Play It Again, Sam (1972)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

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:

Dating | Advice | Neurotic | Date | Ghost

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Allan
Diane Keaton	...	Linda
Tony Roberts	...	Dick
Jerry Lacy	...	Bogart
Susan Anspach	...	Nancy
Jennifer Salt	...	Sharon
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:

Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG (Approved No. 25168) | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Director Cameo: ['Herbert Ross']behind Allan and Linda as the cable car heads up the hill.

Goofs:

Continuity: The phone in Dick and Linda's bedroom changes between scenes from a standard set to a "Princess" set.

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:

Edited into "Intimate Portrait: Diane Keaton" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Casablanca

Very good Woody Allen film

Allen plays a film critic who has been cruelly dumped by his wife. Je wants to meet other women but is very neurotic (no surprise there). He idolizes Humphrey Bogart who shows up from time to time to give him advice on dealing with woman. His best friends--couple Diane Keaton and Tony Roberts--try to help also. Naturally he ends up falling for Keaton.

Allen didn't direct this (Herbert Ross did) but he wrote it. So it sounds like a Woody Allen film but doesn't LOOK like an Allen film. For one thing it was shot in San Francisco--not New York! It's also somewhat dated in 1970s dialogue and fashion. There's also a running joke involving Roberts and telephones that doesn't work today. Still this is a very good film.

It is an affectionate take-off on "Casablanca" and other old films also. Allen is playing has patented neurotic character but I've always found him funny and his disastrous dates are just great. Also him, Keaton and Roberts always worked well together and it makes their relationship seem very believable. And Jerry Lacy is VERY funny playing Bogart and giving Allen advice.

If you don't like Woody Allen movies this probably won't change your mind. But I found it fast, funny and very entertaining. And the dated 70s touches were actually quite funny. I give this a 8.