Review of Play It Again, Sam (1972) by Jackson M — 05 Sep 2012
Woody Allen had written the play version of this film in 1969, and it was optioned by Paramount Pictures immediately, and the film version was directed by Herbert Ross (Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), Pennies From Heaven (1981)), but Woody stuck around to do the screenplay and even star in it.
The film is very funny, with some good dialogue, and it's a look at the frustrations people go through with relationships. Set in San Francisco, Allan Felix (Woody) has just gone through a rather sudden divorce from his wife Nancy (Susan Anspach), but Allan is supported by his friends Linda (Diane Keaton) and Dick (Tony Roberts), who try to link him up with other women, and a couple of them turn out to be complete disasters.
Allan's favourite film is Casablanca (1942), even though he knows he'll never be like Humphrey Bogart in the film, it's not long before the ghost of Bogart (Jerry Lacy) appears to Allan, and gives him advice on his relationship.
Meanwhile, Linda's relationship to Tony is going through a rocky patch, and she finds solace in Allan, and it's not long before they have an affair, but Dick is a good friend to Allan, and it leaves Allan in a jam.
It's a funny film, and a good timepiece of San Francisco in the early 1970's. It's well filmed with some good moments of witty humour, Woody handling the one-liners and even physical comedy well.
It's a mystery as to why he didn't direct it, but he was about to do Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) (1972) at the time, so maybe that's why.
This review of Play It Again, Sam (1972) was written by Jackson M on 05 Sep 2012.
Play It Again, Sam has generally received positive reviews.
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