Annie Hall

Key Facts

full title · Annie Hall

director · Woody Allen

leading actors/actresses · Woody Allen, Diane Keaton

supporting actors/actresses · Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Janet Margolin, Shelley Duvall, Christopher Walken, Colleen Dewhurst

type of work · Feature film

genre · Romantic comedy

language · English

time and place produced · Filmed primarily in New York City from 1976 to 1977

awards

date of release ·  1977

producer · Rollins-Joffe Productions

setting (time) · Late 1970s

setting (place) · Primarily New York City; a few scenes in Los Angeles and in Wisconsin

protagonist · Alvy Singer

major conflict · Alvy struggles with himself and his past in a quest to pinpoint the cause of his breakup with Annie Hall and the reason for his failure to succeed in romantic relationships with women.

rising action · Alvy flashes back to moments in his childhood and episodes in his relationships with Annie and his two ex-wives in a psychoanalytic attempt to explain his breakup with Annie.

climax · Alvy and Annie’s trip to Los Angeles solidifies the growing rift between them: Annie is intrigued by the energy and newness of L.A., while Alvy can do nothing but criticize it.

falling action · Annie follows her singing career to L.A., while Alvy can’t wait to return to the safety of his home city. Ultimately, they agree that their relationship is a “dead shark” and should end.

themes · The absurdity and necessity of love; the transformative nature of art; location as identity

motifs · Stereotypes; transformation; performance

symbols · New York; Los Angeles; drugs

foreshadowing · Alvy’s opening monologue foreshadows the troubles he’s about to reveal about his life; Annie’s first nightclub performance foreshadows her eventual move to L.A. to pursue her singing career; Annie’s lack of interest in sex hints at future relationship troubles