70s Films Header Image

Annie Hall

Annie Hall – 1977
A nervous romance

Director
Woody Allen
Writers
Woody Allens
Marshall Brickman
Producers
Fred T. Gallos
Robert Greenhuts
Charles H. Joffe
Jack Rollins
Cast
Woody Allen – Alvy Singer
Diane Keaton – Annie Hall
Tony Roberts – Rob
Carol Kane – Allison Portchnik
Paul Simon – Tony Lacey
Shelley Duvall – Pam
Janet Margolin – Robin
Colleen Dewhurst – Mrs. Hall
Christopher Walken – Duane Hall
Donald Symington – Mr. Hall
Helen Ludlam – Grammy Hall
Mordecai Lawner – Mr. Singer

Review by Jack Gatanella

Annie Hall (1977)
Over-rated, but still in the good tradition of Allen’s 70’s,

Annie Hall is sort of like what Almost Famous was to Cameron Crowe. It’s a obvious labour of love. While I feel for Woody Allen and Crowe with they’re projects in this form, the autobiographical approach might not be the greatest.

Many people consider this the best Woody Allen film, however I could guess many of those people haven’t seen his masterpieces, which include Manhattan, Deconstrucing Harry and Sleeper. I can’t put down his biggest hit Annie Hall too much except for that this isn’t his best film.

This is about a guy who lives in NY (duh) and meets a girl named Annie Hall who goes about saying lady-dah (seriously). Then the love starts, but it isn’t how you’d expect with various Woody-isms floating about (my favorite was his telling of his childhood and how he grew up under the rollercoaster in Coney Island). Good performances all around (Keaton won a Oscar, deserved, and Christopher Walken shows he has the right stuff before Deer Hunter) and still worth the time, just not the best of the best. A

Annie Hall (1977)
Review by Wayne Malin
One of Allen’s best,
Next to “Manhattan” this is Woody Allen’s best film.

It chronicles the relationship and breakup of Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) and Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). That’s it for plot, but it has an Oscar-winning script by Allen and Marshall Brickman which is overflowing with hilarious lines and sequences and also some sharp, on target insights about love, sex and relationships. It’s basically just one great scene after another.

Keaton is superb in her Oscar-winning role–she’s sweet, lovable and endearingly off kilter. Also her very interesting wardrobe started a big fashion trend in the late 70s–the Annie Hall Look. Allen is good also but his character is whiny and annoying–as he should be. Allen’s direction is just great also, but he topped it 2 years later with “Manhattan”.

Just simply a masterpiece–it deserved every Oscar it won. Don’t miss this one!

Share it now

70s Films

A tour through the great and not so great films of the seventies The seventies saw a huge change in styles and genres from the advent of the slasher horror movies like Halloween and the blockbuster summers films started by Jaws. More...

Join the Discussion

Register now & join in the discussions, this will allow you to add your own comments, memories, photographs and stories to our ever growing website dedicated to the Seventies. Simply sign up using your Facebook, Twitter, Linked In or Google+ Account

Your API connection setting not working. try to change setting from module option or check your php.ini setting for (cURL support = enabled OR allow_url_fopen = On)

Like this Film ? Share it now