{"id":26419,"date":"2012-07-10T14:40:35","date_gmt":"2012-07-10T21:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26419"},"modified":"2021-03-10T19:01:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T02:01:37","slug":"love-and-death-1975","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26419","title":{"rendered":"Love and Death (1975)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t all mankind ultimately executed for a crime it never committed?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Poster-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-26421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Poster-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Poster-82x128.jpg 82w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Poster.jpg 489w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA cowardly Russian nebbish (Woody Allen) in love with his distant cousin (Diane Keaton) becomes unexpectedly embroiled in a plot to assassinate Napoleon.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cowardice<\/li>\n<li>Diane Keaton Films<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Jessica Harper Films<\/li>\n<li>Satires and Spoofs<\/li>\n<li>Woody Allen Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary argues that this &#8220;lightweight Woody Allen film&#8221; &#8212; a &#8220;spoof of Tolstoy, as well as Ingmar Bergman&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;has its share of clever sight gags &#8230; and sharp verbal wit &#8230; but suffers because the main characters are too foolish and erratically drawn, changing each time Allen wishes to shift comic gears&#8221;; to that end, he points out specifically that &#8220;Allen&#8217;s character switches from typical Allen to Bob Hope to Groucho Marx&#8221; &#8212; apparently not recognizing that such homages were likely highly intentional on Allen&#8217;s part. He further points out that one &#8220;has to question if 19th-century Russia is [the] proper context for Allen&#8217;s patented, decidedly modern-day, anxiety-filled philosophy&#8221; &#8212; though this strategically jarring juxtaposition strikes me once again as precisely Allen&#8217;s comedic intent. Finally, he complains that &#8220;Keaton and others in [the] fine cast aren&#8217;t really allowed to be funny in themselves&#8221;, given that &#8220;their humor comes almost exclusively from saying Allen&#8217;s funny lines&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, critical opinions appear to be divided on this early-ish Allen comedy, made after a string of early slapstick favorites &#8212; including <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26606\"><em>Take the Money and Run<\/em> (1969)<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26565\"><em>Bananas<\/em> (1971)<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1279\"><em>Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask<\/em> (1972)<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=7183\"><em>Sleeper<\/em> (1973)<\/a> &#8212; and just before <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26700\"><em>Annie Hall<\/em> (1977)<\/a>. Most agree with Peary that it&#8217;s not among his best work, though Jack Purdy of the Baltimore City Paper believes it&#8217;s under-rated, and referred to it as Allen&#8217;s &#8220;most pitch-perfect broad comedy&#8221;. While <em>Sleeper<\/em> (1973) is my personal favorite of Allen&#8217;s early work, <em>Love and Death<\/em> remains a unique delight in its pointed satire of not only Great Russian Literature but the deep philosophical themes of Bergman&#8217;s oeuvre (which is explicitly referenced), as well as Eisenstein&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=24569\"><em>The Battleship Potemkin<\/em> (1925)<\/a> (watch for an iconically shattered eyepiece in one battle sequence). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Eyepiece.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Eyepiece-1024x550.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"344\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Eyepiece-1024x550.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Eyepiece-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Eyepiece-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Eyepiece-768x412.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Eyepiece-1536x825.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Eyepiece-503x270.png 503w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Eyepiece.png 1831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Allen&#8217;s screenplay moves at such a fast clip that you&#8217;re sure to remain engaged throughout; there are so many cleverly conceived scenarios, characters, interactions, and one-liners that even if a few fall short, the rest easily carry the day. <\/p>\n<p>My favorite visual sequence: Allen&#8217;s &#8220;Boris&#8221; flirts openly with a gorgeous countess at an opera house. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen-1-1024x565.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"353\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63702\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen-1-1024x565.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen-1-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen-1-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen-1-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen-1-1536x847.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen-1-490x270.png 490w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen-1.png 1794w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine performances by Keaton, Allen, and others<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen2-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen2-1-1024x561.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"351\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63706\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen2-1-1024x561.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen2-1-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen2-1-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen2-1-768x421.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen2-1-1536x842.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen2-1-493x270.png 493w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Allen2-1.png 1827w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A consistently clever, fast-paced screenplay<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Battle.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Battle-1024x559.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"349\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Battle-1024x559.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Battle-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Battle-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Battle-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Battle-1536x838.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Battle-495x270.png 495w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Battle.png 1827w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Keaton-Allen.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Keaton-Allen-1024x553.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Keaton-Allen-1024x553.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Keaton-Allen-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Keaton-Allen-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Keaton-Allen-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Keaton-Allen-1536x830.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Keaton-Allen-500x270.png 500w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Love-and-Death-Keaton-Allen.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Good use of Sergei Prokofiev&#8217;s orchestral music as a score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as one of Allen&#8217;s most enjoyable early comedies. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0073312\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/love-and-death-1975\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1975\/06\/11\/archives\/film-love-and-death-is-grand-woody-allen.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/moria.co.nz\/fantasy\/love-and-death-1975.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/17640\/love-and-death#articles-reviews?articleId=88479\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/reviews\/80763\/love_and_death.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t all mankind ultimately executed for a crime it never committed?&#8221; Synopsis: A cowardly Russian nebbish (Woody Allen) in love with his distant cousin (Diane Keaton) becomes unexpectedly embroiled in a plot to assassinate Napoleon. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Cowardice Diane Keaton Films Historical Drama Jessica Harper Films Satires and Spoofs Woody Allen Films Response to Peary\u2019s Review: Peary argues that this &#8220;lightweight Woody Allen film&#8221; &#8212; a &#8220;spoof of Tolstoy, as well as Ingmar Bergman&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;has its&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26419\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26419"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70365,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26419\/revisions\/70365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}