Deconstructing Harry (1997)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

12 December 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Harry Block wrote a bestseller about his best friends. Now, his best friends are about to become his worst enemies.

Plot:

Suffering from writer's block and eagerly awaiting his writing award, Harry Block remembers events from his past and scenes from his best-selling books as characters, real and fictional, come back to haunt him.

Plot Keywords:

Writer's Block | Writing | Novelist | Marriage | Voice Over Narration

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Judy Davis	...	Lucy
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	...	Leslie
Stephanie Roth Haberle	...	Janet (as Stephanie Roth)
Dan Frazer	...	Janet's Dad
Joel Leffert	...	Norman
Lynn Cohen	...	Janet's Mom
Richard Benjamin	...	Ken
Joe Buck	...	Yankee Announcer (voice)
Jane Hoffman	...	Grandma
Woody Allen	...	Harry Block
Tobey Maguire	...	Harvey Stern
Annette Arnold	...	Rosalee
Frederick Rolf	...	Harvey's Doctor
Elisabeth Kieselstein-Cord	...	Rosalee's Sister
Lortensia Hayes	...	Jennifer
Alicia Meer	...	Woman in Shoestore
Victoria Hale	...	Woman in Shoestore
Irving Metzman	...	Shoe Salesman
Sunny Chae	...	Lily Chang
Ralph Pope	...	Death
Robert Harper	...	Harry's Doctor
Tony Darrow	...	Camera Operator
Jonathan LaPaglia	...	First Assistant Cameraperson
Jeff Mazzola	...	Second Assistant Cameraperson
Timothy Jerome	...	Director
Peter Castellotti	...	Crew Member (as Pete Castellotti)
Robin Williams	...	Mel
Judy Bauerlein	...	Actress
Joseph P. Reidy	...	First Assistant Director (as Joseph Reidy)
Phyllis Burdoe	...	Script Supervisor / Harry's Character
Julie Kavner	...	Grace
Barbara Hollander	...	Mel's Daughter
Adam Rose	...	Mel's Son
David S. Howard	...	Mel's Doctor
Kirstie Alley	...	Joan
Eric Lloyd	...	Hilly
Mariel Hemingway	...	Beth Kramer
Amanda Barudin	...	Beth Kramer's Daughter
Demi Moore	...	Helen
Stanley Tucci	...	Paul Epstein
Juliet Gelfman-Randazzo	...	Baby Hilly
Floyd Resnick	...	Israeli Patient
Bob Balaban	...	Richard
Brian McConnachie	...	Dr. Reese
Elisabeth Shue	...	Fay
Peter Jacobson	...	Goldberg
Tracey Lynne Miller	...	Goldberg's Girlfriend
Hazelle Goodman	...	Cookie
Amy Irving	...	Jane
Jennifer Garner	...	Woman in Elevator
Caroline Aaron	...	Doris
Eric Bogosian	...	Burt
Irwin Charone	...	Bar Mitzvah Host
Hy Anzell	...	Max
Shifra Lerer	...	Dolly
John Doumanian	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest
Alexa Aronson	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest
Kenneth Edelson	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest
Viola Harris	...	Elsie
Si Picker	...	Wolf Fishbein
Howard Spiegel	...	Mr. Farber
Billy Crystal	...	Larry / The Devil
Eugene Troobnick	...	Professor Wiggins
Scotty Bloch	...	Ms. Paley
Ray Aranha	...	Professor Aranha
Paul Giamatti	...	Professor Abbott
Marvin Chatinover	...	Professor Cole
Daniel Wolf	...	Professor Wolf
Waltrudis Buck	...	Dean of Adair University
Philip Bosco	...	Professor Clark
Arden Myrin	...	Student Mary
Daisy Prince	...	Elevator Voice (voice)
Peter McRobbie	...	Damned Man
Gene Saks	...	Harry's Father
Dan Moran	...	Devil
Ray Garvey	...	Policeman on Campus
Linda Perri	...	Policewoman on Campus
Tony Sirico	...	Policeman at Jail
Jerry Bruno	...	Electric Bass: Stebbins Hall Band
Ray Cohen	...	Piano: Stebbins Hall Band
Michael Manishor	...	Piano: Stebbins Hall Band
Dave Stettner	...	Trumpet: Stebbins Hall Band
Sid Jenkowsky	...	Saxophone & Clarinet: Stebbins Hall Band
Bobby Shankin	...	Drums: Stebbins Hall Band
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Max Chalawsky	...	Mendel Birnbaum (scenes deleted)
Dana Eshghi	...	Student on Campus
Chris Bauer	...	(uncredited)
Mitchell Bloom	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest (uncredited)
Vernon Campbell	...	Guard (uncredited)
Brett Glazer	...	Student (uncredited)
Katie Piel	...	Student #2 (uncredited)
Tim Realbuto	...	Boy at Bar Mitzvah (uncredited)
Elisabeth Röhm	...	(uncredited)
David Sontag	...	Satan's Helper (uncredited)
Todd Stockman	...	Father (uncredited)
Matilda Szydagis	...	College Student (uncredited)
Jovanna Vitiello	...	Actress (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Letty Aronson	....	co-executive producer
J.E. Beaucaire	....	executive producer
Richard Brick	....	co-producer
Jean Doumanian	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	co-executive producer
Jack Rollins	....	co-executive producer

Cinematography by
Carlo Di Palma		(director of photography) (as Carlo DiPalma)

Film Editing by
Susan E. Morse

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Tom Warren

Set Decoration by
Susan Kaufman
Elaine O'Donnell

Costume Design by
Suzy Benzinger

Makeup Department
Margot Boccia	....	make-up
Romaine Greene	....	hair
Peggy Nicholson	....	hair
Rosemary Zurlo	....	make-up (as Rosemarie Zurlo)
Linda Lazar	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Charles Darby	....	production manager
Linda Saffire	....	post production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stacey Beneville	....	dga trainee
Richard Patrick	....	first assistant director
Lisa M. Rowe	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Daniel K. Grosso	....	set dresser
Vincent Guarriello	....	chief construction grip
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department coordinator
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator
Cliff Schorr	....	standby scenic artist
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist
Mark Bachman	....	principal signwriter (uncredited)
Daniel Fisher	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Beth Kuhn	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Eric Lewin	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ronnie Petagna	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Brett Pransky	....	art crew (uncredited)

Sound Department
Nancy Allen	....	assistant sound editor
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Benjamin Cheah	....	assistant sound editor (as Ben Cheah)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Lee Dichter	....	re-recording mixer: Sound One Corp.
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor (as Bob Hein)
Bradford L. Hohle	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Toussaint Kotright	....	cable man
Les Lazarowitz	....	production sound mixer
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
Anthony Ortiz	....	boom operator
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
David Wahnon	....	assistant sound editor
Dustin DuPilka	....	assistant foley artist (uncredited)
V.B. Paravati	....	dailies transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bill Hansard	....	projected fx: HEI
John Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Katharine Baird	....	digital roto artist: ILM (as Katherine C. Baird)
Cathy Burrows	....	digital roto artist: ILM (as Cathy M. Burrow)
Tami Carter	....	digital rotoscope artist: ILM
Camille Geier	....	visual effects producer: ILM (as Camille Pirolo Geier)
Greg Hyman	....	visual effects editor: ILM
Janet Lewin	....	visual effects coordinator: ILM
Greg Maloney	....	digital compositor: ILM
Terry Molatore	....	lead roto artist: ILM (as Terry Sittig-Molatore)
Dennis Muren	....	creative advisor: ILM
Joshua Pines	....	scanning supervisor: ILM
Thomas Rosseter	....	visual effects supervisor: ILM (as Tom Rosseter)
Kenneth Smith	....	digital timing supervisor: ILM

Camera and Electrical Department
David E. Baron	....	second assistant cameraperson (as David Baron)
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Jack Coffen	....	best boy electric
Edward J. Egan III	....	best boy grip
Michael Green	....	camera operator
A. Lee Morris	....	camera trainee
Gary Muller	....	first assistant cameraperson
Michael Proscia Jr.	....	gaffer
Robert Ward	....	key grip (as Bob Ward)
Deborah Brozina	....	second assistant camera: re-shoots (uncredited)
Howard J. Cournoyer	....	moving light operator (uncredited)
Chris Hammond	....	electrician (uncredited)
Wayne Paull	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Phillip Todd	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Fleet Emerson	....	extras casting: Sylvia Fay Casting
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto	....	casting associate (as Patricia Kerrigan)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lars Andersen	....	assistant costume designer
Patrick Chevillot	....	assistant costume designer
Kevin P. Faherty	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Kevin Faherty)
Juliet Ouyoung	....	assistant costume designer
Melissa Stanton	....	wardrobe supervisor
Debra Tennenbaum	....	assistant costume designer
Mitchell Bloom	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)
Rosemary Lepre	....	costume assistant (uncredited)
Kay Michaels	....	costume dyer (uncredited)
Roseann Milano	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Jamal El-Amin	....	apprentice editor
William Kruzykowski	....	assistant film editor
Mark Livolsi	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Carmel Malin	....	musicians coordinator
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances

Transportation Department
Edward Iacobelli	....	transportation captain (as Ed 'Ack' Iacobelli)

Other crew
Jenn Blais	....	set production assistant
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
David DiCerto	....	assistant to: Mr. Brick
Drew Dillard	....	location manager
Bronwen Epstein	....	assistant production coordinator
Joe Facey	....	craft service
Michael P. Fox	....	production secretary
Lauren Gibson	....	assistant to: Mr. Allen (as Lauren Gibson Chapin)
Ken Halsband	....	location scout (as Kenneth Halsband)
Shell Hecht	....	production coordinator
Diane Howells	....	location assistant
Pietro Lorino Jr.	....	assistant production auditor
John Mingalone	....	set production assistant
Andy Muller	....	set production assistant
Murphy Occhino	....	set production assistant
Justin Reinsilber	....	location assistant
Shea Rowan	....	set production assistant
Marcy Shaffer	....	location assistant
Joan Stein	....	producing intern
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Craig Ulmschneider	....	set production assistant
Steven Weisberg	....	office assistant
Kathy Welch	....	production auditor
Tom Yeager	....	location scout (as Thomas Yeager)
Joseph Zolfo	....	location scout
Eric Kopeloff	....	assistant: Ms. Morse (uncredited)
Michelle Rouhani	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeremy Strong	....	production intern (uncredited)
Eric Yellin	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Greg Johnson	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank

Production Companies

• Sweetland Films
• Jean Doumanian Productions (as A Jean Doumanian Production)

Distributors

• Fine Line Features (1997) (USA) (theatrical) (as FineLine Features) (A Time Warner Compnay)
• Spentzos Films (1997) (Greece) (all media)
• Lider Films (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• New Line Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Laurenfilm (2000) (Spain) (DVD)
• Emerald (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (Switzerland)
• Bac Films (France)
• Budapest Film (Hungary)
• Buena Vista International
• Comedy Central (2009) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (UK) (DVD)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (UK) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bangladesh) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bhutan) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (India) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Maldives) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Nepal) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Pakistan) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Sri Lanka) (TV)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special visual effects) (as Industrial Light & Magic, Marin County, CA)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services, Inc.)
• Exposures  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  vintage clothing rentals (uncredited)
• J.G. Films  negative matching (as J.G. Films, Inc.)
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• On Location Education  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• REI Media Group  titles (as REI Media Group, NY)
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording
• Sylvia Fay Casting  extras casting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some sexuality

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (Mono)

Certification:

Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:12 | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 (original rating) | Argentina:Atp (re-rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #35383) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Sweetland Films

Trivia:

Albert Brooks was the last actor to be offered the role of Harry. In an interview with Playboy magazine, he stated that he received a nice letter from Woody Allen offering him the role. Brooks responded, "It was insane that [Allen] didn't do it himself." Apparently, Woody took his advice.

Quotes:

Doris:You have no values. With you its all nihilism, cynicism, sarcasm, and orgasm.
Harry Block:Hey, in France I could run for office with that slogan, and win!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The King of Queens: Deconstructing Carrie (#7.15)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

All the Things You Are

One of Allen's Best

Just as I've found a newfound appreciation for Elvis Costello, I've likewise opened my heart to Woody Allen (my New Year's resolution: be nicer to nerdy art-types). I even saw Deconstructing Harry twice, (after which I read a Woody Allen collection of short pieces and rented both Bananas and Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex). Hey, what can I say – I thought The Purple Rose Of Cairo might've been a fluke, but I guess I'm just a Woody Allen fan now.

Deconstructing Harry is laugh-out-loud funny, tracing the steps of Harry Block, a neurotic, foul-mouthed, Jewish, self-hating, pill-popping, womanizing alcoholic (three wives and six therapists later) that oddly enough, resembles Woody Allen and his own life (give or take a few things). Block has (giggle) writer's block, and can't write about his life. As a result, he becomes `unfocused,' entangling himself in fact and fiction (i.e. he interacts with his own characters). `You expect the world to adjust to the distortion you've become,' Harry's analyst tells him. What follows is a series of skits that interact with the past and present and the real and imagined – it's kind of like watching a Kurt Vonnegut story edited by Quentin Tarentino.

The all-star cast is phenomenal: Robin Williams is hilarious, Kirstie Alley is hysterically funny, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is super-sexy and Elizabeth Shue is as sweet as sugar. Billy Crystal even pulls off a good role as the Devil. But other than the characterization, Woody's new flick is witty, cold-hearted, extremely vulgar, often tasteless and perfectly profane with enough catch-lines to keep film buffs cracking for years (`I always keep a little hooker money around'). Hannah And Her Sisters this ain't!