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Annie Hall

 Woody Allen
 

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
 · 1978 Academy Awards:
 · Winner, Best Picture (Charles H. Joffe)
 · Winner, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Diane Keaton)
 · Winner, Best Director (Woody Allen);
 · Winner, Best Writing-Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman).
 · 1978 British Academy of Film and Television Awards:
 · Winner, Best Actress (Diane Keaton);
 · Winner, Best Direction (Woody Allen)
 · Winner, Best Editing (Ralph Rosenblum, Wendy Greene Bricmont)
 · Winner, Best Film, Best Screenplay (Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman)
 · 1978 Bodil Awards:
 · Winner, Best Non-European Film (Woody Allen)
 · 1979 Cinema Writers Circle Awards (Spain):
 · Winner, Best Foreign Film (Woody Allen)
 · 1978 Directors Guild of America:
 · Winner, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Motion Picture
 · 1978 Golden Globes:
 · Winner, Best Motion Picture Actress-Musical/Comedy (Diane Keaton)
 · 1979 Guild of German Art House Cinemas:
 · Winner, Gold Award for Foreign Film
 · 1977 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards:
 · Winner, Best Screenplay (Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman)
 · 1977 National Board of Review:
 · Winner, Best Supporting Actress (Diane Keaton)
 · 1977 National Society of Film Critics Awards:
 · Winner, Best Actress (Diane Keaton)
 · Winner, Best Film, Best Screenplay (Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman)
 · 1977 New York Film Critics Circle Awards:
 · Winner, Best Actress (Diane Keaton);
 · Winner, Best Director (Woody Allen);
 · Winner, Best Film, Best Screenplay (Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman)
 · 1978 Writers Guild of America:
 · Winner, Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen (Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman)
 
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
 
 
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