Portnoy’s Complaint * (1972, Richard Benjamin, Karen Black, Lee Grant) – Classic Movie Review 10,142

Philip Roth’s scandalous book about a neurotic Jewish boy’s troubles with his mother and sex is turned into the none-too-funny, mostly unmoving 1972 film Portnoy’s Complaint by esteemed writer Ernest Lehman in his directorial début. It remained his sole work as director.

The cast are hard working and some of them (particularly Karen Black as a posh dropout, Mary Jane Reid – The Monkey) give excellent performances. But an unimpressive Richard Benjamin as Alexander Portnoy and a far too young-looking Lee Grant as his New Jersey mom Sophie are struggling against the tide.

It never was very good and now it has aged badly too.

It is written for the screen and produced by Lehman, Hitchcock’s writer on North by Northwest and Family Plot. Lehman (1915–2005) was nominated for six Oscars but had to be satisfied with an Honorary Award in 2001.

Also in the cast are Jack Somack, Jeannie Berlin, Jill Clayburgh, Renée Lippin, D P Barnes, Francesca De Sapio, Lewis J Stadlen, Kevin Conway, Jessica Rains, William Pabst, Eleanor Zee and Tony Brande.

Portnoy’s Complaint may recall Woody Allen in Annie Hall: ‘Don’t knock masturbation, it’s sex with someone I love’.

Benjamin earlier played another Philip Roth character in Goodbye, Columbus (1969).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,142

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