Looking for Mr. Goodbar (novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Books |
Looking for Mr. Goodbar is a 1975 novel penned by American writer Judith Rossner. The work—a "powerful psychological examination of a woman’s passive role in her own demise"—received widespread acclaim and secured the top position on the New York Times best seller list.
Plot summary
Theresa "Terry" Dunn, a schoolteacher based in New York City, leads a dual existence: dedicated to her students during daylight hours and frequenting singles bars after dark. While striving to rebuild her life, she falls victim to a drifter she recently encountered and invited into her home.
The story delves into Theresa’s difficult history, revealing childhood struggles with self-esteem, a harmful affair with a married man during her college years, and ensuing compulsive sexual behaviors.
Background
By 1973, Judith Rossner had authored three novels and was acknowledged for her literary merit. Invited by Nora Ephron to contribute to a women-focused edition of Esquire, Rossner wrote about the true crime case of schoolteacher Roseann Quinn, who was murdered in January 1973 by a man she allegedly met at a singles bar. Due to legal concerns, Esquire opted not to publish the piece, prompting Rossner to adapt the material into this novel.
Reception
Released by Simon & Schuster on June 2, 1975, Looking for Mr. Goodbar garnered favorable critiques. Carol Eisen Rinzler from The New York Times praised it as "an intricate and haunting portrayal of a woman's descent... rich with insight and intellect." Time described it as "a rare book that combines gripping narrative with an exceptional roman à clef." Meanwhile, Newsweek called it "a brisk, intense, and unsettling read."
The novel achieved remarkable commercial success: it debuted on The New York Times Best Seller List on June 22, 1975, staying for 36 weeks with three weeks at number one. It sold over four million copies, ranking as the fourth best-selling novel that year.
Adaptations
Film rights were purchased by Paramount Pictures for $250,000. The 1977 movie adaptation, scripted and directed by Richard Brooks, featured performances by Diane Keaton, Tuesday Weld, William Atherton, Richard Gere, and Tom Berenger. Although it received mixed critical responses, the film was financially successful, earning $22.5 million at the box office (equivalent to $86.9 million in 2016). It garnered two Academy Award nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Tuesday Weld) and Best Cinematography (William A. Fraker), but did not secure a win. Rossner reportedly "detested" the film version but commended Keaton’s portrayal. A semi-sequel named Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer, released six years later, distanced itself from the original novel through an opening disclaimer.
In 2012, the story was reinterpreted as Goodbar, a "staged concept album" created by the band Bambi alongside performing arts collective Waterwell. This production premiered at The Public Theater in New York during the Under the Radar Festival.