Play It Again, Sam **** (1972, Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Jerry Lacy, Viva) – Classic Movie Review 2079

Director Herbert Ross’s 1972 comedy showcases screenwriter Woody Allen’s captivating reworking of his own stage play – a rarity for him. It is one of Allen’s funniest movies.

Allen also stars himself as Allan Felix, a mild-mannered, nervous film critic who is dumped by his wife and tries to get over it by dating again with the encouragement of his two married friends and his tough guy alter ego, Humphrey Bogart. Bogart appears in many of his movies (cue integrated archive footage) and the apparition of the star (played by Bogart lookalike Jerry Lacy) begins showing up to give him advice.

This traditional film comedy vehicle slightly betrays its theatre roots, but that doesn’t really matter when there are so many guaranteed laughs for Allen’s many admirers, Bogart and Ingrid Bergman fans (as Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund from Casablanca of course) and lovers of polished comedy movies.

Allen’s on top funny form as star performer and the rest of the cast play it again perfectly, with Allen movie regulars Diane Keaton and Tony Roberts as the married friends Linda and Dick Christie.

Also in the cast are Susan Anspach, Jennifer Salt, Joy Bang, Viva, Mari Fletcher. Susanne Zenor, Diana Davila, Michael Greene, Ted Markland and Tom Bullock.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2079

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