Annie Hall is a popular and highly praised American motion-picture comedy directed by Woody Allen. Allen also starred in the film and was the co-writer of the screenplay with Marshall Brickman. The movie was released in 1977 and won the Academy Award as best picture of the year. Diane Keaton won the best actress Oscar for her performance as the title character, and Allen won the award for best director. The screenplay also won an Academy Award.
Annie Hall follows the relationship in New York City and Los Angeles between a neurotic comedian from New York City named Alvy Singer (Allen) and an aspiring singer from the Midwest named Annie Hall (Keaton). The movie satirizes the anxieties and romantic difficulties of intellectual, urban people. Annie Hall also pokes fun at some of Allen’s favorite targets, especially pretentious academic types. Alvy Singer is a typical Woody Allen character—witty but insecure, self-conscious, and rather desperate. The film is filled with hilarious comic scenes and sharp dialogue.
Annie Hall is partly autobiographical in its flashbacks to Singer’s early life and his family in Brooklyn. Allen and Keaton were also involved in a romantic relationship reflected in the relationship between Alvy and Annie. Keaton’s offbeat wardrobe in the movie started a national fashion trend for neckties and other items of men’s apparel among young women.
See also Allen, Woody .
