Sleeper (1973)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

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:

Future | Orgasmatron | Robot | Health Food | Sex

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. Aragon
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

Cinematography by
David M. Walsh

Film Editing by
O. Nicholas Brown
Ron Kalish
Ralph Rosenblum

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Dale Hennesy

Set Decoration by
Gary Moreno

Costume Design by
Joel Schumacher

Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup artist
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

Sound Department
Al Gramaglia	....	sound re-recording mixer: Magno Sound Recording Inc.
Norman Kasow	....	sound effects editor: Filmsounds, Inc.
Jack Solomon	....	sound mixer
Jess Soraci	....	sound effects editor: Filmsounds, Inc.

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

Visual Effects by
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

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 supervisor
Phil Ramone	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Joe Sawyers	....	transportation captain (as Joe R. Sawyers)

Other crew
Antonio Encarnacion	....	assistant to producer (as Tony Encamacion)
Jean Gingerich	....	production accountant
Norman Gorbaty	....	title designer
Doris Grau	....	script supervisor
Bill Hansard	....	projectionist: background projection
Lori Imbler	....	production secretary
R.J. Louis	....	location coordinator
Joel Marrow	....	assistant to producer
Peter J. Silbermann	....	unit publicist
Ben Bova	....	science consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Rollins-Joffe Productions

Distributors

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

Other Companies

• C.V.D.  Italian dubbing by
• Cinemobile System  locations
• Filmsounds  sound effects editing
• Magno Sound  sound re-recording
• Michael's Pub, New York City  music recording facility
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans  score performed by
• Preservation Hall, New Orleans  music recording facility
• The New Orleans Funderal Ragtime Orchestra  score performed by

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 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Iceland:Unrated | Ireland:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Boulder, Colorado, USA

Company:

Rollins-Joffe Productions

Trivia:

This film permanently ended plans for two productions based on H.G. Wells' "When the Sleeper Wakes". One proposed production was by American International (long shelved due to the high proposed budget) and the other by producer George Pal.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Miles is first awoken from the cryogenic freezing process he has tin foil under his suit. During the process of sitting up, the foil mysteriously disappears from around his neck/chest area.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Luna Schlosser: Oh, I see. You don't believe in science, and you also don't believe that political systems work, and you don't believe in God, huh?
Miles Monroe: Right.
Luna Schlosser: So then, what do you believe in?
Miles Monroe: Sex and death - two things that come once in a lifetime... but at least after death, you're not nauseous.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Life on Mars: Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows? (#1.4)" (2008)

A classic example of surreal `early Woody'

A health food store owner is cryogenically frozen and brought back in the year 2174 by anti-government radicals in order to assist them in their attempts to overthrow their oppressive government. With the help of his guide Luna Schlosser he finds that the world has changed significantly from the one he once knew.

When one speaks of Woody Allen films, it is common to talk of his `early, funnier films' and his later serious work (although that is beginning to change back recently). Love and Death falls easily into the period of `early funnier films'. The plot here is very loose and is simply an excuse of a series of observations, one liners and set pieces. The comedy is a wonderful mix - there is plenty of slapstick, physical comedy. This is complimented by a huge amount of one liners and witty monologues and a great banana skin joke!

Again Allen is great in his standup persona and Keaton is comfortable and familiar despite not having a great character. The imagination of the script gives plenty of room for Allen's surreal humour - the orgasmatronic booths are good and the robot scene allows him to pay a slight homage to Keaton.

Overall this is yet another example of an `early, funnier' Woody Allen film. It is an excellent comedy on so many levels.