Film review: "Play it again, Sam" (1972)

(Due to strict copyright law I thought it safer for my bank balance to draw this image rather than pinch one from google.)

Director: Herbert Ross

Writer: Woody Allen

Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts

As a lover of all things cinema I have been rifling through some old movies and came across "Play it again, Sam"; A nervous and tense film critic Allan (Woody Allen) is forced back onto the dating scene following the breakdown of his marriage. Allan idolises his on screen hero Humphrey Bogart (more specifically his character in the 1942 film Casablanca).  With support from his married friends Linda (Diane Keaton) and Dick (Tony Roberts) as well as helpful advice from Bogie himself, residing in Allan's neurotic subconscious, Allan is set up on a series of blind dates in order to get over his wife, unfortunately he faces a dilemma as his relationship with Linda develops.

"Play it again, Sam" intriguingly begins with Allan sat in a theatre watching Casablanca, as the camera pans out we are presented with a big close up shot of Allan; hooked by Humphrey Bogart's performance, this is apparent as Allan's jaw drops slowly as he observes the final scenes of Casablanca, we also see the reflection of the movie in Woody Allen's trademark glasses, it's shot beautifully allowing the premise of the film becoming apparent to the audience quickly. Through the clever and witty use of personal monologues we quickly understand Woody Allen is at his best, playing the jittery and neurotic over-thinker. Diane Keaton's performance is excellent and the chemistry between her, Tony Roberts and Woody Allen makes them a very comfortable trio. One of my favourite scenes in the movie shows Allan being introduced to a blind date by his friends Dick and Linda, he ensures his apartment portrays an excellent impression of himself by leaving intellectual books open around the place along with his 100 yard dash medal (which he bought for 20 dollars); with "tremendous poise" he is introduced to his date, Allan encaptures first date nervous in this one hilarious scene which I always find myself rewinding (yes, I am one of those movie watchers).  

"Play it again, Sam" shares similar themes with the later multi-academy award winning film Annie Hall, originally Woody Allen wrote the script for Broadway which was later adapted into a movie screenplay in the early 1970's. Woody Allen's natural flare for comedy coupled with the idolisation for Bogart is an interesting and relatable dynamic which keeps the audience fascinated until the end. This is definitely a timeless romantic comedy which is either a MUST SEE for those who have never watched it, or a MUST SEE AGAIN for those who forget it's sat on the DVD shelf.