“SHE BOUGHT IT.”

By Raymond Benson

Finally, after many years of the title being available only as a DVD, the Woody Allen classic comedy that’s not a Woody Allen film, Play It Again, Sam, is on Blu-ray, thanks to Kino Lorber.

What did you say? you ask. That’s right. Woody Allen did not direct Play It Again, Sam. Herbert Ross, a renowned Broadway theatre dancer and choreographer who graduated to stage directing before moving into film, helmed the movie. Ross had previously directed the musical remake of Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969) and The Owl and the Pussycat (1970) prior to landing the job to direct Sam. Ross went on to direct such notable pictures as The Sunshine Boys (1975), The Turning Point (1977, an Oscar nominee), and The Goodbye Girl (1977, also an Oscar nominee).

But Woody Allen wrote it and stars in the film. It’s Allen’s sensibility all over it. It’s co-produced by Allen’s Rollins-Jaffe managerial production company. It’s a Woody Allen film in all but directorial credit. That’s not to say Ross didn’t do an excellent job adapting Allen’s stage play into a successful, popular film.

Yes, first it was a hit Broadway play in 1969. Its stars—Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, and Jerry Lacy—all moved over to the film’s cast. While much of the story’s action takes place in interiors (mostly apartments), director Ross managed to “open up” the material to include outdoor scenes and other locations such as bars and restaurants. Interestingly, the story takes place in San Francisco, not Allen’s familiar New York City!

The story focuses on Allan Felix (Allen), whose wife, Nancy (Susan Anspach), abruptly decides to leave him. Grieving and insecure, Allan leans on his friends Dick and Linda Christie (Roberts and Keaton) for emotional and social support. They are happy to help him, especially Linda. They try to fix him up with blind dates that don’t go too well (the one with Sharon (Jennifer Salt) is a particularly funny and memorable example). All Allan really wants is to “score” again to boost his fragile, shattered ego, and maybe—just maybe—fall in love with perhaps some reciprocity. A huge film buff, Allan gets advice from none other than a fantasy Humphrey Bogart (Lacy), who appears at various times to nudge him along. Bogart is one of Allan’s heroes (the movie begins with Allan rapturously viewing Casablanca in a cinema). As time goes on, though, (see what I did there?), Dick and Linda’s own marriage begins to show signs of fracturing due to Dick’s busy career and his tendency to put his job before his wife. Ultimately, Allan and Linda are drawn to each other. When they’re finally on the couch together in his apartment, Bogart insists that Allan deliver a corny, mushy line to her. He resists at first but finally he does… and she reacts favorably. “She bought it!” Allan deliriously exclaims to the audience. You can guess what happens next.

Play It Again, Sam was the first screen collaboration between Woody Allen and Diane Keaton, and we can already see that this is a match made in heaven. The real-life actors began dating during the run of the Broadway play in 1969 and they were a couple in the early ‘70s up to and including the making of this film. Afterwards, they split up but remained the closest of friends for the rest of their careers. The late Tony Roberts was also an integral part of this screen duo in these early years, appearing in several of Allen’s other pictures. It is the chemistry between these three actors that makes Play It Again, Sam such a delightful—and funny—motion picture.

(Photo: Cinema Retro Archives.)

Allen had directed two features prior to starring in this one, and he had already created for himself a screen persona best described as a Jewish, nebbish neurotic. His Allan Felix here solidifies that character, and one can argue that the actor/director played this character for the remainder of his career. While he delivers extremely witty and funny lines and displays priceless facial expressions, it’s notable that Allen engages in a great deal of slapstick—pratfalls and clumsy maneuvers that wreak havoc on his and others’ apartments. It’s easily one of Allen’s funnier performances.

Diane Keaton, a fairly new face on the screen at the time (it was the same year she appeared, virtually unknown, in The Godfather), is marvelous. She is so endearing, honest, gorgeous, and luminous, that it is no wonder that she became a star. Again, the rapport between Keaton and Allen is perfect. Of course, she would go on to make seven more films with Allen under his direction including the Oscar-winning 1977 classic Annie Hall.

Tony Roberts is also hilarious, constantly having to phone the office to let them know where he is at a given time. “This is Mr. Christie. I’m no longer at 752-0420. I’ll be at 731-0711 for the next half hour, and then I’ll be at…” One might think this repetitive joke would get old, but it doesn’t. It becomes increasingly funnier as the movie goes on.

Being originally written as a play in 1969 and filmed in 1971 for release in 1972, yes, there are lines that some will consider inappropriate or politically incorrect today. But they are few and far between. For the most part, the dialogue is rich, intelligent, and very laugh-out-loud amusing. This is Allen’s writing at his best. And Ross’ direction isn’t bad at all.

Kino Lorber Studio Classics presents a new HD master of a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative—so the video quality is excellent. The only supplement is an audio commentary from screenwriter/producer Alan Spencer and author/film historian Justin Humphreys, adding context and history to the proceedings. Theatrical trailers to this and other KL releases round out the package.

Play It Again, Sam is for fans of Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, and early 1970s pictures that redefined the rom-com. Recommended

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