Sleeper (1973)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writers:

Woody Allen (written by) and
Marshall Brickman (written by)

Release Date:

17 December 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A love story about two people who hate each other. 200 years in the future.

Plot:

A nerdish store owner is revived out of cryostasis into a future world to fight an oppressive government.

Plot Keywords:

Health Food | Leader | Police | Doctor | Future

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Miles Monroe
Diane Keaton	...	Luna Schlosser
John Beck	...	Erno Windt
Mary Gregory	...	Dr. Melik
Don Keefer	...	Dr. Tryon
John McLiam	...	Dr. Agon
Bartlett Robinson	...	Dr. Orva
Chris Forbes	...	Rainer Krebs
Mews Small	...	Dr. Nero (as Marya Small)
Peter Hobbs	...	Dr. Dean
Susan Miller	...	Ellen Pogrebin
Lou Picetti	...	M.C.
Jessica Rains	...	Woman in the Mirror
Brian Avery	...	Herald Cohen
Spencer Milligan	...	Jeb Hrmthmg
Stanley Ross	...	Sears Swiggles
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Cannon	...	Various Voice-Overs (voice)
Regis Cordic	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Howard Cosell	...	Himself - on Wide World of Sports (archive footage) (uncredited)
George Furth	...	Guest at Luna's Party (uncredited)
Laurence Kirchmar	...	McDonald's Kid (uncredited)
Jackie Mason	...	Robot Tailor (voice) (uncredited)
Richard Nixon	...	Himself - Checkers Speech, Discloses His Personal Finances (archive footage) (uncredited)
Albert Popwell	...	Reprogramming Scientist (uncredited)
Douglas Rain	...	Evil Computer / Various Robot Butlers (voice) (uncredited)
Whitney Rydbeck	...	Janus (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits
Woody Allen		(written by) and
Marshall Brickman		(written by)

Produced by
Marshall Brickman	....	associate producer
Jack Grossberg	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	executive producer
Ralph Rosenblum	....	associate producer
Jack Rollins	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Woody Allen		(music by)

Cinematography by
David M. Walsh		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
O. Nicholas Brown		(film editor)
Ron Kalish		(film editor)
Ralph Rosenblum		(edited by)

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster		(casting by)

Production Design by
Dale Hennesy

Set Decoration by
Gary Moreno

Costume Design by
Joel Schumacher

Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup
Janice Brunson	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred T. Gallo	....	first assistant director
Henry J. Lange Jr.	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Barry Bedig	....	property master
Charles Deaton	....	architect: Doctor Melik's house
Jack M. Marino	....	assistant property master
Gary Martin	....	set coordinator (as Gary O. Martin)
Dianne Wager	....	set designer
Gary Martin	....	construction (uncredited)
James T. Woods	....	set painter (uncredited)
Robert L. Zilliox	....	lead man (uncredited)

Sound Department
Al Gramaglia	....	re-recording: Magno Sound Recording Inc.
Norman Kasow	....	sound effects editing: Filmsounds, Inc.
Jack Solomon	....	sound mixer
Jess Soraci	....	sound effects editing: Filmsounds, Inc.
Joe Kenworthy	....	swing (uncredited)
Al Yaylian	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
A.D. Flowers	....	special effects
Gerald Endler	....	location special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bill Hansard	....	background projection
Harvey Plastrik	....	opticals
Ralph Rosenblum	....	visual effects editor (uncredited)

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator
James M. Halty	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Edesa	....	gaffer
Norman Harris	....	best boy (as Norman L. Harris)
Clyde Hart	....	key grip (as Clyde W. Hart)
Roger Shearman	....	camera operator
Bill Avery	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Richard N. Hannah	....	camera technician (uncredited)
Victor King	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Don Whipple	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arnie Lipin	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Arnold M. Lipin)
G. Fern Weber	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Trudy Ship	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Felix Giglio	....	music supervision
The New Orleans Funeral Ragtime Orchestra	....	music by
Preservation Hall Jazz Band	....	music by (as The Preservation Hall Jazz Band)
Phil Ramone	....	music recorded by

Transportation Department
Joe Sawyers	....	transportation captain (as Joe R. Sawyers)
Richard Enoch	....	driver (uncredited)
Donald H. Lewis	....	driver (uncredited)
Russell McEntyre	....	driver (uncredited)
William Von Hoek	....	driver: cine II (uncredited)

Other crew
Antonio Encarnacion	....	assistant to the producer (as Tony Encamacion)
Jean Gingerich	....	production accountant
Norman Gorbaty	....	title design
Doris Grau	....	script supervisor
Lori Imbler	....	production secretary
R.J. Louis	....	location coordinator
Joel Marrow	....	assistant to the producer
Peter J. Silbermann	....	unit publicist
Ben Bova	....	science consultant (uncredited)
Elizabeth Claman	....	secretary to director (uncredited)
Teresa Stokovic	....	production secretary (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Rollins-Joffe Productions (as A Jack Rollins-Charles H. Joffe Production)

Distributors

• United Artists (1973) (USA) (theatrical) (An MGM Company)
• United Artists (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1974) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV)
• United Artists Films (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• New Star (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• C.V.D.  Italian dubbing by (uncredited)
• Cinemobile System  locations by
• Filmsounds  sound effects editing
• Magno Sound  rerecording
• Michael's Pub, New York City  music recorded live at
• Neiman-Tillar Associates  editorial (uncredited)
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans  score performed by (uncredited)
• Preservation Hall, New Orleans  music recordied live at

Also Known As:

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Yiddish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Finland:K-11 (new rating: 2001) | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:TV-G (National Board of Review) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Iceland:Unrated | Ireland:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Boulder, Colorado, USA

Company:

Rollins-Joffe Productions

Trivia:

Woody Allen plays clarinet in the music score.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The tow cable for the raft costume is visible.

Quotes:

Luna Schlosser:It's hard to believe that you haven't had sex for 200 years.
Miles Monroe:204, if you count my marriage.

Movie Connections:

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies (2000) (TV)

very stupid, well-polished fun

Woody Allen's previous efforts, BANANAS and TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN, were exceptionally funny but very uneven films. His being a bit of an amateur in the film business is pretty obvious in these movies. However, by the time he created SLEEPER, he was a lot more polished and consistent film maker. While this is still a very stupid and sophomoric film, it is very funny nevertheless. While there are occasionally bad moments (such as the giant chicken), they are very few and the humor just keeps hitting you again and again. I particularly liked the Orgazmatron and the history lesson he gives the futuristic professors. This film is slapstick and dopey--exactly the type of film that intellectuals (the audience for most later Allen films) will probably hate. This is Allen for the common man--back when he used to be very funny.