1. English 299C: Film as Narrative Art Mr. Kelley

2. Crimes and Misdemeanors (Woody Allen, 1989)

4. Points to Consider Woody Allen’s films are sometimes remarkable for the ways in which Allen weaves in parallel plots and sub-plots; comic interludes; intellectual and theological discussions; allusions to film and literature; music; and stray bits and pieces of tragedy or comedy to create an organic whole. Consider the ways in which the director successfully achieves this in Crimes and Misdemeanors.

5. What are the connections between the two interwoven plots—Judah’s story and Cliff’s story? How does one story serve to comment on the other? What sort of ironies are involved?

6. Describe Judah. What does he want? Is he a “good man”? How does his family affect his understanding of morality and his ability to rationalize? Describe Cliff. Consider his relations with his sister and her daughter, with his wife and her brother, and with Hallie.

7. Consider the theme of sight, especially in the repetition of the expression, “God sees.” What is the function of Ben? What is the function of the Passover seder?

8. Do the romantic misfortunes of Cliff’s sister serve any larger purpose in the film, beyond suggesting a couple of comic lines? What is the larger function of Professor Levy?

9. Consider the theme of “movies,” particularly in terms of oppositions between Cliff and Lester, in terms of Cliff’s documentaries and classic Hollywood films, in terms of ideals and “the real world,” etc.

10. Are Lester’s comments about Cliff’s inability to deal with “reality” undercut by any ironic, and perhaps sinister, parallels? Does the use of Mussolini’s image serve any larger purpose beyond Cliff’s criticism of Lester?

12. Selected Filmography of Woody Allen Annie Hall (1977) Manhattan (1979) Stardust Memories (1980) Zelig (1984) Broadway Danny Rose (1984) The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

13. Selected Allen Filmography (Continued) Another Woman (1988) Shadows and Fog (1992) Husbands and Wives (1992) The Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) Bullets Over Broadway (1994) Everyone Says I Love You (1996) Sweet and Lowdown (1999) Hollywood Ending (2002)