Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. optioned George Axelrod’s 1959 play, Goodbye Charlie, circa 1961, according to a 14 Feb 1962 Var item, which stated that the film adaptation had been in the works for “some months.” Marilyn Monroe was approached to play “Charlie, a female,” but she turned down the role because she “didn’t think she would be convincing as a boy.” Several months later, the 29 Oct 1962 DV reported that director Billy Wilder had rejected overtures from Twentieth Century-Fox president Darryl F. Zanuck, who’d written him a letter about his rumored interest in Goodbye Charlie. Wilder’s response accused Zanuck of unceremoniously firing Joseph L. Mankiewicz from Cleopatra (1963, see entry), and declared the following: “No self-respecting picture maker would ever want to work for your company. The sooner the bulldozers raze your studio, the better it will be for the industry.” Norman Jewison also turned down the opportunity to direct, and Shirley MacLaine was sought to play Charlie, but was not cast, according to the 12 Aug 1963 and 17 Feb 1964 issues of DV.
       Vincente Minnelli signed on to direct Goodbye Charlie, which marked his first picture away from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., since he began his career there in 1942, as stated in the 21 Jan 1964 NYT. Filming began on 16 or 18 Mar 1964, at the Fox studio lot in Century City, CA, and on location around Los Angeles, CA, including the Los Angeles International Airport and Malibu, CA, according to the 20 Feb 1964 LAT. For some sequences, Walter Matthau (as “Sir Leopold Sartori”) was filmed driving co-star Tony Curtis’s 1932 Rolls Royce, which Curtis lent to the production, the 2 Apr 1964 DV stated. Also borrowed from Darryl F. Zanuck were five Academy Award statuettes, which appeared on Sir Leopold Sartori’s desk. Since actress Ellen McRae (later known as Ellen Burstyn) was required to knit onscreen, the 5 Apr 1964 LAT noted that a studio seamstress was brought on set to coach her.
       In the midst of production, a 10 Apr 1964 DV news item announced that Debbie Reynolds was briefly absent from the set due to exhaustion. Principal photography ended two-and-a-half months later in late Jun 1964, as indicated in the 29 Jun 1964 DV. Shortly after, the 11 Aug 1964 DV stated that Ludwig Flappit, Jr. would act as publicist. Theatrical release followed in New York City on 18 Nov 1964, and in Los Angeles on 18 Dec 1964. Around that time, a paperback novelization of the film by Marvin H. Albert was set to be released by Dell Publishing, as reported in a 16 Dec 1964 Var brief.
       Despite largely negative reviews, the film was named the twentieth highest-grossing U.S. release of 1965 in a 4 May 1966 Var chart. It was nominated for an American Humane Society PATSY Award, for the performance of a dog named “Storm.”
       Goodbye Charlie marked the feature film debut of actress Laura Devon. The following performers were listed as cast members in DV announcements published Mar—Jun 1964: Mantan Moreland; Anna Lavelle; Joyce Nizzari; Joe DeAngelo; Jimmy Hayes; Jim Tranzitt; Robert Plumb; Paula Lane; David Robel; and real-life news anchor Jerry Dunphy, who was set to play a newscaster. The 17 Nov 1965 DV also noted that, prior to his departure from Twentieth Century-Fox, studio employee Fred Harpman acted as production illustrator or in an art direction role.