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6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Goodbye Again remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you’re the type of person who finds 1930s screwball comedies comforting—the kind with rapid-fire dialogue and people slamming doors—then yes, Goodbye Again is a decent way to kill an hour. If you get annoyed by characters who make terrible life choices just to keep the plot moving, you might want to look elsewhere.
It’s really just a long, messy hotel farce. Warren William plays the novelist with a level of arrogance that’s almost impressive, even when he’s completely wrong about everything.
The whole thing takes place in Cleveland, which feels like a funny choice for such a frantic movie. The mix-ups involving the old flame and her husband feel a bit like something out of The Indiscretions of Eve, but way more frantic.
There is a specific scene where the husband is just standing there looking lost, and it’s actually the most relatable part of the film. Most of the time, the characters are just talking over each other so much I had to rewind twice to catch the joke. Sometimes it feels like they’re running a race to see who can finish their sentences first.
The secretary, played by Joan Blondell, is the only one who seems like she has a brain. She’s definitely pining for the novelist, which is a bit sad, but she’s also the only one keeping the movie from sliding off the rails. It’s funny how she’s essentially the glue, despite everyone else acting like they’re in a different film entirely.
I honestly stopped trying to track who was married to who about halfway through. It doesn’t really matter. It’s all just noise and frantic energy. It’s not quite as sharp as the best of the era, but it’s got a weird charm that stuck with me after the credits rolled. 🤷♂️
Don't expect a masterpiece. Just expect a lot of shouting in suits.