Video Clip from Annie Hall

How does Woody Allen entertain his audience when using both tragedy and comedy in his films?

Woody Allen quotes“Don’t’ knock masturbation, its with someone you

love”

“I'm such a great lover because, I practice a lot when I'm alone.”

“Sex without love is a meaningless experience, but as far as meaningless experiences go its pretty damn good.”

“I just don’t want to belong to any club that would have someone like me as a member “

More Than Anything Woody regrets what is happening to the Broadway theatre. He is sadly aware that Broadway has lost the glamour that it had when he was growing up. For that reason he felt impelled to write three one act plays for producer David Merrik. They are to be called Sex and Death, Woody said, are his “two favourite obsessions.”

Quotes on death/life

“On the plus side, death is one of the few things that can be done lying down. “

“It's not that I'm afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens.”

“Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering - and it's all over much too soon”

“If you want to make god laugh tell him your future plans.”

Annotated Catalogue

• Films• Item1: Annie Hall (1977, Dir. Woody Allen) Different genre in it being a romantic comedy, winner of four

Oscars and arguably Allen’s most popular film with Allen describing this film as a “Major turning point” in his career as he was known just for comedy up to this point. The film was both thematically and technically different to his previous films.

• Item 2: Take the Money and Run (1969, Dir. Woody Allen plus Screen play) One of Woody Allen’s early comedy films, has clear signs of his type of comedy which is used later on in his comedy career. It was the first film Allen appeared as writing, directing and acting in a film. A familiar multi-task he would later become famous for.

• Item 3: Melinda and Melinda (2004, Dir. Woody Allen) Wrote and directed by Allen it is described as his best of the last decade following two storylines of two people called Melinda with one’s life a tragedy and one a comedy.

• Books• Item 4: Woody Allen on Woody Allen (published in 1994) this tells the story of the filmmaker’s illustrious

career as he shares his frustrations, inspirations and anxieties in life. Co-written by Woody Allen and Stig Bjorkman.

• Item 5: Woody Allen a life in film (published in 2004) By Richard Schickel. Discusses Allen’s full filmography and his career from a critical perspective. The book discusses issues of; morality, religion and the conflict between reality and fantasy in his major films.

• Item 6: Woody Allen and Philosophy By Tom Morris. Woody Allen; Comedian, writer, director, actor, musician, and deep thinker, Woody Allen is clearly trying to say something, but what? And why should anyone care? Discussing issues such as morality, interpretation and the meaning of life.

• Internet• Item 7: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000095 - Lists all of Allen’s filmography, all through directing,

writing and acting. • Item 8: http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Woody_Allen - A page showing Allen’s best quotes on

life, death, religion and marriage.• Item 9: http://books.google.com/books?

id=fHJw7rBNKmEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=woody+allen&sig=ACfU3U1-dDMJfpVdFBSgj8FDqPlDx7oc3Q#PPP1,M1 – A full Google book containing several interviews with Woody Allen.

Example of comedy/tragedy in film Annie Hall

I thought of that old joke: This guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, 'Doc, my brother's crazy, he

thinks he's a chicken.' And the doctor says, 'Well why don't you turn him in?' and the guy says, 'I would, but I need the eggs.' Well, I guess that's pretty much now

how I feel about relationships. They're totally irrational and crazy and absurd, but I guess we keep going

through it because most of us need the eggs.

“I just don’t want to belong to any club that would have someone like me as a member “

Woody Allen Films that involve comedy and tragedy

September

A film centred around a recovering woman who’s life is filled with betrayal, loneliness, selfishness and love. Starring Dianna West and Mia Farrow, September was released on December 18th 1987

Alice

Alice is a story centred around a neglected wife with two children who meets a married saxophonist and enters a fantasy world. Again Starring Mia Farrow as Alice the film was nominated for a golden globe and an Oscar.

Allen's Favourite Actors

• Diane Keaton is arguably Woody Allen’s most favoured actress staring in many of his films such as; Sleeper, Love and Death, Interiors, Manhattan and famously Annie Hall. Woody Allen has stated he has tremendous trust in Keaton’s ability. The character Annie Hall was also based on Keaton and her relationship with Allen. Woody Allen is famously fond of Keaton's sense of humour which is one of the thing he was attracted to when having dinner with her after a late night rehearsal of Play it again Sam.

Woody Allen quotes he makes his films for personal enjoyment and does not car whether

or not he pleases the audience. Interesting tactic for a film director. He does not obey standard codes and conventions of films

(personal enjoyment)