Alice (1990)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

10 January 1991 (Argentina)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

A spoiled Manhattan housewife re-evaluates her life after visiting a Chinatown healer.

Plot Keywords:

Muse | Guilt | Catholic | Gossip | Homemaker

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 26

4:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Mia Farrow	...	Alice Tate
Alec Baldwin	...	Ed
Blythe Danner	...	Dorothy
Judy Davis	...	Vicki
William Hurt	...	Doug Tate
Keye Luke	...	Dr. Yang
Joe Mantegna	...	Joe
Bernadette Peters	...	Muse
Cybill Shepherd	...	Nancy Brill
Gwen Verdon	...	Alice's Mother
Patrick O'Neal	...	Alice's Father
Holland Taylor	...	Helen
Julie Kavner	...	Decorator
June Squibb	...	Hilda
Marceline Hugot	...	Monica

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (Mono)

Certification:

Australia:PG | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Iceland:L | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | UK:12 (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (1991) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Barbetta Restaurant - 321 W. 46th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Cameo: [Lisa Marie]Making her debut as a guest at the office Christmas party.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Thelonious Monk's version of "Darn That Dream" appears on the soundtrack, the LP sleeve of "Monk's Dream" is shown, implying that Alice and Joe are listening to it. However the tune is not featured on that album.

Quotes:

Alice: But then when dad died you drank yourself to death with, with margaritas.
Alice's Mother: I couldn't help it darling. You know I couldn't resist the taste of salt around the rim of a glass.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Caravan

One of Woody's best

I think Woody Allen's 'Alice' is one of his most under-rated creations. This movie comes from his glory days before the scandal with his adopted daughter eclipsed his U.S. career.

Here is vintage Woody. A fecund imagination married to a masterful story-telling talent.

Like 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' (his masterpiece in my estimation) this is pure fantasy and it is delightful. Mia Farrow has done nothing finer, equal to her portrayal in Polanski's 'Rosemary's Baby' though of a completely different genre.

The little socio-political messages do not interfere with what is otherwise a nifty little love story between Alice and Joe Mantagna. Things don't quite work out in the end, as is usual in a Woody movie, but they are on the border of real-life possibility and add the bittersweet note that he is so good at.

I love this movie. It is not one of his rocking comedies like 'Broadway Danny Rose' but is a sweet vignette. It has overtones of 'Diary of Mad Housewife' but with a happier ending, for the housewife anyway.

The scenes with Keye Luke, Alice's magical Eastern physician are subtle and funny. The fantasy scenes with Alec Baldwin's dead lover and the wonderful Bernadette Peters' muse are enchanting. Peters' Bronx-like muse is especially funny.

Don't miss it.