Play It Again, Sam (1972)

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writers:

Woody Allen (play)
Woody Allen (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 May 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Here's laughing at you, kid.

Plot:

A neurotic film critic tries to get over his wife leaving him by dating again, much by the help of a married couple and his alter ego, Humphrey Bogart.

Plot Keywords:

Advice | Affection | Bittersweet | Bumbler | Extramarital Affair

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Allan Felix
Diane Keaton	...	Linda Christie
Tony Roberts	...	Dick Christie
Jerry Lacy	...	Humphrey Bogart
Susan Anspach	...	Nancy Felix
Jennifer Salt	...	Sharon Lake
Joy Bang	...	Julie
Viva	...	Jennifer
Susanne Zenor	...	Discotheque Girl (as Suzanne Zenor)
Diana Davila	...	Museum Girl
Mari Fletcher	...	Fantasy Sharon
Michael Greene	...	Hood #1
Ted Markland	...	Hood #2

Also Known As:

Aspirins for Three

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Play It Again, Sam opened at the Broadhurst Theater on February 12, 1969 and ran for 453 performances. Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts and Jerry Lacy reprise their roles in the movie.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Allan and Linda walk up the steps to Linda's apartment, a hand-held mike is visible at bottom of screen briefly.

Quotes:

Linda: Maybe if you just leaned across the candlelight and kissed her.
Allan: I tried, she used to say, "Christ, not here, everybody's staring."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Overdrawn at the Memory Bank (#9.22)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Blues for Alan Felix

A Comedy Classic

I lied on Bananas, THIS is my favorite Woodman movie. It's perhaps the most accessible, mainstream early Allen film. After Woody's wife splits on him (what took her so long!?), Woody turns to best friends Keaton and Roberts to help him back into the romantic saddle. Bogie also appears - flawlessly portrayed by Lacy - and attempts to assist Woody out of his doldrums with decidedly mixed results. What eventually happens, along with the Manhattan story line, suggests the Woodman's later real-life escapades. Of all of Allen's films this one for me has the most timeless moments, particularly involving his many dating mishaps. Woody's luckless character is part of a great comedic lineage that goes at least as far back as Bob Hope and has been seen as recently as George on Seinfeld. A comedy classic.