Woody Allen

The Grandstander is going to depart the world of sports today to talk about one of his favorite movie makers, Allan Stewart Konigsberg, better know to the world as Woody Allen.

Two events are prompting this. The first was hearing mention earlier this month that Allen turned 75 years of age on December 1. The second occurred this past Sunday when I watched the classic "Annie Hall" on Turner Classic Movies. More on that later.

Allen has been around for a long time. He got his show biz start as a writer. He was one of the stable of writers for Sid Caesar's TV show that included Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Neil Simon, among others. In the early 1960's he became a stand-up comic of some renown. His routine about a guy taking a moose to a costume party is a classic!

In the late '60s, Allen began writing, directing and acting in movies, and this is where he became, in my mind, a landmark figure in American popular culture. IMDB lists Allen as a director for 46 movies since 1969. Not all are gems, but Allen hits more often than he misses, and even in his later years, he can still bang out some solid hits.

Herewith, I present, in no particular order (well, OK, alphabetical order) some of my favorite Allen movies. This is not, by all means, and all-inclusive list.



Annie Hall (1977) - This might be considered Allen's classic. The movie won Oscars for Best Picture, Director (Allen), and Actress (Diane Keaton), and Allen was nominated for Best Actor. After watching it just five days ago, I can assure you that it still holds up quite well despite being 33 years old. Keaton was great in it as Annie. Long time co-star Tony Roberts also great as Woody's actor buddy who tries to convince Alvy Singer (Allen) to leave New York and come to LA (great line: "I did do Shakespeare in the park. I got mugged.") The scene where Alvy sneezes into the small box containing another guy's $2,000-an-ounce cocaine still makes me laugh, even when I know it's coming. The movie has a very sweet ending as well.

Broadway Danny Rose (1984) Woody as a small time Broadway talent agent who gets mixed up with a no talent singer with ties to the mob. My favorite part of this one is the set up: it's told in flashbacks by a bunch of New York City night club comics sitting around a deli table late at night telling stories.

Bullets Over Broadway (1994) Woody doesn't act in this one. John Cusack plays the "Allen character" as a struggling playwright whose play is being bankrolled by a mob leader who wants his girlfriend to star in it. During rehearsals, the play ends up being re-written by the mob goon, Chaz Palmentieri, who is there as the dame's bodyguard. Diane Wiest, as the diva actress who stars in the play, won an Oscar for this role. Classic line: "Don't speak."

Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) This is a dual story: one involves Martin Landeau, who goes to drastic ends to resolve marital difficulties, and the other involves Allen as the schlep film maker who's ex-wife (Mia Farrow) convinces her current husband (Alan Alda) to allow Woody to make a documentary about him. Watch Woody and Alda as they screen the initial rushes of the film Allen has made. Funny stuff. How the two stories tie together is what makes this a good movie.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) This a favorite of Mrs. Grandstander. Mia Farrow is the Hannah of the title and Barbara Hershey and Diane Wiest are the sisters. Woody is Farrow's ex-husband and Michael Caine is Hannah's current husband. Lots of family drama unfolds involving the relationships of the three sisters and the men in their lives. Wiest and Caine won Oscars for their roles. Another movie with a sweet ending.

Mighty Aphrodite (1995) Mira Sorvino won an Oscar for her hilarious portrayal of a hooker with whom Allen becomes involves, sort of. Woody is battling marital difficulties in this one (a recurring these in his movies). For those who don't like Woody's "serious" movies, this is a funny one. Again, another happy ending with a bit of a twist to it. Sorvino is great in this one.

Play It Again, Sam (1972) Allen starred in this one and wrote the screenplay, based upon his play, but he did not direct it. Herbert Ross did. Another funny one. Keaton made this one either right before, or right after she made The Godfather, and this one shows her just as she was about to become a big star. Tony Roberts is great as the guy who always have to leave phone numbers where he can be reached.

Radio Days (1987) This one might be my favorite Allen movie of all. Allen narrates, but does not appear in this clearly autobiographical movie. Half of the movie focuses on the Brooklyn family living and growing up during WWII, and half on the world of the radio stars that they listened to. Diane Wiest, Julie Kavner, Michael Tucker, and Seth Green (the Allen surrogate) are the main characters in the family, and Mia Farrow is Sally White, the cigarette girl turned radio star. Diane Keaton does a small turn as a band singer. A wonderful, wonderful movie. Wiest is particularly good in this one.

Scoop (2006) A more recent Allen movie that may not have received great notices, but that I felt was quite funny. Scarlett Johannson co-stars in this one.

Small Time Crooks (2000) Allen leads a band of incompetent crooks trying to pull of a jewel heist. His wife, Frenchy (Tracy Ullman), acts as a cover by running a cookie shop that becomes, a huge success. Again, this is a pure comedy with lots of laughs throughout.

Zelig (1983) A send up of a documentary about a chameleon-like guy, Zelig (Allen), who had the ability to appear everywhere during the great events of history. An interesting piece of movie making.

As I said, this is a brief list, and it certainly isn't all-inclusive. There are lots of other Allen movies that I like. If you haven't seen any of them, or haven't seen them in a long while, check them out.