Good Times (1967)

Anecdotes

Good Times is a 1967 American musical comedy film directed by William Friedkin in his feature directorial debut, starring Sonny & Cher. The film also co-stars George Sanders, Norman Alden, Larry Duran, Kelly Thordsen, and Lennie Weinrib.

Production

Sonny Bono wanted to make a film starring himself and Cher. He was introduced to William Friedkin, a young documentary filmmaker who had just moved into drama and who, like Bono, was represented by the William Morris Agency. They got along well and Abe Lastfogel persuaded Steve Broidy to agree to finance a film. Broidy was former head of Allied Artists and had his own company, Motion Pictures International.

Bono and Friedkin started reading through scripts and received a letter from novice screenwriter Nicholas Hyams, who suggested Sonny and Cher make a film about them making a film. Hyams was hired, but Friedkin says the collaboration with him was not easy: "He was condescending to Sonny and disdainful of me." Hyams was fired and Friedkin and Bono wound up writing the script themselves based on Hyams' original idea.

Broidy wanted to call the film I Got You Babe but Bono preferred Good Times, based on a song he was writing. All songs in the film were released on a soundtrack album.

The film was originally meant to be made for $500,000, of which Sonny and Cher were paid $100,000, but the budget came in at $800,000. Broidy then sold the film to Columbia for $1.2 million, ensuring he was in profit before shooting even began. Finance also came from the ABC network.

Producer Lindsley Parsons suggested George Sanders. Friedkin made this character a satire of Steve Broidy.

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