Annie Hall (1 Viewer)

[titch]

As there never was a dedicated release thread, when the blu-ray was released eons ago, I thought I'd post this great article about how the film was edited down from an unusable two hours and 20 minutes into one of the all-time classic movies.

Since I saw a tantalising still picture of an unused scene in Danny Peary's Cult Movies 3 in 1988 (the "Descent into hell" scene), I've always been curious about the original, unedited screenplay (which I've never read). That the film was completely changed in the editing room and during post-production, to focus on the relationship between the two main characters, is well-known. This article details specifically a lot of what was cut from what was a stream-of-consciousness screenplay, to re-shoots and how, essentially, the editors made the film.

There's always a bunch of the "more is more", who seem to think everything that was shot, represents the "Director's Cut" and that including deleted scenes or storylines makes for a better movie (e.g. Cinema Paradiso). This is one example of how cutting a film makes a movie, when not even the screenwriter or director has a clue about how to make what they shot, into a coherent story.

Naturally, fans would dearly love to have a new release with the cut scenes and with a commentary, but we know that won't happen.

"Annie Hall" Wasn't the Movie Woody Allen Set Out to Make. It Turned Out Much Better.

How Allen and his team turned an unusable first cut into one of the few comedies to ever win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

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Amazon.com

 

[compson]

There's always a bunch of the "more is more", who seem to think everything that was shot, represents the "Director's Cut" and that including deleted scenes or storylines makes for a better movie (e.g. Cinema Paradiso).

I don’t want to hijack your thread, but you brought it up. If you’re suggesting that restoring Tornatore’s wisely deleted scenes improved Cinema Paradiso, I could not disagree more. I regretted even watching them later, as they completely changed the tone of the movie.

 

[Worth]

Annie Hall At 40: Anhedonia, the Woody Allen film that never was – The Woody Allen Pages

 

[Dick]

The Blu looks pretty crappy now. Plus, it had subtitle issues. It needs a gorgeous 4K restoration, as does MANHATTAN.

 

[titch]

I don’t want to hijack your thread, but you brought it up. If you’re suggesting that restoring Tornatore’s wisely deleted scenes improved Cinema Paradiso, I could not disagree more. I regretted even watching them later, as they completely changed the tone of the movie.

Nope - I meant exactly the opposite. I am not a representative of the "more is more" bunch. However, I always welcome including deleted scenes as bonus extras, on a a blu-ray. It's invariably obvious why they were cut.

 

[titch]

The Blu looks pretty crappy now. Plus, it had subtitle issues. It needs a gorgeous 4K restoration, as does MANHATTAN.

Maybe one of the main reasons holding this back, is that they would have to be bare bones. I don't think people buying Woody Allen films would be interested in buying a 4K UHD of Annie Hall, just for better picture quality. It's bad enough that Woody Allen is totally uninterested in his back catalogue, but even worse that he actively stops supplements (such as commentaries) being made for physical media releases of his films.

David Lynch was another director, who wouldn't allow commentaries, but his physical media releases do have other supplements included. I enjoyed watching the deleted scenes on Blue Velvet, but the finished film worked better without them included.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Hey.

Hey!

Come here...

Come here!

Spoiler

Star Wars shoulda won.

 

[Bryan Tuck]

The Blu looks pretty crappy now. Plus, it had subtitle issues. It needs a gorgeous 4K restoration, as does MANHATTAN.

I think the subtitles on the Blu-ray are slightly out-of-sync, but otherwise they're fine.

On the old DVD, they were treated like closed-captions and had "(thinking)" added to them, which sort of ruins the joke.

 

[Dick]

I don't think people buying Woody Allen films would be interested in buying a 4K UHD of Annie Hall, just for better picture quality.

I would.

 

[Patrick McCart]

MGM has 4K masters for Annie Hall and Manhattan. I'd definitely buy a 4K UHD of either, as well as Allen's entire 70s output.

 

[DigniT@DigniT!]

Gordon Willis' brilliant black and white widescreen cinematography in 4K UHD? SIGN ME UP for MANHATTAN!

 

[Alan Tully]

MGM has 4K masters for Annie Hall and Manhattan. I'd definitely buy a 4K UHD of either, as well as Allen's entire 70s output.

So would I, they're never going to look pin-sharp, but a new transfer taken from a new scan of the original negatives will look so much better. We're not going to get extra stuff with Woody Allen's films, I respect his stand on extras, & that's fine with me. It is interesting how they "created" Annie Hall during the editing process, but I don't need to see any other version. I remember there was a great radio interview he gave a few years back, & I remember two things: why he carries on making films - he enjoys the process, the crew & the actors are great company, but when the production is finished, he totally loses interest & never watches it again, & almost shockingly, he doesn't care what happens to his films after he's dead, he's non-religious (like me) & as he won't exist then, the films can all be burnt for all he cares. I do think that his film making days are finally over.

...I remember hating Manhattan when I first saw it at the cinema, all the characters were so unlikeable & pretentious (including Woody's), but I have it on Blu-ray in a box set, & I watched it for the first time in decades last year, & my older brain thought it was brilliant (the same flawed people, but then we're all doing our best & failing). It's interesting that after it was completed, Allen didn't want it released, & offered to do the next film for free if United Artists shelved it.

 

[Nick*Z]

MGM has 4K masters for Annie Hall and Manhattan. I'd definitely buy a 4K UHD of either, as well as Allen's entire 70s output.

If they're anything like the lackluster 4K's of the Connery Bonds I'll definitely pass.

 

[CC95]

I don't think people buying Woody Allen films would be interested in buying a 4K UHD of Annie Hall, just for better picture quality.

Absolutely. EVERY film shot on 35mm deserves/demands the 4K treatment. We want to see them the best they can be. And, unfortunately- so many films that are considered 'dialog driven' get lackadaisical, subpar treatment. ANNIE HALL was shot by Gordon Willis- One of the greatest Cinematographers of all time. I want to see his work treated with the respect it deserves.

 

[titch]

Absolutely. EVERY film shot on 35mm deserves/demands the 4K treatment. We want to see them the best they can be. And, unfortunately- so many films that are considered 'dialog driven' get lackadaisical, subpar treatment. ANNIE HALL was shot by Gordon Willis- One of the greatest Cinematographers of all time. I want to see his work treated with the respect it deserves.

Many other major directors are having their films remastered and reissued. I'm currently watching all of the British icon Mike Leigh's films. He's comparable to Woody Allen: fiercely independent; when he applies for funding, he never discloses to the people financing his films, what the film is about, never gives the financiers a screenplay for approval, has final cut, uses many of the same production people, all his films are dialogue-driven and have a completely unique style. StudioCanal, the BFI and Criterion have recently reissued many of his older films with lovely new scans and transfers - which Mike Leigh has given his approval of. He also has given interviews for the films, which appear as supplemental features on the blu-rays. The main hindrance to Woody Allen's back catalogue, is Woody Allen himself. Play It Again, Sam was released this year, both by Kino Lorber and Imprint, with commentaries. Because it wasn't directed or produced by Woody Allen.

 

[CC95]

Many other major directors are having their films remastered and reissued. I'm currently watching all of the British icon Mike Leigh's films. He's comparable to Woody Allen: fiercely independent; when he applies for funding, he never discloses to the people financing his films, what the film is about, never gives the financiers a screenplay for approval, has final cut, uses many of the same production people, all his films are dialogue-driven and have a completely unique style. StudioCanal, the BFI and Criterion have recently reissued many of his older films with lovely new scans and transfers - which Mike Leigh has given his approval of. He also has given interviews for the films, which appear as supplemental features on the blu-rays. The main hindrance to Woody Allen's back catalogue, is Woody Allen himself. Play It Again, Sam was released this year, both by Kino Lorber and Imprint, with commentaries. Because it wasn't directed or produced by Woody Allen.

I don't need commentaries or extras. Just the films properly restored and transferred to 4K disc.