Zelig (1983)

"Documentary" about a man who can look and act like whoever he's around, and meets various famous people.

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen

Stars:

Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Patrick Horgan

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Woody Allen	...	Leonard Zelig
Mia Farrow	...	Dr. Eudora Nesbitt Fletcher
Patrick Horgan	...	The Narrator (voice)
John Buckwalter	...	Dr. Sindell
Marvin Chatinover	...	Glandular Diagnosis Doctor
Stanley Swerdlow	...	Mexican Food Doctor
Paul Nevens	...	Dr. Birsky
Howard Erskine	...	Hypodermic Doctor
George Hamlin	...	Experimental Drugs Doctor
Ralph Bell	...	Other Doctor
Richard Whiting	...	Other Doctor
Will Hussong	...	Other Doctor
Robert Iglesia	...	Man in Barber Chair
Eli Resnick	...	Man in Park
Edward McPhillips	...	Scotsman

Storyline

Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others.

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Plot Keywords:

1920s | newsreel | chameleon | man with glasses | written and directed by cast member | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

15 July 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Identity Crisis and Its Relationship to Personality Disorder

Filming Locations:

Alpine, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$11,800,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

To create authenticity, the production used actual lenses, cameras and sound equipment from the 1920s, and used the exact same lighting that would have been done. In addition, 'Gordon Willis' took the exposed negatives to the shower, and stomped on them.

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Goofs

Last name of Broadway impresario Florenz Ziegfeld is misspelled (Zeigfeld) on title card for Pathe newsreel.

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Quotes

The Narrator: The Ku Klux Klan, who saw Zelig as a Jew, that could turn himself into a Negro and an Indian, saw him as a triple threat.

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Connections

Referenced in Forrest Gump (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Charleston"
(1923)
Music by James P. Johnson
Lyrics by Cecil Mack
Performed by Dick Hyman

User Reviews

Zelig : An exercise in patience.

Only briefly in the past had I heard about this Woody Allen movie,that being only the title and not knowing it was by Woody Allen.

Once again,my local library comes through by attaining a copy of the movie on DVD. With no knowledge of the the story or plot,I watched it the other night.

I did like the idea of a made up documentary about a "human chameleon" who can take the form of others around him as a deeply sub-conscious effort to fit in with others and be accepted. The inclusion of Woody in historical moments is amazing also,given this was accomplished 11 years before being done by Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump.

The comedy on the other hand,some good funny moments and lines but after the first hour,I felt the movie kind of grinding to a halt. Now,that could just be me, for I know others here have given it higher marks. For me,the point had been made and once that was done,it had little left for me to be interested in.

I know Allen can be ingenious in his comedy works,I have seen nearly all of his movies. This one just needed a few more touches of comedic writing and maybe even a little more manic-craziness related with the era Zelig lives in.

So, 6 out of 10. It was good Wood but you've made better before. : END