Title: Woody Allen: A Life In Film
Director: Richard Schickel
Running Time: 90 minutes without
commercials
Media: TCM Original Documentary (NTSC
VHS Screener)
Premiere Saturday, May 4, 2002, At 8pm
(ET)/5pm (PT)
Network: Turner Classic Movies (Check
your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
This May Turner Classic Movies will
present a new documentary on the life and career of Woody Allen. “Woody Allen:
A Life In Film” was produced and directed by noted Time Magazine writer and
documentarian Richard Schickel, the 90-minute documentary delves into the career
of Woody Allen based on a rare interview Allen gave exclusively for this
documentary in New York in October of 2001 and it marks the first time Allen has
ever participated in an American documentary about his career.
Allen discusses his career complete
with candid anecdotes as revealed in some of his key films. Viewers will learn
among other things about Allen’s motivation into writing and directing stemmed
for his dislike of the way his scripts were handled by other filmmakers. He
discusses his admiration for Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin as it relates to
his film “Sleeper” and he reveals how Bob Hope’s comedic style inspired
his characterization for the film “In Love And Death.” He also discusses how
his career changed with “Annie Hall” and his surprise at how people viewed
his film “Stardust Memories.”
In addition, Allen compares his two
acclaimed films about sisters “Interiors” and “Hannah And Her Sisters”
and his philosophical views on life and insight into what people value as
“Success” versus “Good Intentions” through films such as “Crimes And
Misdemeanors” and the nature of talent in “Bullets Over Broadway.”
The documentary concludes with some
scenes from his upcoming comedy “Hollywood Ending.” This is a must see
documentary for any admirer of Woody Allen and his films. An 18-film festival
will follow the documentary Saturdays in May.
“Woody Allen: A Life In Film” will
premiere on Saturday, May 4, 2002, At 8PM (ET) with Encores as follows:
Saturday, May 4,
2002, At 11:30PM (ET)
Saturday,
May 18, 2002, At 2:30AM (ET)
Friday,
May 31, 2002, At 7PM (ET)
© Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved