Actor Woody Allen (1935)

Radio Days (1987), an American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, nostalgically looks back at the golden age of radio in the late 1930s and 1940s. Set in Rockaway Beach, New York, it follows a working-class family, with fictional narrator Joe (voiced by Allen himself) recounting their adventures. Among these is how two burglars stumbled upon a radio show while robbing a home. For Joe, old radio songs evoke childhood memories of his time living with his modest Jewish-American family in Rockaway Beach during the late 1930s and early 1940s. His mother was ...

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), an American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, follows three interconnected stories over the course of two eventful years. The backdrop for these tales is a series of Thanksgiving gatherings hosted by Hannah and her husband, Elliot, at The Langham. As the central figure in the narrative, Hannah’s presence ties together most events in the film. However, Elliot strays from their stable marriage when he becomes infatuated with Lee, one of Hannah’s sisters. His reasons for doing so are rooted in his dissatisfaction with his wife’s independence and ...

Broadway Danny Rose (1984) is an American black-and-white comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. The story centers on Danny Rose, a hardworking talent agent who represents a variety of unconventional and overlooked entertainers. During a lunch at New York’s Carnegie Deli, fellow comedians reminisce about Danny’s dedicated approach to his clients, including the struggling lounge singer Lou Canova. Despite his willingness to take on challenging acts, Danny always goes above and beyond to meet their personal and professional needs. However, as soon as any of his acts achieve success, they inevitably ...

The American satirical mockumentary comedy film, Zelig (1983), was written and directed by Woody Allen, who also stars in the movie. It is set in the 1920s and 1930s and follows the story of Leonard Zelig, a seemingly ordinary man with a remarkable ability to adapt his behavior and mannerisms to those around him. F. Scott Fitzgerald first notices this at a party where Zelig effortlessly blends in with the affluent guests, speaking with a refined Boston accent and sharing their conservative views. However, upon interacting with the kitchen staff, he adopts a coarser tone and reveals more liberal leanings. This unique ...

A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy (1982) is an American science fiction film written and directed by Woody Allen. Set during the transition from the 19th to 20th century, the movie follows Andrew and Adrian, a couple who spend every summer at their cottage in the New York woods. While Andrew is a Wall Street investment advisor with a knack for inventing novelty items, Adrian has been struggling with a mental block that has caused them to go six months without intimacy. Seeking some excitement, they invite two couples to stay with them for a weekend. Among them is Andrew’s close friend Maxwell, a promiscuous ...

Stardust Memories (1980) is a thought-provoking American comedy-drama written and directed by Woody Allen, who also plays the lead alongside Charlotte Rampling. Allen’s character, Sandy Bates, is a director known for his comedic films. His latest creation concludes with a bizarre scenario where one character finds themselves stuck on a train full of unsettling and unhappy individuals. Glancing out the window, they catch sight of another train carrying content and attractive passengers. Believing they have boarded the ...

Manhattan (1979) is a charming romantic comedy-drama from the renowned director Woody Allen and producer Charles H. Joffe. The movie opens with captivating scenes of New York City, set to the delightful tune of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. As the camera pans over the city, we hear Isaac Davis, our main character, narrating an introduction for his book on a man who adores this vibrant metropolis. A 42-year-old television writer and two-time divorcee, Isaac decides to leave his unfulfilling job. He’s currently dating Tracy, a young student at Dalton ...

The American satirical romantic comedy-drama film, Annie Hall (1977), was directed by Woody Allen and co-written by Allen and Marshall Brickman. Its main character, comedian Alvy Singer, reflects on his past relationship with Annie Hall that ended a year ago. Growing up in Brooklyn, he often challenged his mother with existential questions. While waiting in line for ‘The Sorrow and the Pity’, they overhear a man criticizing Federico Fellini and Marshall McLuhan’s work. In his mind, Alvy imagines inviting ...

The American drama film The Front (1976) takes place during the Hollywood blacklist of the 1950s, when individuals in the entertainment industry were deemed unemployable due to allegations of Communist sympathies or affiliations. Written by Walter Bernstein and directed by Martin Ritt, the film features Woody Allen, Zero Mostel, and Michael Murphy. In 1953 New York City, television writer Alfred Miller is unable to find work ...

Love and Death (1975), an American comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen, follows the story of Boris Grushenko, a cowardly scholar who is forced to join the Russian army when Napoleon invades Austria during the Napoleonic Wars. Despite his initial reluctance, Boris accidentally becomes a war hero. He then returns home and ends up marrying his widowed cousin Sonja, who reluctantly promises to marry him for one night in order to make him happy before he potentially dies in a duel. However, much to her dismay, Boris survives the duel and their marriage is characterized by philosophical discussions but financial ...

Sleeper (1973), directed and starring Woody Allen, is an American science fiction comedy film. Miles Monroe, a jazz musician and owner of the ‘Happy Carrot’ health-food store in New York City’s Greenwich Village, undergoes a routine operation at a hospital in 1973 which unfortunately goes awry. This leads to his cryopreservation for 200 years. In 2173, two scientists illegally revive him as they are part of an underground rebellion. This group is at odds with the police state that the United States has become due to the destruction caused by ‘a man named Albert Shanker obtaining a nuclear ...

Play It Again, Sam (1972) is a comedic film written and starring Woody Allen. The movie, based on Allen’s play of the same name, takes place in San Francisco and opens with the final scenes of Casablanca featuring legends Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Our main character, Allan Felix, is at the theater watching with his mouth agape as he longs to be like Rick. He is haunted by visions of Bogart and memories of his ex-wife Nancy, who constantly belittled him for his sexual inadequacy during their turbulent divorce. Trying to lift his spirits, Allan’s ...

The American sex comedy anthology film, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972), was directed by Woody Allen. Its inspiration came from David Reuben’s book of the same name published in 1969. As the film opens and closes, a multitude of white rabbits appears behind the credits, accompanied by Cole Porter’s Let’s Misbehave. Overall, the film is made up of seven separate vignettes. 1. Do Aphrodisiacs Work? A ...

Woody Allen’s Bananas (1971) follows the story of Fielding Mellish, a neurotic blue-collar worker. His attempts to impress social activist Nancy lead him to the fictional ‘banana republic’ of San Marcos, which is undergoing a coup d’état led by Gen. Emilio Molina Vargas. Despite his efforts to show compassion for the local people, Mellish becomes entangled in the political turmoil when Vargas orders his own men to kill him as part of a plan to gain financial aid from the U.S. Although Mellish narrowly escapes these assassination attempts, he is eventually captured by the real rebels and declared ...

Directed by Woody Allen, Take the Money and Run (1969) is an American mockumentary crime comedy that follows the life of Virgil Starkwell. Parodying the style of prison documentaries, the film uses ‘archival footage’ and ‘interviews’ with people from Virgil’s past. To protect their identities, his parents don Groucho glasses during their interviews, as they are ashamed of their son. As a child, Virgil is constantly targeted by bullies who steal and destroy his glasses. Despite this, he excels on an IQ test in school. However, when he steals a fountain pen, his teacher orders the class to ...

What’s Up, Tiger Lily? (1966) is an American comedy film, marking Woody Allen’s first time directing a feature-length film. Using footage from the Japanese spy movie International Secret Police: Key of Keys (1965), Allen dubbed it with entirely new dialogue unrelated to the original plot. Along with adding new scenes, he also reorganized the sequence of existing scenes, creating a condensed version that ran for an hour instead of 93 minutes. The result was a complete transformation of the film’s tone – shifting it from a James ...