Book Report
of THE UNRULY LIFE OF WOODY ALLEN, An Unauthorized Biography by Marian Meade.
I think I
have seen all, or almost all, of Woody Allen's early movies. I think they are fantastic. They are slapstick, profound, wise-cracks
with a Jewish accent, and hysterically funny.
His later
movies became a little dryer, less slapstick, but still profound. About
then I lost my grip on keeping up with
his latest movies. As a film maker, his
quality is rated up with the best, such as Hitchcock, Wilder, Fellini, and
Bergman. In fact Federico Fellini and
Ingmar Bergman are his heroes.
I thought he
was a great insightful person. Then I
read his unauthorized biography by Marian Meade. She popped my bubble.
She makes
him out to be a self-centered scoundrel.
She tells of his demanding and snobbish ways. He also used people but essentially appeared
to not like people. He didn't give
autographs when asked and when in elevators with other people he would turn
around and face the wall.
I said Ms
Meade made him out as not liking people.
That is not entirely true. According to her book he liked young underage girls. In fact, he had a fling with his wife Mia
Farrell's adopted orphaned daughter Soon-Yi Previn. Soon- Yi was born in Korea and was adopted by
Mia and her then-husband Adre' Previn.
Soon-Yi and Woody, after their affair married.
Woody has
won and was nominated for many awards but had never been to the ceremonies that
hand them out. One time his excuse was he
couldn't let his jazz band down (they play on Sunday nights at Carlyle Cafe in
Manhattan). I admire that.
The book
goes into detail about Woody's relation with his ex-wives: Louise Lasser (in
sitcom-soap MARY HARTMAN, MART HARTMAN), Diane Keaton, and Mia Farrow. (and
more!).
Ms Meade
points out that many of Woody's movies are autobiographer, sort of. In the movie MANHATTAN Woody is having an
affair with a teenager who has to deal with homework, book reports, etc. And in HANNAH AND HER SISTERS every member of
Mia Farrow's family could be pointed out.
As one member of the family said it was like watching a home movie...
some of them, even played themselves.
Ms. Meade
analyzes each of his movies and his dealings with the movie studio heads.
Another
interesting thing about the book it is about like the "Kevin Bacon 6
Degrees Game". He, through his
movies, or through one of his wives has dealt with just about everyone in
Hollywood. Example: Mia Farrow's mother is Maureen O'Sullivan
a.k.a. JANE, TARZAN'Ss mate.
I think the
book was very good and dug deep into Woody's mind and private life.
Although
after reading the book I still think Woody Allen is a moving making genius, I
also have a lower opinion of him as a person.
But on the other hand, I feel sorry for him because his privacy was
invaded. A CATCH 22.