Woody Allen: filmography. The best films by Woody Allen. Woody Allen's Films

Woody Allen was born in 1935 in New York. At that time, the phrase "intellectual comedy" was strange and more uncharacteristic for the elite. If we turn to history, we will see that all the comedies that were filmed at that time were simple and understandable to everyone, regardless of the level of education. For intelligent personalities, they shot an intelligent, but rather boring cinema. And it was understandable, because joking, arguing about the "high", was not accepted. For this reason, there was not a single comedian. And so it went on until until the talented, but unattractive and slightly clumsy Woody Allen appeared.

Woody Allen's childhood

Woody Allen grew up in a Jewish family. His father worked as a waiter and engraver of jewelry, and his mother - an accountant in a pastry shop. In school years, humorous nature did not show much. Woody Allen, and at that time Allen Stuart Konigsberg, was fond of baseball and card tricks. His talent will manifest later, but already in his youth he came up with a well-known pseudonym. He himself claims that he called himself so because of constant beatings in international summer camps (Woody translates as wooden). But most likely, the pseudonym appeared thanks to a jazz saxophonist and clarinetist Woody Herman.

Carier start

Looking at the current intellectual Woody Allen, it's hard to believe that he started with works of gags in the style of the Marx brothers (a comedy quartet in the US that specialized in "rough comedy" with fights, slaps, falls, flirting). But at the beginning of the career, it was not necessary to choose especially, because it was necessary to make our way further and somehow survive in this complex world.

Life in New York

Now Hollywood loves Woody Allen, forgiving him constant malice, tirelessly nominating for the Oscars. But to everyone's recognition Woody Allen walked long enough. Moving to New York as a twenty-year-old young man with a 16-year-old wife, he had no money, no connections, no education. Parents did not approve of this step and decidedly refused to help the young family. So it was necessary to start not with the filming of the film, but with creating jokes for popular at that time comedians - Bob Hope and Buddy Hackett.

Hard work helped to achieve the increase, and in 1957 Woody Allen became the editor of the TV show. Now he not only composed the texts, but also acted as an actor. The first success came to him at performances in expensive restaurants. The ingenious and jokey jokes of an unpretentious young guy seemed to suit the audience. He was holding on like he was on the stage by chance, and all his remarks were impromptu. Unsuspecting viewers did not realize that all speeches had been worked out to the last detail. In real life, Allen never was indecisive. On the contrary, it has a firm, and even despotic character. You can imagine how disappointed the wife of Woody Allen, who demanded of her sterile cleanliness in the house, a certain menu. To all this, she constantly had to listen to snide comments about everything that she did. The result was obvious - in the late 60's Harlin filed for divorce, demanding material compensation for the constant ridicule.

First Fame

By that time in the cinema, many already knew who Woody Allen was. Filmography consisted of several films in which he participated as a screenwriter or actor. We are talking about such films as "Casino Royal", "Grab money and run." All this is a parody of famous films about bank robbers. Allen did not try to find himself in other genres, because he always knew that his purpose was to create comic and ironic pictures.

The peak of his career - the 70s

The next decade for Allen was a period of travesties. At this time there were such pictures as "Love and Death", "Sleeping", "Everything you always wanted to know about sex, but were afraid." Of course, the films quickly found their audience, and many were eagerly awaiting new works. And the famous screenwriter did not force his fans to wait for a long time, as a result of which the list of Woody Allen films was rapidly replenished. It seemed that he lives on the set and has neither a personal life, nor other interests.

Personal life

But Allen's time was enough for everything: both for shooting, and for playing the clarinet, and for constant clarification of relations with their wives, which was quite a lot. After Harlin's departure, Paulina Kael, a great admirer of his work and well-known critic of cinematography, occupied his free place. But her patience was enough for only a few years, after which she broke with a scandal with Woody Allen. She did not appreciate his talent, because in return he did not give her anything. Allen, in turn, quickly began a relationship with the actress Louise Lasser (photo below).

Despite the fact that she tried to indulge all his interests, to create a cozy home, not to cause discontent and ridicule, after a while he still went to another woman - Diane Keaton. He did not appreciate Louise's efforts and, moreover, was not interested in her as a woman. It is likely that it was with Diane Keaton that the best films by Woody Allen appeared - Interiors, Annie Hall, Manhattan.

The painting "Annie Hall" was not just a parody, but an ironic reproduction of one's own life. It is from this film that the director has his own style, as they call Hollywood - "Allenism." All subsequent paintings were recognized by his "handwriting," while none of them looked like the other. So do not all directors are able to create pictures in their own style, without repeating.

Film Academy was subdued, because Allen immediately received three Oscar awards, and Keaton received the award for the main female role. But at the ceremony the director did not appear, as he was engaged in a more interesting affair - playing the clarinet.

Loud scandal with Mia Fara

The romance with Diane lasted eight years, until she went to the attractive Warren Beatty. Allen calmly endured parting and almost immediately began to look after himself a new muse, which became Mia Farra.

Mia even before the meeting with Allen was completely disappointed in men. All her previous marriages and divorces caused a noisy discussion in the press, and any step immediately became known to everyone. As the actress admitted, she considered meeting with Woody proof that men can be trusted. And how could it be otherwise, if he continually admired her personality, beauty and talent. From this moment, a new Woody Allen appeared. Filmography was replenished with 13 paintings, including "Purple Rose of Cairo", "Zelig", "Hannah and Her Sisters". The couple's civil marriage lasted 11 years, and Mia even resigned herself to many of Allen's shortcomings.

So, they rented different apartments, but not far enough from each other. Idyll was broken when Mia came before the appointed time and herself went into the apartment. She did not find Allen with his mistress, as it happens in the classics of the genre. Looking at the documents on the table, she found pictures of Sun Yi's eldest adopted daughter, which was filmed in indecent poses. Allen also did not think to deny, and even cynically suggested to remain friends and continue cooperation. But Mia, for obvious reasons, did not want to know the former lover. Finished in the film "Husbands and wives", she refused to play the role in the tape "Mysterious murder in Manhattan."

But the anger at the ex-husband did not fade so easily, because of what Mia sued Allen, accusing him of molesting a five-year-old daughter, after which she tried to deprive him of his parental rights to his own son. All these attempts were unsuccessful. Gradually the anger subsided, and Mia stopped trying to harm Allen. Woody himself very easily got out of this unpleasant story. A few years later, he married Sun Yi, tying with psychoanalysis.

According to him, he found his love and now does not need help. As a screenwriter and director, he is still prolific. Despite such scandals, Hollywood did not cross out the name "Woody Allen" from his list. Filmography was still replenished, and many actors were ready to withdraw from him for free. The situation has not changed today. Unlike many directors of the 70s, Allen "did not run out" in creative terms and did not lose originality, sense of style and original humor.

The comedy of Allen - his description

He is no longer young, but still occupies the position of the king of copyright and non-commercial cinema. For the west, the icon of this genre is Woody Allen. The best films, he said, were filmed about him. At the same time, many of the characters are completely different from him. But if you look at one of his latest films - "Sweet and Ugly", then in the main character you'll see many of the features that distinguish Woody Allen. Filmography for all the years of his work has more than 50 works. Among the latter one can name such paintings as "Blue Jasmine", "Roman Adventures", "Midnight in Paris", "You Will Meet a Mysterious Stranger", "What Will Be," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".

Interesting Facts

• In 1969, Allen was recognized as the best comediographer in America, and the popularity was so great that his photo appeared on the cover of the famous magazine Life.
• In 1977, the painting "Annie Hall" was awarded four awards "Oscar".
• In 1978, Allen was awarded the O'Henry Award for the story "The Case of Kugelmass."
• In 1986, Allen received the Golden Globe Award for his painting Cairo's Purple Rose.

In addition to numerous awards, there were other interesting awards that Woody Allen received. The best that could prove his talent was recognition as one of the best comedians of all time. By results of voting it has taken the third place after Peter Cook and John Kliz.

In addition, in 2007, a monument to Woody Allen was opened in Kaliningrad. A sculpture in the form of a director's glasses was installed in the lobby of one of the cinemas.

Filmography

In addition to many directorial works, during the years of his creative work, Allen took part as an actor in a large number of paintings. So, the last film by Woody Allen is "Barcelona", shot in 3D format. The movie will be released in 2014.

Other films with Woody Allen, filmed in the new millennium:

• «In pieces», 2000.
• "Small Scammers", 2000.
• "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion", 2001.
• The Hollywood Finale, 2002.
• "Something else", 2003.
• "Sensation", 2006.
• "Roman Adventures", 2012.
• "Under the mask of a gigolo", 2013.