Nothing can compare to this book and also Side Effects and Without Feathers, by Allen. Dave Barry is funny (although not as funny in recent years). Douglas Adams is hilarious, but he writes novels. These "nonfiction" pieces and short stories by Woody Allen are the funniest things ever written. And if you're concerned because you don't like Woody's whining style in his stand-up and movies, be assured you can't do that in prose. They are two distinct styles and you probably wouldn't even know it was Woody if not for his name on the cover. Read at least one of Woody's three books -- or at least one story from one of these books. Make that one page. If you don't love it, you can put it back on the shelf and at least know you didn't let something fantastic slip by unread.

While reading this book, I laughed more in an hour and a half than I did all last month. Seriously, this was the funniest book I have ever read. Being new to Woody's writing, I was expecting actual essays, but what are contained here are actually short stories, and these are some of the best stories I have ever read. This may be insulting to some fans, but Woody can sort of be compared to Dave Barry, or vice versa. Barry's writing, of course, is incomparable, but you can find similarites. However, whereas Barry can sometimes sound immature and (ahem) dumb, Woody writes intelligently and hilariously. In one story that relates the history of organized crime, the author recounts how "Albert (The Logical Positivist) Corillo assassinated Kid Lipsky by locking him in a closet and sucking all the air out through a straw," initiating a bloodbath and the birth of the mob. In context, the humor is even better, and although two of the seventeen stories are somewhat lacking in Woody's trademark humor, the rest of the stories completely make up for them. I completely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the writings of Dave Barry or Douglas Adams: I guarantee that you will bust a gut or two laughing.

Getting Even is brilliant. It is a short book collection of 17 of the funniest essays that Woody Allen has ever written. I found myself laughing out loud all over the place, and actually finished this book in two brief settings. I generally like to read 1-2 essays a day, but with each one, I wanted more.

Death Knocks is one of the essays in this book that really got me going. It was so damn funny. It felt like a funny version of Ingmar Bergman's Seventh Seal... where the person meant to die will not allow Death to take him. I loved it. A Look at Organized Crime was another absolutely hilarious essay written as you can imagine.

Finally The Gossage-Vardebedian Papers has got to be one of the funniest essays ever penned. It is the exchange of letters between two chess players as they try to make sense of a game that they are having through the mail. I'm telling you, my gut was bursting.

This is a great place to get started when reading Woody Allen novels. There are no plays contained within as are in his book Without Feathers, but the essays are of a much higher caliber. I know you are going to love this one. Happy reading!

This book simply is a must for people who are interested in film!

Whether you love or hate Woody Allen's work, there is a great deal to learn on film history from this book.

Stig Björkman knows so much about all aspects of film and therefore delivers an outrageously professional interview. But still, the interviewer stays humble, asking questions showing a profound knowledge of the subject. Since Woody Allen is very good at answering in a direct but well thought about way, it never gets boring and never seems primitive that the book is written simply in direct dialogue.

What I personally appreciate as well is that the talk is purely about film and about Woody Allen as an artist - his private life does not enter unless it is closely related to the discussed subjects. So you get a very relevant view to Woody Allen's career. Because of Stig Björkman's high professionalism, and because of Woody Allen's conversation talent and open mind.

It never gets too intellectual either. In fact, it makes you want to watch the Woody Allen movies you haven't had the opportunity to watch yet.

The only minus is that the book is some years old so that it does not contain discussions on his recent very interesting films.

But as it is an unrejectable document on film history, "Woody Allen On Woody Allen" does belong on any film friends' bookshelf!

I no longer have to dream what it would be like to have a conversation with Woody Allen. What an intellect. He makes many references to literature, movies, especially foreign films and artists that he loves. These works are now on my must see and read list.

I loved learning the behind the scenes details of his movies, but now I wish someone would write a book about his personal philosophies of life. I find his religious, socio-political ideas rivoting, provoking, and unique. The book provides a glimpse into the workings of the inner mind of a genius.

My only complaint is that it wasn't longer.

It is a relief to read a film book that refuses to degenerate in to the psycho-speculative ramblings of a [...] filmmaker. This book has the feel of a comfortable conversation with one of the most private 'celebrities' of this century. In an age where selling out is the great commodity, it is refreshing to hear from a man who has simply and steadily built an astonishing succession of low budget films. This book gives one intriguing glimpses into the 'Woody Allen' aesthetic, from his love of rain to his early days as a stand-up comic. If you're looking for dirt on his private life, don't bother, but if you're looking for an understanding of process and his distinctive viewpoint, then this is the book for you.

As a big Woody Allen fan I really enjoyed reading Mary P. Nicols "Reconstructing Woody". Nicols is a professor of political science at Fordham University, and this book is basically her in-depth study or "thesis" on the cinematic art of Woody Allen. She digs deeply into 12 of Allen's films, namely "Play It Again Sam", "Annie Hall", "Interiors", "Stardust Memories", "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy", "Zelig", "The Purple Rose of Cairo", "Another Woman", "Crimes and Misdemeanors", "Manhattan Murder Mystery", "Bullets Over Broadway" and "Mighty Aphrodite". She looks at the artisty and craftsmanship of Allen's works and gives her own interperetations as to their deeper meanings, uses of symbolism, and Woody's obvious homages to classic art and literature. She also points out what I've told people all along...that whether he is using comedy or drama as his vehicle, Woody Allen is master storyteller who creates characters of great depth! The chapters on "Crimes and Misdemeanors" and "Stardust Memories" are especially intriguing and enlightening, so much so that Nicols has actually deepened my appreciation of those films. (Not that they wern't favorites already!) I would have liked to have seen what she had to say regarding "Manhattan" or "Broadway Danny Rose", but for some inexplicable reason they were not included. Now that four more Woody Allen fims have been released since the publication of this book, it would be nice to see Nicols do a follow-up which could cover "Deconstructing Harry", "Celebrity", "Sweet and Lowdown", "Small Time Crooks" and some of the older titles that were overlooked here. If Amazon ever offers such a book, I'll be the first here to buy it!

Nichols has basically written the equivalent of a term paper on the films and life of Woody Allen. That is not to say that the book is dull or only a collection of non-emotive facts about Allen. It delves deep to examine the many facets of his life and the films that he has created. For anyone who really appreciates Woody Allen's films, this would be the book for you.

Nichols has made an exemplary contribution to film studies by integrating that mushy discipline with the rigor of political philosophy. She's surely smarter and better than Woody, but with her help we can see what is best about his art as moral and philosophical illumination.

It is not easy to draw a line through a few thousand years of drama and find similarities, but Bermel manages to do so in a way that should satisfy and surprise both general readers and the more academically inclined. Rather than look on the dramatic heritage of a few thousand years, collecting a body of works into a category called 'farce' and then explaining that body of work away, Bermel instead finds farce as a mode of expression, finding it in (hitherto) unlikely places. I found his writing on Joe Orton a wonderful introduction to that playwright's work; but his finding of farcical modes in places such as Beckett's work and the absurdists gives the reader good food for thought, and good things to think with for the next time they go to the theatre, or even rent out a video.

Quite simply, this is one of the most wonderful books I have ever read. The author is as wise as Eric Bentley and unpretentious as Moliere. I first got this book when I was seventeen years old, and it changed the way I looked at comedy - it introduced me to Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, and Woody Allen. It encouraged me to consider comedy as a profession for myself and I am forever in its debt. It is still a book that I return to and keep finding new things in; I learn more from it as my own experience grows. I think that this is one of those books that nearly anyone could get something out of. I strongly encourage at least taking a look at it. It is very hard to put down again. I do not give my five-star rating very often but this book easily deserves it.

Very well written, thoroughly engrossing. Both fair in that the author does not give specific opinions on the alleged abuse, but gives the reader a feel for what the Farrow-Allen relationship was like day-to-day and what the Farrow family went through during the "trial of character" that took place. I would like to read a follow up on what is going on now and how it has ended, and if it has ended? What is the Farrow Brood and Woody doing now. 2001-Lee

Straight from Woody and Mia's Nanny (Kristine Groteke). She did everything with the family and it shows throughout this book. You will get the inside scoop on what Mia, Woody, and the kids are really like.

Here's a couple fun examples from the inside info: Woody had a special shower built for him in Mia's house but refused to use it because he felt the germs built up inside it. Another one is that when Woody and Mia were not getting along well, Woody would bring a pre-cooked chicken to the house because he was concerned that Mia might poison him with her cooking.

Not everything is so light hearted, as we find out that Woody's daughter Dylan may have been coached by Mia into saying he molested her. Even worse, Woody may have molested Dylan (the charges were dropped). Also, it turns out that Soon-Yi has a double-digit IQ and may have been duped by Woody. Interestingly, Groteke says she does not know for sure about either of these issues but admits that she found it strange that Woody and Soon-Yi wound up together romantically.

Overall, I think the only way we could get a closer look at their lives would be if Woody, Mia, or Soon-Yi wrote a book themselves.

I think the best aspect of this book is that the stories are very short. I'm not saying that in commentary to Allen's writing ability. I just think it's the truth. After a while, the non-sequiter style humor begins to grate you. It's funny for a time. But then it fades into teenage repetitiveness.

The book is a good toilet reader. Easily digestible bites of writing over a fairly short book make reading a chapter in 5-10 minutes possible. Likewise, reading stories in quick succession turn the book from a quick bit of mindless entertainment to a bit of a chore to get through.

Not all of the stories are non-sequiter nonsense, but most are. They're generally light, filled with references out of left field, and are usually funny enough to warrant a laugh. This essentially typifies everything I have read from Allen.

I think, in general, the book gets better from front to back. So if you can get by the initial 3-4 shorts you'll be fine all told. Don't expect a great book by any stretch. It's clearly not that. But it's funny, light, and easy enough to read.

I liked it, but was a little disapointed. I thought 'Without Feathers' was funnier. At seven bucks for a paperback this is good but could be better. Kind of like paying to see 'Small Time Crooks.'

His 'My Speech to the Graduates' was great. Too bad he couldn't clone himself so one could keep writing short stories, or the little asides in the beginning of 'Feathers', while the other wrote and directed movies.

I usually have a hard time finding the time to read books these days, but this one was well worth the time I put aside. The stories are hilarious and his form of writing is brilliant. This book contained some of the most entertaining stories I have ever read. You must buy this book!!

This is the ultimate film for people who say Woody Allen plays the same role every film. I noted some Marx Brothers homages-you wonder why it's called Bananas? Well, it's a nod to the Marx Brothers' Cocoanuts, there first actual film (the Marx Brothers films' titles didn't make sense, either (at least for Paramount)). There is also a harp solo, which Harpo Marx commonly did. Although not as funny as Annie Hall, Bananas has some great moments-especially when he buys food for an entire army and "plays dead" against the car. The infamous finale is good, too. All in all, worth renting. Thank you for taking the time to read my review and feel free to leave me a helpful/not helpful feedback. God Bless America!

The mixing of bad puns, intellectual comedy, satire, farce and slapstick isn't seamless, but it sure is funny. Most of the jokes are as funny or as bad as they were 30 years ago. Some of the jokes have turned out to be prophetic.

I had not seen the film in nearly 20 years yet remembered it well as I watched the recently released DVD. It's still very funny stuff. The pacing of course is a little slower than how it might be done today--but not much.

I wonder if people under 25 will understand how funny the scenes with Howard Cosell are? Will they know how outrageous and even daring this material was 30 years ago? I'm not sure.

Some of the references and therefore the jokes might fall flat if you don't have a knowledge of late 60's/early 70's American pop culture and news events.

Early in the film Allen who plays a product tester, is testing an executive exercise device, paying homage to Chaplin's Modern Times, and it seems like the scene could have been out of the Farelly brothers latest comedy.

There are several one-liners like one about how common it is to attack an American Embassy which were fairly innocent and funny in 1971, 8 years before Tehran, but are more double edged when heard today.

The film is an homage to his favorite film comedians, the Marx Brothers. The title; Bananas a nod to the Marx Brothers Coconuts, the plot loosely inspired in spirit by Duck Soup and there's even a gag involving a harp, a tribute to Harpo.

We have very witty comments about the media, the very funny (and before it's time) New Testament Cigarette Ad, Allen's first dream sequence involving two groups of monks carrying two men on crosses (one being Allen, one being Allen Garfield) who wind up in fisticuffs over a parking place.

There's the wonderful scene where Allen desperate for some companionship tries to impress a female signature gatherer (played by Louise Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Lasser --his then wife) by pretending to be interested in Yoga, and attending various protests. This leads to Allen unwillingly joining a real revolution in a small South American Country, impersonating it's president to ask the American Government for money and... well don't ask... it actually almost makes sense which is part of what makes it all the more funny.

There's also Howard Cosell and AbC world wide Sports coverage of the assasination and later the wedding night, and for all of us who grew up on the East Coast, newscaster Roger Grimsby playing himself. The wonderful goofy musical score by Marvin Hamlish is just right too.

The DVD has a great transfer of a beautiful wide-screen print but no extras. Although the DVD didn't include the original brilliant radio ad for the film, it does have the wonderful original theatrical trailer for the film which is almost as good. It's one of my favorite trailers.

Chris Jarmick, Author (The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder-a steamy cyber- thriller ...)

If you love Woody Allen, you'll love this movie. The sheer wit and sardonic humour makes me laugh till my stomach aches. There are many immortal lines like when the dictator says, "I've been poisoned so many times, I've developed an immunity." I used to know a spook who said the very same thing. The satire on Communism, Dictatorship and Fidel Castro is hilarious! Woody's girl is the typical pinko liberal who lusts after rich, powerful and famous men. The classic scene is where Woody as the guerilla leader robs a sandwich shop to feed his men. And when Woody practices grenade throwing, he holds the live "pineapple" grenade and throws away the pin with ludicrous results. Finally, when the government is overthrown, the leader of the guerillas goes bananas and says, "L'etat c'est moi" which translated means "I am the State". When it comes to dictators, that's what they all say. I love the meaningful theme song, "Quiero la Noche" It means I like the night in Spanish. Enjoy! By Dr. Michael Lim the Travelling Gourmet

If you're a cineaste, it can be quite enlightening and entertaining to read the original shooting script that a favorite film was based on. In addition to the screenwriter's comments and directions, you usually get several scenes that were cut from the finished movie as well as occasional odd little changes in dialogue sprinkled throughout and an overall peek at some aspects of the creative process that a film goes through from inception to completion. Unfortunately, that's not the case with this book, since the four "screenplays" included are merely transcriptions from the finished films. VCRs were generally available when this book was first published in '82, so even back then this book was a pointless rip-off. Watch the films, skip the book.

I bought this while studying screenwriting, assuming that owning ANNIE HALL and MANHATTAN would somehow deliver upon me some kind of ability, perhaps a bit of greatness via osmoseous (sp?).

I was wrong.

I also realized that MANHATTAN is based more on the visual than I had realized--the script, while great, isn't on the same level as ANNIE HALL; INTERIORS, which dissapointed me on the screen is a very good script; and--this just confirmed what I already knew--ANNIE HALL is a great great GREAT film.

Did I mention that ANNIE HALL is a great film?

This book contains "screenplays" of Woody Allen's most famous films including Manhattan and Annie Hall. It doesn't say screenplays on the cover, but that's what I figured it would be. Instead, what I got was a book that's not even script formatted. The publisher also adds his notes whenever he pleases to explain what's going on 'from the film' to the reader.

here is another allen masterpiece with a lot of sallinger influence. A MUST for everyone, the movie was great too!

What a great opportunity a Woody Allen biography represents. Here's one of the great masters of American cinema, an artist who has been producing prolifically for over thirty years. Before our eyes, he went through mastering various cinematic styles and then transcending them all, contributing as a philosopher, writer, comedian, actor, director, even musician. Along the way, Allen produced a body of work replete with a quality all too rare in any, particularly American motion pictures: a thinking, interesting approach. The audiences and critics speak for themselves: here's a true visionary.

Unfortunately, those who make a name for themselves are destined to attract parasites. Enters Marion Meade, the voyeur. Unable to create worthwhile art or even advancing the cause of understanding it better or enjoying it more intelligently, she has nothing to offer that's pertinent to the art of Woody Allen. What she does offer is plenty of gossip and garbage. After having the Allen-Farrow "scandal" publicly dished out for too long, who needs more of this? Is it really a surprise to anyone after watching W.A. movies that the man should have character flaws, past pain and ongoing neuroses. Isn't the genius of his work to allow us to identify so readily with his character?

If you need gossip to make yourself feel superior to a man who has had something genuinely great to offer, then don't pass this one up. If you prefer some degree of integrity in your writing, and are desirous to learn about subjects worth remembering, avoid this one at all cost.

Rather than a well rounded and critical book on Woody Allen, we get a hatchet job. Meade sets out to discredit Allen at every turn. She focuses on neighbors who found him to be aloof, reviewers who didn't enjoy his films, and the ex-wifes who despise him. If you're actually interested in Woody Allen as an artist this is not the book to read. If you want to read about the sad and pathetic life of a sad pathetic man, and only hear the sad and or pathetic parts, read this book.

Maybe Meade should've focused her efforts on the Soon-Yi scandal exclusively.

With 'The Unruly Life of Woody Allen', Marion Meade has written a delightful, gossipy life story of the irreplacable New York artist. Anyone who has seen his work knows the basic gist of the story: raised in Flatbush during the '40s, a dropout of NYU film school, a self-made auteur by his late 20s. A filmmaker whose work manages to nostalgize, lampoon, and transcend the New York Jewish intellectual scene.

Who is the man behind all this? Marion Meade supplies a lot of details about his life without ever really getting to the heart of the man. I can't fault her for that, since I'm not sure any writer could understand someone at once so sentimental and mean spirited, so artistic and tired, so trailblazing and so old fashioned. Why do we need to? His films speak for himself, and his life speaks for itself. We don't need to like or understand the man to be entertained by his movies.

This book is a gossipy, guilty pleasure. It will hold the interest of anyone curious about what the Woodman eats for breakfast, which co-stars are still his friends, what a declining audience has done to his career. The Mia Farrow fiasco is covered in some detail -- probably a little too much time in spent on the custody trial and subsequent legal problems with his film production company. The book covers no new ground but does provide a lot of new details. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to fans.