In the history of 20th century cinema, there are few more polarising figures than Woody Allen. For every person awed by his incredible talents as a comedian, writer, and director, there are just as many who find themselves completely repelled by the twitching, neurotic persona he has created, not to mention the slightly more problematic aspects of his personal life. But as his 1986 masterpiece Hannah and Her Sisters celebrates its 25th birthday, AU endeavours to give you a one-stop shop for all you need to know about this titan of cinema. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and it might just change your life – something you’ll no doubt be explaining to your analyst before too long…
Woody Allen Words by Steven Rainey Illustration by Shauna McGowan
The Early Years: Take The Money And Run (1969) Effectively his directorial debut (What’s Up Tiger Lily from 1966 was a previously made film with new dialogue inserted by Allen and his friends), Take The Money And Run probably has the director’s highest percentage of belly laughs per film, reflecting his roots as a stand-up comedian. Almost (but not entirely) ignoring the intellectualism that characterised his later films, Allen presents us with
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a mockumentary concerning the life and times of Virgil Starkwell, a meek-mannered kid from the wrong side of the tracks who eventually becomes America’s Public Enemy Number 1. With engaging slapstick, witty one-liners, surrealistic set-pieces, and some good-natured gags, Take The Money And Run is an out-and-out comic romp, albeit framed in an engaging and creative documentary format. It’s not quite the finished article, but it’s ample proof of why this young comedian was able to capture the attention of audiences and critics alike, right from the very beginning. Best Bit: In order to secure an early release from