Stardust Memories: Difference between revisions
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Calling it "semi-autobiographical" is subjective and contrary to Allen's own description of the piece and thus presumptuous. |
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'''''Stardust Memories''''' is a [[1980 in film|1980 film]] written and directed by [[Woody Allen]]. Allen considers this to be one of his best films in addition to ''[[The Purple Rose of Cairo]]'' and ''[[Match Point]]''.<ref>{{cite book | first= Eric |last= Lax |authorlink= Eric Lax |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/books/review/Kamp-t.html |title=Conversations With Woody Allen |ISBN= 0-3754-1533-5 |publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf]] |year=2007}}</ref> Considered by some to be an homage to ''[[8½]]'' by [[Federico Fellini]], the film is shot in [[black-and-white]] in the style of Fellini's surrealist films of the 1960s. |
'''''Stardust Memories''''' is a [[1980 in film|1980 film]] written and directed by [[Woody Allen]]. Allen considers this to be one of his best films in addition to ''[[The Purple Rose of Cairo]]'' and ''[[Match Point]]''.<ref>{{cite book | first= Eric |last= Lax |authorlink= Eric Lax |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/books/review/Kamp-t.html |title=Conversations With Woody Allen |ISBN= 0-3754-1533-5 |publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf]] |year=2007}}</ref> Considered by some to be an homage to ''[[8½]]'' by [[Federico Fellini]], the film is shot in [[black-and-white]] in the style of Fellini's surrealist films of the 1960s. |
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It is the story of a famous filmmaker, played by Allen, who is plagued by fans who prefer his "earlier, funnier movies" to his more recent artistic efforts, while he tries to reconcile his conflicting attraction to two very different women, the earnest, intellectual Daisy ([[Jessica Harper]]), and the more maternal Isobel ([[Marie-Christine Barrault]]) while being haunted by memories of his ex-girlfriend, the mercurial Dorrie ([[Charlotte Rampling]]). The conflict between the maternal, nurturing woman and the earnest, usually younger one, is a recurring theme in Allen's films. It was nominated for a [[Writers Guild of America]] award for "Best Comedy written directly for screen". |
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Like many of Allen's films, ''Stardust Memories'' incorporates several jazz recordings and includes classic performances by such jazz notables as [[Louis Armstrong]], [[Django Reinhardt]], and [[Chick Webb]]. |
Like many of Allen's films, ''Stardust Memories'' incorporates several jazz recordings and includes classic performances by such jazz notables as [[Louis Armstrong]], [[Django Reinhardt]], and [[Chick Webb]]. |
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Revision as of 05:59, 30 August 2008
| Stardust Memories | |
|---|---|
 original film poster | |
| Directed by | Woody Allen |
| Written by | Woody Allen |
| Produced by | Charles Joffe |
| Starring | Woody Allen Charlotte Rampling Tony Roberts |
| Edited by | Susan E. Morse |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates | September, 1980 |
Running time | 91 min |
| Language | English |
Stardust Memories is a 1980 film written and directed by Woody Allen. Allen considers this to be one of his best films in addition to The Purple Rose of Cairo and Match Point.[1] Considered by some to be an homage to 8½ by Federico Fellini, the film is shot in black-and-white in the style of Fellini's surrealist films of the 1960s.
It is the story of a famous filmmaker, played by Allen, who is plagued by fans who prefer his "earlier, funnier movies" to his more recent artistic efforts, while he tries to reconcile his conflicting attraction to two very different women, the earnest, intellectual Daisy (Jessica Harper), and the more maternal Isobel (Marie-Christine Barrault) while being haunted by memories of his ex-girlfriend, the mercurial Dorrie (Charlotte Rampling). The conflict between the maternal, nurturing woman and the earnest, usually younger one, is a recurring theme in Allen's films. It was nominated for a Writers Guild of America award for "Best Comedy written directly for screen".
Like many of Allen's films, Stardust Memories incorporates several jazz recordings and includes classic performances by such jazz notables as Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, and Chick Webb.
Cast
The film featured Woody Allen, Charlotte Rampling, Jessica Harper, Marie-Christine Barrault, Daniel Stern, Tony Roberts, Amy Wright, Judith Roberts, and Helen Hanft.
Among the extended cast members were an ingenue named Sharon Stone, in her first film appearance; future political commentator Alan Colmes (Hannity & Colmes, the Fox News Channel), in his first role; a young Brent Spiner, later famous as Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation; Laraine Newman of Saturday Night Live fame; and Allen's ex-wife Louise Lasser.
Critical reception
Prolific online film reviewer Dan Schneider wrote, of Stardust Memories: "...many critics utterly missed the boat on this masterpiece, and some to an even more embarrassing degree than did Roger Ebert. Like him, they too often focused on the things extraneous to the film that they brought, their own ephemeral cultural and personal biases, rather than looking at the film through a more objective filter that valued art for (yes, you know it) art’s sake. Great art perdures whereas culture is a whimsical thing. Something lauded one year becomes déclassé the next, and vice versa. But the elements that constitute a great work of art remain- excellence of craft; a deeper revelation of reality- especially if of something the audience presumes to already know (in this case, Allen’s own personae and politics); and a broad appeal to the intellectual as well as the emotional sides of a viewer."[2]
Controversy
Allen denies that this film is autobiographical and regrets that audiences interpreted it as such.[3]
The film sharply divided both audiences and critics, and to this day it provokes strong reactions, with some Allen fans proclaiming it his best picture and perhaps just as many classing it among his worst.[4][5]
Box office
Stardust Memories opened in North America on September 26, 1980 to on onslaught of bad reviews. At 29 theatres, it grossed $326,779 ($11,268 per screen) in its opening weekend. The film failed to attract more than Woody Allen's loyal fanbase in the long run, and it grossed a modest $10,389,003 by the end of its run. The film's budget was $10 million, so it likely made a profit after foreign revenue was taken into account.[6]
References
- Allen, Woody (1994). Woody Allen on Woody Allen: In Conversation with Stig Björkman. New York: Grove Press. ISBN 0-8021-3425-4.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
- ^ Lax, Eric (2007). Conversations With Woody Allen. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-3754-1533-5.
- ^ Dan Schneider. Alternative Film Guide URL accessed on 27 April, 2008
- ^ Nichols, Mary P. (1998). Reconstructing Woody: Art, Love, and Life in the Films of Woody Allen. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 4. ISBN 0-8476-8990-5.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (September 26, 1980). "The Acid Humor of Woody Allen's 'Stardust Memories'". The New York Times.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Stardust Memories: About the DVD". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Stardust Memories". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
