Saturday 18 July 2015

Radio Days (1987 Woody Allen & scr)

Packaged like a series of vignettes loosely based around 30s and 40s US radio, film in fact is one of Woody's more personal stories (the father who has an unknown job, the parents who are always arguing, the family atmosphere).

Is it also the only WA with both Mia Farrow (in Judy Holliday voice mode) and Diane Keaton? Great cast includes Wallace Shawn, Diane Weist, Julie Kavner, Michael Tucker, Jeff Daniels, Seth Green (playing the young WA), Tony Roberts (and the irreligious next door neighbour is Larry David!). It's shot by Carlo di Palma and is one of Woody's bigger budget films.

Watched it initially on 2 March 1988 and then on 3 September 1993, when I offered this comment: "Richly characterised story within anecdotal framework. A subtle and deceptive work' - most impressive. Indeed the moment where the boy's father goes from smacking him to holding his head is one of the tenderest things in any Woody Allen film and it's the story of the trapped girl that gives it its emotional depth.

Oh yes, it's very funny too, from opening story of burglars who answer the phone and it's 'Name that tune'.

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