Stardust Memories (1980)

While attending a retrospect of his work, a filmmaker recalls his life and his loves: the inspirations for his films.

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen

Stars:

Woody Allen, Charlotte Rampling, Jessica Harper

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Woody Allen	...	Sandy Bates
Charlotte Rampling	...	Dorrie
Jessica Harper	...	Daisy
Marie-Christine Barrault	...	Isobel
Tony Roberts	...	Tony
Daniel Stern	...	Actor
Amy Wright	...	Shelley - Sandy's Bed Hopper
Helen Hanft	...	Vivian Orkin
John Rothman	...	Jack Abel
Anne De Salvo	...	Sandy's Sister
Joan Neuman	...	Sandy's Mother
Ken Chapin	...	Sandy's Father
Leonardo Cimino	...	Sandy's Analyst
Eli Mintz	...	Old Man
Bob Maroff	...	Jerry Abraham

Storyline

Sandy Bates, a successful filmmaker, attends a festival conducted to honor his work. During the course of the weekend he reconsiders his cinematic accomplishments as well as his past relationships.

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Plot Keywords:

weekend | filmmaking | hotel | fan | film industry | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Recuerdos

Filming Locations:

Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rollins-Joffe Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It has been noted that this film is an homage to _8 1/2 (1963)_. Counting What's Up, Tiger Lily? as only half a film (because Allen only supplied a new soundtrack to an otherwise completed film), Woody Allen had completed 8 1/2 films before this one.

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Quotes

Fan in Lobby: Can I talk to you about an idea for a film I have?
Sandy Bates: This is not the place.
Fan in Lobby: Do you have a moment, please? It's a comedy based on that whole Guyana mass suicide.

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Connections

Features Bicycle Thieves (1948)

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Soundtracks

"Tickletoe"
(1940)
Music by Lester Young
Performed by Lester Young with Count Basie and His Orchestra
Courtesy of CBS Records

User Reviews

Interesting, and profound, but surprisingly misunderstood.

It seems that Stardust Memories does not get the credit that it truly deserves. Everyone has such distaste for this film because they thought that this was an autobiography and it was Woody's attack on his fans/critics. Woody himself has said many times that this is not the case, but even if it were, I believe that the fans/critics deserve to be lowered down a peg. After all, Woody's interpretation of his fans (via Fellini's style of awkward and hilarious faces) is valid. Fans and critics alike should never have verbally abused him so much after the release of Interiors (1978). Why should directors be type-casted? Let him have his freedom! After all, Interiors wasn't such a bad movie. It was different, but not bad. Stardust Memories has also been accused of Woody's most self-indulgent film, but this is an outrage. All of Woody's films have something to do with his personal life, but if he had casted someone like John Cusack as Sandy Bates, then everyone would have stopped complaining about it's self-indulgence and start understanding how much of a creative genius Woody Allen is. Overall, Stardust Memories will be one of his films that lasts; but only time will tell.