JOLLY DAYS

Woody Allen

Woody Allen says, “Rather than live on in the hearts and minds of my fellow man, I’d prefer to live on in my apartment.”

For me “Woody Allen says” makes me stop and listen carefully, because Allen's wit is such a pleasure. In this NYT piece, a review of a book of conversations with Woody, there are a few others:

I’m a firm believer that when you’re dead, naming a street after you doesn’t help your metabolism.

I’d like to make a great film provided it doesn’t conflict with my dinner reservation.

The reviewer notes that, “We learn that [Allen's] favorites of his own films are “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” “Match Point” and “Husbands and Wives”… with “Stardust Memories” and “Zelig” ranking a notch below.” Woody Allen is clueless as to the nature of his own wonderful talents. Allen says he doesn't understand the affection people feel for his greatest movie, “Annie Hall”. That movie's combination of romantic melancholy, its insights into the way couples are special with one another, Allen's balance and understanding of people in the midst of trying to get along, seems unavailable to the very creator of this highly influential movie.

Steve Martin and Larry David are not imaginable without Woody Allen. Steve Martin in particular seems to have modeled his career on Woody Allen, from Martin's 1991 “L.A. Story” to his ambitions expressed in writing for the New Yorker. The influence of “Seinfeld” is still with us, as witness any TV schedule. Jason Alexander said he first modeled George's character on Woody Allen. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is a minor tributary of Allen's wide ranging wit. Woody Allen hasn't lost his cultural influence at all — it is just carried on by many others.

More Woody from a Google search:

• As the poet said, 'Only God can make a tree' — probably because it's so hard to figure out how to get the bark on.
• I am at two with nature.
• I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
• I don't want to achieve immortality through my work… I want to achieve it through not dying.
• I tended to place my wife under a pedestal.
• I took a speed reading course and read 'War and Peace' in twenty minutes. It involves Russia.
• I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me.
• If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name in a Swiss bank.
• It is impossible to experience one's death objectively and still carry a tune.
• It is impossible to travel faster than the speed of light, and certainly not desirable, as one's hat keeps blowing off.
• It seemed the world was divided into good and bad people. The good ones slept better… while the bad ones seemed to enjoy the waking hours much more.
• Life is divided into the horrible and the miserable.
• Most of the time I don't have much fun. The rest of the time I don't have any fun at all.
• My one regret in life is that I am not someone else.
• Students achieving Oneness will move on to Twoness.