Looking for Mr. Goodbar

Looking for Mr. Goodbar

Year: 1977

Runtime: 136 min

Language: English

Director: Richard Brooks

DramaRomance

A schoolteacher named Theresa, feeling unfulfilled, seeks excitement and connection through anonymous encounters in nightclubs and bars. Her quest for a man she calls "Mr. Goodbar" leads her down a dangerous path, blurring the lines between desire and recklessness. As she becomes increasingly consumed by this pursuit, her life spirals out of control, threatening her career and relationships.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Looking for Mr. Goodbar yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1970s

The film unfolds in the 1970s, a period marked by social change and shifting cultural norms regarding relationships, sexuality, and independence. This backdrop informs Theresa's struggles with self-identity and familial expectations amidst a rapidly changing world.

Location

College, Suburbs

The movie is set predominantly in a college environment where Theresa navigates her academic life and personal challenges. Additionally, the suburban family home represents a devout Catholic background that shapes her character and experiences.

🏫 College 🏘️ Suburbs

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:31

Main Characters – Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)

Meet the key characters of Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Theresa Dunn (Diane Keaton)

Theresa is a complex character marked by her vivid imagination and emotional struggles. Despite her intelligence and ambition, she grapples with insecurities stemming from her childhood challenges, leading to reckless decisions in pursuit of love and acceptance.

👩‍🎓 Graduate Student 🌊 Emotional Struggles

Martin Engle (Alan Feinstein)

Martin is a charismatic professor who becomes an object of Theresa's obsession. He represents both a forbidden desire and the complications of teacher-student relationships, as he battles his own moral dilemmas while being drawn to Theresa.

👨‍🏫 Professor ❓ Forbidden Love

Katherine (Tuesday Weld)

Katherine serves as a contrasting figure to Theresa, embodying the complexities of adult relationships and the societal pressures surrounding them. Her own struggles with pregnancy and marriage provide a poignant parallel to Theresa's journey.

✈️ Flight Attendant 💔 Relationship Struggles

Tony (Richard Gere)

Tony is a hustler who briefly captivates Theresa's attention, epitomizing allure and danger. His arrival in Theresa's life represents the unpredictability of relationships and the allure of escaping societal expectations.

🏙️ Hustler 🔥 Dangerous Allure

James (William Atherton)

James is a welfare officer who becomes involved with Theresa, emerging as a figure of stability amidst her chaotic life. His Catholic background initially provides familial approval, but their relationship grows complicated as Theresa's past resurfaces.

🚨 Welfare Officer 📜 Familial Expectations

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:31

Major Themes – Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)

Explore the central themes of Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Love and Loss

The film explores the complexities of love and relationships, emphasizing the pain of desire juxtaposed with the tragedy of loss. Theresa's romantic entanglements reveal her deep-seated fears and longing for connection, ultimately leading to devastating consequences.

🎭 Identity Crisis

Theresa faces an identity crisis throughout the film, torn between her ambitions and the constraints of her family and societal expectations. Her journey showcases the universal struggle to find oneself amidst external pressures and personal demons.

🍷 Escapism

Theresa frequently turns to drugs and nightlife as forms of escapism from her emotional turmoil. This theme highlights the darker aspects of her character and the lengths to which individuals may go to numb their pain in the face of undesirable realities.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:31

Unlock the Full Story of Looking for Mr. Goodbar

Don't stop at just watching — explore Looking for Mr. Goodbar in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Looking for Mr. Goodbar is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Looking for Mr. Goodbar Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Looking for Mr. Goodbar, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Looking for Mr. Goodbar Summary

Looking for Mr. Goodbar Timeline

Track the full timeline of Looking for Mr. Goodbar with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Looking for Mr. Goodbar Timeline

More About Looking for Mr. Goodbar

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Looking for Mr. Goodbar: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Looking for Mr. Goodbar

Similar Movies to Looking for Mr. Goodbar

Discover movies like Looking for Mr. Goodbar that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.