Play It Again, Sam (1972)

A neurotic film critic obsessed with the movie Casablanca (1942) attempts to get over his wife leaving him by dating again with the help of a married couple and his illusory idol, Humphrey Bogart.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writers:

Woody Allen (based on the play by), Woody Allen (screenplay)

Stars:

Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Woody Allen	...	Allan
Diane Keaton	...	Linda
Tony Roberts	...	Dick
Jerry Lacy	...	Bogart
Susan Anspach	...	Nancy
Jennifer Salt	...	Sharon
Joy Bang	...	Julie
Viva	...	Jennifer
Susanne Zenor	...	Discotheque Girl (as Suzanne Zenor)
Diana Davila	...	Museum Girl
Mari Fletcher	...	Fantasy Sharon
Michael Greene	...	Hood #1
Ted Markland	...	Hood #2

Storyline

A mild mannered film critic is dumped by his wife and his ego is crushed. His hero persona is the tough guy played by Humphrey Bogart in many of his movies and the apparition of Bogart begins showing up to give him advice. With the encouragement of his two married friends, he actually tries dating again, with less than satisfactory results, until he relaxes.

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Plot Keywords:

dating | neurosis | imaginary friend | san francisco california | based on play | 

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Taglines:

Here's laughing at you, kid.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

5 May 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Play It Again, Sam

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,413

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Rollins-Joffe Productions, APJAC Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In September 1972, Paramount was widely distributing this on a double bill with another comedy, Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972).

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Goofs

Bogart, Scott are not in "Play It Again, Sam." Does tthis comment even belong here? We refer to stray comment in "goofs."

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Quotes

[first lines]
[clip from 'Casablanca']
Airport guard: Hello, radio tower, Lisbon plane taking off in ten minutes, east runway. Thank you.
Richard 'Rick' Blaine: Louis, have your man go with Mr. Lazlo and take care of his luggage.
Captain Renault: Certainly, Rick, anything you say. Find Mr. Lazlo's luggage and put it on the plane.
Airport guard: Yes, sir. This way please.

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Alternate Versions

The long-lost "Making Of Play It Again, Sam" featurette included a cut scene of Woody watching a mini-skirted girl climb a ladder in his film magazine office. The still of this scene was used on many foreign posters for the film.

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Connections

Edited into The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)

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Soundtracks

Casablanca
from Casablanca (1942) (uncredited)
Incidental music by Max Steiner

User Reviews

one of Woody's best

Perhaps Woody's best effort in his 'neurotic schlep' persona. The script is a comic whirlwind, with too many brilliant scenes to enumerate (I can't resist mentioning the blind date's arrival - the desperate preparations and the pathetic introduction are funny but painful, in that we have all been in that position; his demonstration of authentic Chinese rice-eating technique is another classic). The device of the imaginary Bogart alter ego works well, especially in the climactic scene with Diane Keaton. In my book this ranks with Sleeper, Manhattan, and Annie Hall as Woody's best films.