Greetings

1968 · United States · 88 min

Director: Brian De Palma
Screenplay: Brian De Palma
Producer: Brian De Palma
Music: Eric Kaz
Cinematography: Gordon Willis
Editing: Brian De Palma

What the critics say

88 % Rotten Tomatoes positive reviews

Cast

Tina Hirsch

What it is about

Three friends, Paul Shaw, Lloyd Clay and Jon Rubin, explore free love, the John F. Kennedy assassination, the Vietnam War and amateur filmmaking. The film moves more through episodes and attitude than through a linear plot, following its protagonists as they try to avoid the military draft.

How it was made

Brian De Palma wrote, directed, produced and edited the film, with music by Eric Kaz and cinematography by Gordon Willis. It was Robert De Niro's first major role, as Jon Rubin. The satirical tone and the amateur-film sequences give the picture the feel of an independent production. It is often cited as the first American film to receive an X rating from the MPAA, though it was later given an R rating, and that claim is disputed.

Reception and legacy

The film was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear. Critics were divided: The New York Times found it amusing in places but mostly strained, while Roger Ebert gave it three stars out of four. Rotten Tomatoes lists an 88% approval rating based on 17 reviews. Today it is mainly remembered as an early step for De Palma and De Niro, who reprised the Jon Rubin character in Hi, Mom!.