Crimes And Misdemeanors

This is the best Woody Allen drama. It is one of his meat-iest works, and having played around with drama and morality before. But here Allen goes for it, and pulls off a masterful – and very disturbing – work.

Woody Allen stars as Cliff Stern, and Martin Landau stars as Judah Rosenthal. Both men play out parallel stories, both tragic, before meeting in the last minutes of the film to discuss what they have and haven’t learnt. The cast is rounded out by the people in their lives.

Allen wrote the script for what would become Crimes And Misdemeanors over a European holiday. Although he started the script before he left, he managed to write every day on hotel stationary and cheap notebooks in several different countries - Sweden, Denmark, Italy and more. By the time he returned to New York, he had a first draft across many different forms of stationery.

At least part of the impetus, claims Allen, was a reaction to Hannah And Her Sisters (1986), where Allen felt he had been to nice to the characters. Although nominally set in the same world of contemporary, upper crust New York, this film is the darker sibling to Hannah. Not only is it less nice to the characters, Allen also flips the sisterly relationships in that film.

Allen wrote this script under the name Brothers. That fraternal sense plays a big part in the film. But there was a TV sitcom with the same name and Allen had to choose another. Ironically, that show was cancelled (after five seasons) before this film was released.

The characters of Judah and Jack are apparently based on real brothers that knew Marshall Brickman, an ocassional writing partner of Allen’s.

In Eric Lax’s Conversations With Woody Allen, he interviews Allen whilst he’s trying to decide on a title. Some of the dozens mentioned in the book include “The Sight Of God”, “A Matter Of Choise”, “Windows Of The Soul” and “Dark Visions”.

Some of those titles allude to the other big theme in the film - eyes. Judah is an eye doctor, and the rabbi is blind. Even some of the songs have seeing as a motif (“I’ll Be Seeing You”, “I’ll See You Again”). Allen knew that it was a strong thread. Says Allen^[1]:

“Crimes And Misdemeanors is about people who don't see. They don't see themselves as others see them. They don't see the right and wrong situations. And that was a strong metaphor in the movie.”

Not the first time, or the last, Allen returned to the rich mine of Fyodor Dostoevsky. The title itself is a play on Dostoevsky's Crime And Punishment.

Having not appeared in his last two feature length films, Allen had intended to not appear in this one either. But the studio asked for Allen to write a role for himself, making the assumption that Allen appearing would lead to more audiences coming to see the film. It might have worked for this film, but it ultimately prove not to be true.

Although it would get heavily rewritten, Allen added a story that would look at the themes from another angle - a more darkly comic one, with some comments on comedy itself. The character of Lester, played by Alan Alda, was based on the real Larry Gelbart, a writer on MASH (which starred Alda). Gilbert and Allen likely cross paths as both worked for Sid Caesar. When Gilbert died in 2009, Allen said^[2]:

“[He was] the best comedy writer that I ever knew and one of the best guys."

Another character from the Cliff storyline has ties to Annie Hall (1977). The original script for that film featured a murder mystery - the suicide of a neighbour named Dr Levy, whose outlook on life made suicide seem impossible. The professor that is the subject of Cliff's documentary shares the same name, as does his unlikely suicide.

Allen once again shot in his beloved New York City, and his third film in a row shooting in contemporary times. Production began on 3rd October 1988.

As usual, Allen used his creative control for extensive reshoot after his first cut. Apparently, he threw out and reshot the entire first act.

The entire Cliff storyline was shot and ultimately rewritten. Initially, Cliff was making a documentary about retired vaudeville performers in a nursing home, where Mia Farrow’s character would work. Daryl Hannah’s role became little more than a cameo. Sean Young, who was the original love interest for Cliff, had her role cut completely. Says Young^[3]:

“Woody wrote me a letter saying, ‘Don’t feel bad about this. I was experimenting and my performance and your performance just didn’t work.’ He respects me a lot and I adore him.”

Having wrote a small role for himself, Allen found himself expanding it. Even to the point where the wonderful final scene was supposed to be between Judah and the Rabbi Ben, but ended up being Allen's Cliff character instead.

Allen had used clips of other films before, but here he uses several. More than just a nod to fantastic films, Allen uses the clips to add extra dimension to the main storyline, as well as connecting the two storylines.

Caroline Aaron plays Barbara. This was one of her first significant film roles, and she would work with Allen twice more, the next being Alice.

Alan Alda appears as Lester. Alda will always be loved as Hawkeye from the TV series of MASH. This was one of his first major film roles since MASH ended, and the first of three appearances in Allen films. Alda was set to have a small role, but Allen liked his performance and expanded the story when he rewrote and reshot the Cliff storyline. Says Alda^[4]:

“Woody Allen is brilliant. I loved being in the pictures of his that I was in, and I think Crimes and Misdemeanors is one of the best American pictures ever made.”

Woody Allen plays Cliff Stern.

Claire Bloom plays Miriam Rosenthal. Bloom is one of the most respected and talented British stage actresses, with a career spanning six decades. She would work with Allen again on Mighty Aphrodite (1995).

Mia Farrow plays Halley Reed. This is Farrow's 9th Allen film in a row, and 10th time working together (counting Oedipus Wrecks).

Joanna Gleason plays Wendy Stern. She last worked with Allen on Hannah And Her Sisters (1986). She would go on to work on great films such as Mr Holland's Opus (1995) and Boogie Nights (1997).

Anjelica Huston plays Dolores Paley. Huston had a small, uncredited role in Casino Royale (1967), which featured Allen as an actor. This was an acclaimed year or so for Huston, who was nominated for Academy Awards for her role in both Enemies, A Love Story (1989) and The Grifters (1990). She would work with Allen again on Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993).

Martin Landau stars as Judah Rosenthal. Landau started his career with an appearance in Alfred Hitchcock's North By Northwest (1959) and had a long career in TV. He was coming off an Academy Award nominated performance in Tucker: The Man And His Dream (1988) and would also be nominated for his role here. He would win that Academy Award for Ed Wood (1994). Landau was originally considered for the role of Jack. Says Landau^[5]:

“I told Woody before we started, "If you see anything theatrical, stop me." Because we had that conversation, he never had to. I wanted that character to be every man, I wanted the audience to feel that there was not an actor playing the role.”

Jenny Nichols plays Jenny. Nichols is the daughter of acclaimed director Mike Nichols, and along with a small role in Oedipus Wrecks, are essentially her only screen roles. Because of this, in terms of screen time she is by far the least accomplished actor to get top billing in an Allen film.

Jerry Orbach plays Jack. Orbach will always be tied to his 12 years on Law And Order. He also appeared in films such as Brewster's Millions (1985) and Dirty Dancing (1987). Bruce Dern apparently turned down the role. Jeff Bridges was Allen’s first choice but was unavailable. Another unknown actor was cast and shot scenes but was replaced by Orbach. Joe Mantegna was offered but turned down a role in this film, likely this one.

Sam Waterston is back playing the rabbi Ben. This is Waterston's fourth and final time working with Allen. Waterston would also go on for a long run on Law And Order, followed by acclaimed roles in TV shows The Newsroom and Grace And Frankie.

• Loeb Boathouse
• 359 East 68th street
• Bleeker St Cinema
• Tavern On the Green
• Long Beach, Long Island
• 113th Street and Riverside Drive
• 697 5th Avenue
• Columbia University
• Queensboro Bridge
• 221 East 66th Street
• Pasticceria Bruno Bakery
• The Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Sven Nykvist returns as cinematographer. This is his second feature film in a row with Allen, and he also worked on Oedipus Wrecks (1989).  He would collaborate with Allen one more time with Celebrity (1998).

Santo Loquasto returns as production designer. This is the 7th time he's worked with Allen. He last worked on Another Woman (1987).

Jeffrey Kurland returns as costume designer. This is his 7th time in a row with Allen.

Susan E Morse returns as editor. This is her 11th film with Allen as lead editor.

Juliet Taylor is casting. This is her 13th film with Woody Allen.

Charles H Joffe and Jack Rollins, Woody Allen’s managers, return as executive producers. Robert Greenhut also returns as producer.

5 Films And A TV Show To Watch After Crimes And Misdemeanors

“Allen’s Best Drama”: Crimes And Misdemeanors – The Woody Allen Pages Review

VOTW: Martin Landau Talks Woody Allen, Crimes And Misdemeanors

Crimes And Misdemeanors has earned $18,254,702 in the US.

It is Allen’s tenth highest earning film in the US.

It was the highest ranking Allen film in Sight And Sound’s Director Poll in 2012.

Amongst the films fans are French director Robert Crumb, Arnaud Desplechin, Jesse Eisenberg, Tim Blake Nelson, Sarah Silverman and Edgar Wright.

1. Take the Money and Run (1969)
2. Bananas (1971)
3. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) (1972)
4. Sleeper (1973)
5. Love And Death (1975)
6. Annie Hall (1977)
7. Interiors (1978)
8. Manhattan (1979)
9. Stardust Memories (1980)
10. A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982)
11. Zelig (1983)
12. Broadway Danny Rose (1984)
13. The Purple Rose Of Cairo (1985)
14. Hannah And Her Sisters (1986)
15. Radio Days (1987)
16. September (1987)
17. Another Woman (1988)
18. Crimes And Misdemeanors (1989)
19. Alice (1990)
20. Shadows And Fog (1991)
21. Husbands And Wives (1992)
22. Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)
23. Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
24. Don't Drink The Water (1994)
25. Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
26. Everyone Says I Love You (1996)
27. Deconstructing Harry (1997)
28. Celebrity (1998)
29. Sweet And Lowdown (1999)
30. Small Time Crooks (2000)
31. The Curse Of the Jade Scorpion (2001)
32. Hollywood Ending (2002)
33. Anything Else (2003)
34. Melinda And Melinda (2004)
35. Match Point (2005)
36. Scoop (2006)
37. Cassandra's Dream (2007)
38. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
39. Whatever Works (2009)
40. You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger (2010)
41. Midnight In Paris (2011)
42. To Rome With Love (2012)
43. Blue Jasmine (2013)
44. Magic In the Moonlight (2014)
45. Irrational Man (2015)
46. Café Society (2016)