by David C. Terr

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Title: Play It Again, Sam

Director: Herbert Ross

Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Jerry Lacy

Release Date: May 4, 1972

Running Time: 85 min

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Commentary
Play It Again, Sam is a very funny movie starring (but not directed by) Woody Allen. It's a bit of a spoof of Casablanca, especially Woody's rendition of Bogart's speech outside at the airport in the fog at the end of the film. Woody is a scream in his role as Allen Felix, a very nervous and klutzy divorce who's trying to get back into the dating game. Jerry Lacy also performs a very good impersonation of Bogie. As with nearly all of his early films, Woody lets his comic genius shine through in this one.

Plot Summary
Allen Felix (Woody Allen) is heartbroken by his wife, who divorces him because he's no fun. His friends Linda (Diane Keaton) and Dick (Tony Roberts) convince him to start dating again. He goes out on several ill-fated dates, wearing a mask each time and pretending to be like Humphrey Bogart, his idol. With each failure, he finds himself getting closer and closer to Linda. Bogart's ghost (Jerry Lacy) appears to him several times during the movie to give him advice. Eventually he falls in love with Linda and ends up seducing her. Put off at first, she comes around to falling in love with him as well. The two have an affair for awhile. Meanwhile, Dick suspects his wife of cheating but doesn't suspect Allen. Eventually Linda realizes that she's really in love with her husband Dick and they end up flying together to Cleveland. The movie ends with a scene very reminiscent of the end of Casablanca, with Allen giving basically the same speech to Linda and Dick as they board the plane as Bogart gives at the end of Casablanca. Allen loses Linda but he gains enough self-confidence that he no longer needs Bogart's ghost to help him.

Cultural Significance
Play It Again, Sam is much like several other of Woody Allen's early movies, the ones I particularly enjoy. Woody illustrates the lighter side of his humor in this movie as well as many of his other early films, such as Take the Money and Run, Bananas, and Sleeper. Like all of his movies, Play It Again, Sam has a serious message as well, which is that no matter how awkward you are, by just being yourself you can be successful.

Movie Clips

Here's a scene in which Allen gets turned down by a nymphomaniac.

Here's a funny scene in which Allen tries to pick up a depressed woman in an art museum.