Script Snip: Annie Hall

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“ANNIE HALL”

Written by Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman

EXT. MANHATTAN STREET-DAY

A pretty Manhattan street with sidewalk trees, brownstones,
a school; people mill about, some strolling and carrying
bundles, others buried. The screen shows the whole length of
the sidewalk, a street, and part of the sidewalk beyond. As
the following scene ensues, two pedestrians, indistinguishable
in the distance, come closer and closer toward the camera,
recognizable, finally, as Alvy and his best friend, Rob,
deep in conversation. They eventually move past the camera
and off screen. Traffic noise is heard in the background.

ALVY
I distinctly heard it. He muttered
under his breath, “Jew.”

ROB
You’re crazy!

ALVY
No, I’m not. We were walking off the
tennis court, and you know, he was
there and me and his wife, and he
looked at her and then they both
looked at me, and under his breath
he said, “Jew.”

ROB
Alvy, you’re a total paranoid.

ALVY
Wh- How am I a paran-? Well, I pick
up on those kind o’ things. You know,
I was having lunch with some guys
from NBC, so I said… uh, “Did you
eat yet or what?” and Tom Christie
said, “No, didchoo?” Not, did you,
didchoo eat? Jew? No, not did you
eat, but Jew eat? Jew. You get it?
Jew eat?

ROB
Ah, Max, you, uh…

ALVY
Stop calling me Max.

ROB
Why, Max? It’s a good name for you.
Max, you see conspiracies in
everything.

ALVY
No, I don’t! You know, I was in a
record store. Listen to this- so I
know there’s this big tall blond
crew-cutted guy and he’s lookin’ at
me in a funny way and smiling and
he’s saying, “Yes, we have a sale
this week on Wagner.” Wagner, Max,
Wagner- so I know what he’s really
tryin’ to tell me very significantly
Wagner.

ROB
Right, Max. California, Max.

ALVY
Ah.

ROB
Let’s get the hell outta this crazy
city.

ALVY
Forget it, Max.

ROB
We move to sunny L.A. All of show
business is out there, Max.

ALVY
No, I cannot. You keep bringing it
up, but I don’t wanna live in a city
where the only cultural advantage is
that you can make a right turn on a
red light.

April 17, 2008 | Filed Under Script Snips 

Comments

4 Responses to “Script Snip: Annie Hall”

  1. Jean on April 19th, 2008 3:07 am

    I’ve never really read scripts before. When I saw that the screenplay was written by Woody Allen, I thought it would be good, but after reading it, I had this feeling that it wasn’t.

  2. Jaden on April 20th, 2008 6:23 pm

    JEAN — You should try to rent the movie. It is an award-winning classic. I’d be interested to see if you like the movie.

  3. Muzz on April 26th, 2008 1:52 pm

    I totally agree with you, Jaden — Jean should rent Annie Hall. It’s a delight, as is his Manhattan. It’s hilarious and never gets old — just saw it again recently (but please don’t ask me how many times I’ve seen it, I couldn’t give an accurate count.)

    The NYC versus LA “state of mind” was of particular importance when Annie Hall was released (1976-77) especially because NYC was at its low ebb. Woody Allen’s love for the city is apparent in every shot of both of these films (as in many of his others.) Diane Keaton is great: she won Best Actress Oscar for this role.

    Please try to rent it…I too would enjoy reading your opinion.

  4. Jaden on April 26th, 2008 2:55 pm

    MUZZ — Thanks for the extra insight on Annie Hall.

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