolescent with raging hormones, as portrayed by Eugene, fantasizes about girls and sex. Upon glimpsing his first picture of a naked woman (a French woman at that), Eugene exults: "I have seen the Golden Palace Of The Himalayas. Puberty is OVER! Onward and upward!" Balanced against these comic moments are more somber ones such as when Eugene's 16-year-old cousin Nora decides to forge her own path in life or when Eugene's older brother Stanley has to deal with the repercussions of wrong choices. With its cast of eccentric characters, the irreverent writing and amazing acting, this is a heartwarming, funny and poignant movie. A must-watch!
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love love love this movie
Added 6/30/2009
i love this movie
i haven't seen it in years and it was not available at our local video rental store or on demand. thank you for having it avaiable for purchase
we laugh every time we watch it.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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GREAT FOR THE OVER 50 CROWD
Added 6/27/2009
This movie like all Neil Simons is very enjoyable and nostalgic too the over 50 Crowd. This is especially true for those of you who grewup in NYC in the 40's and 50's. Even young audiences will get a chance to see what Gradpa went through.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Oldie but Goodie
Added 2/9/2009
I'm a satisfied customer! I love this movie its good clean comedy for the whole family.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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One of Neil Simon's best
Added 1/12/2009
If you love Neil Simon....you MUST see this one. It's based on his childhood in Brooklyn. Hilarious!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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"I have seen the Golden Palace Of The Himalayas..."
Added 11/18/2009
If you're a fan of Neil Simon's then "Brighton Beach Memoirs"(1986) is a must-see. This is a well-made movie with an amazing ensemble cast and witty dialogue that had me laughing out loud. Eugene (Jonathan Silverman), a Jewish teenager, narrates the story of his time as an adolescent, growing up amidst a close-knit Jewish family in 1930s Brooklyn, comprising dad, Jack (Bob Dishy), mom Kate (Blythe Danner), brother Stanley (Brian Dillinger), widowed aunt Blanche (Judith Ivey), and cousins Nora (Lisa Waltz) and Laurie (Stacey Glick). Eugene's dad is a hardworking man who tries to manage the family on his meager income, supplemented by the wages of his older son Stanley who works for a haberdasher/slave driver Mr. Stroheim (Steven Hill). The performances of the ensemble cast, especially the comical antics of the lead performer (Silverman) coupled with the creative dialogue make this an immensely entertaining watch. I loved the way family dynamics were explored in this movie - how Eugene feels like he is being victimized and bullied (being constantly sent to the store by his mother complaining,"I'm always going to the store. When I grow up, that's all I'll be trained to do, go to the store"), how the role of males and females were still very traditional (the women stayed home, whilst the men went out to work), and the close bond between members of this family (Eugene's mom takes in her widowed sister and two daughters even though Jack is a low wage-earner).
The most comical aspects are scenes where the adolescent with raging hormones, as portrayed by Eugene, fantasizes about girls and sex. Upon glimpsing his first picture of a naked woman (a French woman at that), Eugene exults: "I have seen the Golden Palace Of The Himalayas. Puberty is OVER! Onward and upward!" Balanced against these comic moments are more somber ones such as when Eugene's 16-year-old cousin Nora decides to forge her own path in life or when Eugene's older brother Stanley has to deal with the repercussions of wrong choices. With its cast of eccentric characters, the irreverent writing and amazing acting, this is a heartwarming, funny and poignant movie. A must-watch!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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love love love this movie
Added 6/30/2009
i love this movie
i haven't seen it in years and it was not available at our local video rental store or on demand. thank you for having it avaiable for purchase
we laugh every time we watch it.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
GREAT FOR THE OVER 50 CROWD
Added 6/27/2009
This movie like all Neil Simons is very enjoyable and nostalgic too the over 50 Crowd. This is especially true for those of you who grewup in NYC in the 40's and 50's. Even young audiences will get a chance to see what Gradpa went through.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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