Neil Rosen and Roger Friedman have un-posted (i.e., taken down) a convivial discussion with Woody Allen. The chat happened several days ago inside Woody’s downstairs den.
Friedman to HE (received at 6:54 pm eastern): “I don’t know how you came upon the unlisted link to our Woody Allen interview. It was not yours to publish. We’re always grateful for publicity, but the piece was not finished. It’s been removed and will launch soon properly. I’m disappointed that you didn’t contact me before posting it. Just so there’s no question, Woody loves the interview. It’s our decision to launch it properly.”
HE to Friedman: “Fine, but what’s the big deal? It was a really nice interview. Good stuff. No need to go all Soviet Union or Vladimir Lenin on your would-be fans.”
Back to interview commentary: Right away I was asking myself “okay, but is there a ‘take it to the bank’ money quote here?” Woody stating that he didn’t write Diane Keaton‘s “lah-dee-dah” line in Annie Hall, that she improvised it…okay, that’s one.
Neil trumpets the technical fact that Woody’s first film was Take The Money and Run (’69).
But in my mind, Woody’s first movie was What’s Up, Tiger Lily? (’66). Which I have a special place in my heart for. Partly because I’ve never stopped laughing at the throwaway bit in which the Grand Poobah shows Phil Moskowitz a hand-drawn map and says “this is Shepherd Wong‘s home”, and Phil asks “he lives in that piece of paper?”
Friedman mentions Luca Guadagnino‘s decison to use Windsor Light font — a Woody signature for decades — for After The Hunt‘s opening credits, and calls it “weird” because there’s nothing funny or classically Allen-esque about Luca’s film.
HE reply: It’s not “weird” — the Windsor Light font is an allusion to Woody having suffered over an allegation of sexual assault, which is what After The Hunt is about. It’s also a tribute, a fan gesture…a statement of emotional or political allegiance.
The interview happened by way of Friedman’s longstanding relationship with Allen, so I understand why smart-assed comedian and movie hound Bill McCuddy wasn’t part of this. Three interviewers would have been too much.