Play It Again, Sam
Encyclopedia
Play It Again, Sam is a 1972 film written by and starring Woody Allen
, originally entitled Aspirins for Three. The film was directed by Herbert Ross
, which is unusual, as Allen usually directs all his own written work.
The film is about a man obsessed with the film "Casablanca" and the character of Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart
in the film. The film is liberally spread with clips of the film and ghost-like appearances of Rick giving advice on how to treat women.
The film is set in San Francisco but most scenes are indoors.
, with Humphrey Bogart
and Ingrid Bergman
. We then see that it is the main character, Allan Felix, who is watching the film in a cinema, mouth agape. He leaves the cinema regretting that he will never be like Rick.
Apart from apparitions of Bogart he also has frequent flashbacks of conversations with his ex-wife, who constantly belittled his sexual adequacy.
The original play and the movie follow the same lines: Allan Felix (played by Allen) has just been through a messy divorce. His two friends, Linda (Diane Keaton
) and Dick (Tony Roberts
), attempt to convince him to go out with women again, setting him up with a series of blind dates, which all turn out to be unsuitable. He agrees, and throughout the film, he is seen receiving dating advice from the ghost of Humphrey Bogart
(played by Jerry Lacy
), who is visible and audible only to Allan. Allan's ex-wife Nancy (Susan Anspach
) also makes fantasy appearances, as he imagines conversations with her about the breakdown of their marriage. On one occasion, the fantasy seems to run out of control, with both Bogart and Nancy appearing.
As the film goes on we see that, when it comes to women, Allan puts on a false mask. He attempts to become sexy and sophisticated, in particular he tries to be like his idol, Bogart, only to end up ruining his chances by being too clumsy. Eventually, he develops feelings for Linda, around whom he feels relatively at ease and does not feel the need to don the mask.
At the point where he finally makes his move on Linda (aided by comments from Bogart) a vision of his ex-wife appears and shoots Bogart, leaving him without advice. He makes an awkward move. Linda runs off but returns, realising that Allan loves her. "As Time Goes By
" plays as they kiss, with flashes from Casablanca.
However, as she is married to Dick, their relationship is ultimately doomed, just as it was for Rick (Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman
) in the 1942 film, Casablanca
.
Dick comes home early from Cleveland and confides in Allan that he thinks Linda is having an affair. He does not work out that it is Allan, but expresses his love of Linda to him.
The ending is a parody of Casablanca's famous ending. Dick is catching a flight to Cleveland, Linda is chasing after him, and Allan is chasing after Linda. The fog, the aircraft engine start-ups, the trenchcoats worn and the dialogue are all reminiscent of the film, as Allan nobly explains to Linda why she has to go with her husband, rather than staying behind with Allan. Allan says "if that plane leaves the ground and you're not on it, you'll regret it, maybe not today maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life". That is beautiful she says. " It's from Casablanca... I've waited my whole life to say it". His journey is complete. The music from the scene in Casablanca resumes the theme "As Time Goes By
" and the film ends.
.
Dick is a businessman, dealing in real estate. Each time we see him he calls into his office to give a phone number of how to contact him and for how long, and then the next contact number. He is portrayed as obsessed with his work.
Linda is a gentle soul with much in common with Allan, who accepts her husband's lack of attention. She has the same sense of humour as Allan and feels sorry for him. She tells him to just "be himself" as that is who she likes. She wears a hat in most scenes including in the disco. When Allan gives her a gift of a plastic skunk on the beach one day she clearly appreciates it because it is from him.
Nancy, Allan's ex-wife, is a free spirit, constantly criticising Allan. She was married to Allan for two years. When he at one point he meets her in an antique shop she is not the ogre he remembers.
Allan suggests going to the Erich von Stroheim
festival with one of his dates.
Amongst Allan's memorabilia on his wall is a Frank Zappa
handbill: "The World's Greatest Sinner".
The Oscar Peterson
track which Allan puts on (and scratches) is specifically composed by Peterson for the film and is entitled "Blues for Allan Felix".
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
, originally entitled Aspirins for Three. The film was directed by Herbert Ross
Herbert Ross
Herbert Ross was an American film director, producer, choreographer and actor.-Early life and career:Born Herbert David Ross in Brooklyn, New York, he made his stage debut as Third Witch with a touring company of Macbeth in 1942...
, which is unusual, as Allen usually directs all his own written work.
The film is about a man obsessed with the film "Casablanca" and the character of Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
in the film. The film is liberally spread with clips of the film and ghost-like appearances of Rick giving advice on how to treat women.
The film is set in San Francisco but most scenes are indoors.
Plot
The film starts with the closing scenes of CasablancaCasablanca (film)
Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, and featuring Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson. Set during World War II, it focuses on a man torn between, in...
, with Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
and Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute...
. We then see that it is the main character, Allan Felix, who is watching the film in a cinema, mouth agape. He leaves the cinema regretting that he will never be like Rick.
Apart from apparitions of Bogart he also has frequent flashbacks of conversations with his ex-wife, who constantly belittled his sexual adequacy.
The original play and the movie follow the same lines: Allan Felix (played by Allen) has just been through a messy divorce. His two friends, Linda (Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton is an American film actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. Keaton began her career on stage, and made her screen debut in 1970...
) and Dick (Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts (actor)
David Anthony "Tony" Roberts is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in several Woody Allen movies, usually cast as Allen's best friend.-Early life:...
), attempt to convince him to go out with women again, setting him up with a series of blind dates, which all turn out to be unsuitable. He agrees, and throughout the film, he is seen receiving dating advice from the ghost of Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
(played by Jerry Lacy
Jerry Lacy
Gerald LeRoy "Jerry" Lacy is an American soap opera actor best known for playing the roles of Tony Peterson, Reverend Trask, Reverend Gregory Trask, Mr. Trask, and Lamar Trask on the cult TV serial Dark Shadows...
), who is visible and audible only to Allan. Allan's ex-wife Nancy (Susan Anspach
Susan Anspach
-Private life:Anspach was born in New York City and was raised in Queens, New York. She graduated from William Cullen Bryant High School in Long Island City in 1960. Paul Simon was a neighbor. She enrolled in the music department at the Catholic University of America...
) also makes fantasy appearances, as he imagines conversations with her about the breakdown of their marriage. On one occasion, the fantasy seems to run out of control, with both Bogart and Nancy appearing.
As the film goes on we see that, when it comes to women, Allan puts on a false mask. He attempts to become sexy and sophisticated, in particular he tries to be like his idol, Bogart, only to end up ruining his chances by being too clumsy. Eventually, he develops feelings for Linda, around whom he feels relatively at ease and does not feel the need to don the mask.
At the point where he finally makes his move on Linda (aided by comments from Bogart) a vision of his ex-wife appears and shoots Bogart, leaving him without advice. He makes an awkward move. Linda runs off but returns, realising that Allan loves her. "As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By is a British sitcom that aired on BBC One from 1992 to 2005. Starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, it follows the relationship between two former lovers who meet unexpectedly after not having been in contact for 38 years....
" plays as they kiss, with flashes from Casablanca.
However, as she is married to Dick, their relationship is ultimately doomed, just as it was for Rick (Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute...
) in the 1942 film, Casablanca
Casablanca (film)
Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, and featuring Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson. Set during World War II, it focuses on a man torn between, in...
.
Dick comes home early from Cleveland and confides in Allan that he thinks Linda is having an affair. He does not work out that it is Allan, but expresses his love of Linda to him.
The ending is a parody of Casablanca's famous ending. Dick is catching a flight to Cleveland, Linda is chasing after him, and Allan is chasing after Linda. The fog, the aircraft engine start-ups, the trenchcoats worn and the dialogue are all reminiscent of the film, as Allan nobly explains to Linda why she has to go with her husband, rather than staying behind with Allan. Allan says "if that plane leaves the ground and you're not on it, you'll regret it, maybe not today maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life". That is beautiful she says. " It's from Casablanca... I've waited my whole life to say it". His journey is complete. The music from the scene in Casablanca resumes the theme "As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By is a British sitcom that aired on BBC One from 1992 to 2005. Starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, it follows the relationship between two former lovers who meet unexpectedly after not having been in contact for 38 years....
" and the film ends.
Characters
Allan, is allegedly 29 years old. He writes for a film magazine, Film Weekly. He is neurotic, and as interested in antidepressants as in Bogart; a trait shared by Linda (as Dick quips "the two of you should get married and move into a hospital". His favourite artist is Vincent Van GoghVincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh , and used Brabant dialect in his writing; it is therefore likely that he himself pronounced his name with a Brabant accent: , with a voiced V and palatalized G and gh. In France, where much of his work was produced, it is...
.
Dick is a businessman, dealing in real estate. Each time we see him he calls into his office to give a phone number of how to contact him and for how long, and then the next contact number. He is portrayed as obsessed with his work.
Linda is a gentle soul with much in common with Allan, who accepts her husband's lack of attention. She has the same sense of humour as Allan and feels sorry for him. She tells him to just "be himself" as that is who she likes. She wears a hat in most scenes including in the disco. When Allan gives her a gift of a plastic skunk on the beach one day she clearly appreciates it because it is from him.
Nancy, Allan's ex-wife, is a free spirit, constantly criticising Allan. She was married to Allan for two years. When he at one point he meets her in an antique shop she is not the ogre he remembers.
Cast
- Allan Felix - Woody AllenWoody AllenWoody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
- Linda Christie - Diane KeatonDiane KeatonDiane Keaton is an American film actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. Keaton began her career on stage, and made her screen debut in 1970...
- Dick Christie - Tony RobertsTony RobertsTony Roberts may refer to:*Tony Roberts , American actor*Tony Roberts , British author of the Casca series *Tony Roberts , Welsh football player...
- Nancy - Susan AnspachSusan Anspach-Private life:Anspach was born in New York City and was raised in Queens, New York. She graduated from William Cullen Bryant High School in Long Island City in 1960. Paul Simon was a neighbor. She enrolled in the music department at the Catholic University of America...
- Humphrey BogartHumphrey BogartHumphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
- Jerry LacyJerry LacyGerald LeRoy "Jerry" Lacy is an American soap opera actor best known for playing the roles of Tony Peterson, Reverend Trask, Reverend Gregory Trask, Mr. Trask, and Lamar Trask on the cult TV serial Dark Shadows... - Sharon - Jennifer SaltJennifer SaltJennifer Salt is an American producer, screenwriter, and former actress.-Life and career:Salt was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were screenwriter Waldo Salt and actress Mary Davenport; her stepmother was the writer Eve Merriam...
- Julie - Joy Bang
- Jennifer - Viva
- Disco girl - Suzanne Zenor
- Museum girl - Diana Darila
Product Placement
The film is liberally spread with references to or appearances of specific products:- Darvon
- FrescaFrescaFresca is a citrus diet soft drink made by The Coca-Cola Company. First introduced in the United States in 1966, the drink is now sold throughout the American continent...
- Crest toothpaste
- Canoe aftershave
- Lavoris
- MennenMennenMennen is a brand owned in most parts of the world by the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Its most notable product, Mennen Speed Stick, with its fougère perfume and green wide stick, was the market leader among deodorants and antiperspirants for men for many years...
deodorant - Johnson and Johnson baby powder
- Early TimesEarly TimesEarly Times is a brand of Kentucky whisky produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation. The whisky sold under this brand name outside the United States is labelled as bourbon, while most of the brand bottlings sold within the U.S. do not meet the qualifications for marketing as a bourbon and are just...
bourbon - J & B whisky
- Harvey's Bristol Cream
- Coca Cola
- Seven Up
- CoorsCoorsCoors Brewing Company, or Coors, is a division of the Molson Coors Brewing Company.Coors may also refer to:-Companies:*Adolph Coors Company, a former holding company controlled by the heirs of founder Adolph Coors...
beer - De Soto Taxis
- Yellow CabYellow CabThere are many Yellow Cabs taxicab operators around the world . The original Yellow Cab Company, based in Chicago, Illinois is one of the largest taxicab companies in the United States.- History :...
Co. - United AirlinesUnited AirlinesUnited Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
- Plymouth cars
- BudweiserBudweiserBudweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
beer - Fannie FarmerFannie FarmerFannie Merritt Farmer was an American culinary expert whose Boston Cooking-School Cook Book became a widely used culinary text.-Biography:...
- Clover milk
- Band-AidBand-AidBand-Aid is a brand name for Johnson & Johnson's line of adhesive bandages and related products. It has also become a genericized trademark for any adhesive bandage in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India and the United States....
plasters - Trident chewing gum
- The National EnquirerThe National EnquirerThe National Enquirer is an American supermarket tabloid now published by American Media Inc . Founded in 1926, the tabloid has gone through a variety of changes over the years....
- Peptobismol
- PolaroidPolaroidPolaroid is the trademark for a type of synthetic plastic sheet which is used to polarize light, made by Polaroid Corporation.-Patent:The original material, patented in 1929 and further developed in 1932 by Edwin H. Land, consists of many microscopic crystals of iodoquinine sulfate embedded in a...
(referenced as Dick walks into the sea)
Other Film References
Allan has numerous film posters bedecking his walls. Notably the following are evident:- Key LargoKey LargoKey Largo is an island in the upper Florida Keys archipelago and, at long, the largest of the Keys. It is also the northernmost of the Florida Keys in Monroe County, and the northernmost of the Keys connected by U.S. Highway 1...
- Dead ReckoningDead reckoningIn navigation, dead reckoning is the process of calculating one's current position by using a previously determined position, or fix, and advancing that position based upon known or estimated speeds over elapsed time, and course...
- The Trojan WomenThe Trojan WomenThe Trojan Women is a tragedy by the Greek playwright Euripides. Produced during the Peloponnesian War, it is often considered a commentary on the capture of the Aegean island of Melos and the subsequent slaughter and subjugation of its populace by the Athenians earlier in 415 BC , the same year...
(mentioned on his date with Julie) - The Petrified ForestThe Petrified ForestThe Petrified Forest is a 1936 American film, starring Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart. A precursor of film noir, it was adapted from Robert E. Sherwood's 1936 stage play of the same name...
(verbal reference: my sex life is turning into...) - DumboDumboDumbo is a 1941 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released on October 23, 1941, by RKO Radio Pictures.The fourth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, Dumbo is based upon the storyline written by Helen Aberson and illustrated by Harold Pearl for the prototype of a...
(poster in the projectionist's room) - The Big SleepThe Big SleepThe Big Sleep is a hardboiled crime novel by Raymond Chandler, the first in his acclaimed series about detective Philip Marlowe. The work has been adapted twice into film, once in 1946 and again in 1978...
(mentioned as being on The Late ShowThe Late ShowThe Late Show may refer to:* The Late Show , the Australian comedy television show of 1992–1993* The Late Show , a late-night American talk show broadcast by the Fox Network from 1986–1988...
that night) - Francois TruffautFrançois TruffautFrançois Roland Truffaut was an influential film critic and filmmaker and one of the founders of the French New Wave. In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry. He was also a screenwriter, producer, and actor working on over twenty-five...
.. a new Truffaut on at the Regency - "That Ida LupinoIda LupinoIda Lupino was an English-born film actress and director, and a pioneer among women filmmakers. In her 48-year career, she appeared in 59 films and directed seven others, mostly in the United States. She appeared in serial television programmes 58 times and directed 50 other episodes...
Movie" - Across the PacificAcross the PacificAcross the Pacific is a 1942 spy film set on the eve of the entry of the United States into World War II. The film was directed first by John Huston, then by Vincent Sherman after Huston joined the United States Army Signal Corps...
(a huge poster over Allan's bed, with the names Mary AstorMary AstorMary Astor was an American actress. Most remembered for her role as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart, Astor began her long motion picture career as a teenager in the silent movies of the early 1920s.She eventually made a successful transition to talkies, but almost...
and Sydney GreenstreetSydney GreenstreetSydney Hughes Greenstreet was an English actor. He is best known for his Warner Bros. films with Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre, which include The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca .-Biography:...
just above the pillows) - Le Coppie a 1970 Italian film poster shown as Allan speculates on what husbands do in Italian movies
Allan suggests going to the Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim was an Austrian-born film star of the silent era, subsequently noted as an auteur for his directorial work.-Background:...
festival with one of his dates.
Trivia
The choice of the name "Allan" clearly refers to Woody Allen's real name: Allen Stewart Konigsberg.Amongst Allan's memorabilia on his wall is a Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
handbill: "The World's Greatest Sinner".
The Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
track which Allan puts on (and scratches) is specifically composed by Peterson for the film and is entitled "Blues for Allan Felix".