Possibly the most nervous and neurotic romantic comedy in history, “Annie Hall” is a classic. Created by Woody Allen and released in 1977, this film is still used as a popular cultural reference even nowadays. While people may know the movie and the basic plot at the very least, there are some filmmaking details that aren’t that well known. Here are a few of them.
The original title
Annie Hall was originally called “Anhedonia”, reflecting protagonist Alvy Singer’s persistent sense of unease. Interestingly, Woody Allen originally envisioned the film as a meditation on the protagonist’s psyche, rather than a romantic comedy.
Not feeling the fantasy
Early drafts of the film’s screenplay contained elements of fantasy — Alvy and Annie time-hop and stumble into the Garden of Eden, Nazi Germany, and the French Resistance, parodying blockbusters like “Angel on My Shoulder” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”.
The murder that didn’t make the cut
One scene in Annie Hall with Annie and Alvy was meant to be followed by the two characters witnessing a murder. Though it didn’t make the final cut, the scene later formed the sub-plot of Woody Allen’s 1993 film, “Manhattan Murder Mystery.”
Diane Keaton the style icon
Most of Annie’s wardrobe was supplied by Diane Keaton herself, who, at the time, liked to wear bowler hats, coats, neckties, and baggy pants. The movie ended up setting off a trend.
Spontaneous sneeze
The famous scene in “Annie Hall” where Allen’s character, Alvy Singer, sneezes was unplanned and completely spontaneous. The test audience laughed so much that Allen decided not to do away with it. The scene became one of the most iconic ones in the film.
Making money or following a vision?
Released in 1977, “Annie Hall” earned $38,251,425 at the box office, Woody Allen’s fourth highest-grossing film. Although now acclaimed as a bonafide classic, Allen claims to dislike the film, explaining that the final version was watered down for audiences.