Stardust Memories

 

Moviedrome Introduction

Film Details

Release Date: 1980

Director: Woody Allen

Stars:

Woody Allen as Sandy Bates

Charlotte Rampling as Dorrie

Jessica Harper as Daisy

Plot Summary

Sandy Bates, a renowned director known for his comedies, is experiencing a deep personal and professional crisis. Disillusioned with his career, he finds himself trapped in a cycle of making films that no longer bring him joy. The film takes place over a weekend at a retrospective of his work, where Sandy is bombarded by fans, critics, and studio executives who all have their own opinions about his career.

Throughout the film, Sandy grapples with his dissatisfaction, feeling misunderstood by his audience, who prefer his earlier, more light-hearted films. He's haunted by memories of past relationships, especially with three women: Dorrie (Charlotte Rampling), a beautiful but troubled woman; Isobel (Marie-Christine Barrault), a stable but unexciting ex-lover; and Daisy (Jessica Harper), a current love interest who represents a fresh start.

The film's narrative is fragmented, moving between the present, flashbacks, and fantasy sequences, reflecting Sandy's inner turmoil. He frequently reflects on the meaning of life, the purpose of art, and his place in the world, all while dealing with the pressures of fame.

Personal History

Unseen.

Current Review

Woody Allen makes a serious film about a director who wants to leave his past (and popular) comedy alone. But its not autobiographical.

Shot in Black and White, its a mixture of fantasy, flashback story telling and at times, straight up stand up comedy. The script is delivered in typically manic and fast speaking, with Allen dominating the delivery. Half decent jokes shoehorned into the script.

But did I laugh? Its not really that sort of comedy. More clever. Rather than belly laugh, you feel you should shout "Bravo Sir" and clap enthusiastically.

There's some visual gags. The one time I did laugh was the scene with the fella on the exercise bike, proclaiming to have had two heart attacks before he got the bike. With its little bell on. Allen asks him how many since and he replies "another two". That's not enough, just as the scene ends, he stops pedaling and lights up a fag. 

So clever, interesting, unusual but I just wish the spoken bits would slow down a little.

Quirky Facts

• This film largely stemmed from a riposte by Woody Allen to a hostile article written about him by novelist Joan Didion, and to the Academy's seeming indifference to his "serious" film Interiors (1978). This explains the film's relatively sour mood towards the critical community and indeed the movie-going public.
• The enlarged-photo-themed wallpaper in Sandy's apartment changed to offer reflections on or counterpoints to the scenes in which they appear. In the scene where Sandy & Dorrie are arguing about his flirting with her 13-year-old cousin it shows a newspaper headline that reads "Incest betw... fathers and..." - I noticed this, and would support repeat viewings. Also a bit of controversial topic, based on what happen subsequently.
• Debut of Sharon Stone. I knew I recognised the lady who blew the kiss in the opening fantasy sequence, when Allen is literally on the wrong train.

Quotes

We enjoy your films, particularly the early, funny ones.

Question Askers-Screening: A lot of people have accused you of being narcissistic.
Sandy Bates: No, I know. People think that I'm egotistical and narcissistic, but it's not true. I-I uh I... As a matter of fact, if I did identify with a Greek mythological character, it would not be Narcissus.
Question Askers-Screening: Who would it be?
Sandy Bates: Zeus.

Sandy Bates: It's funny, because in my family nobody ever committed suicide, nobody... this was just not a middle-class alternative, you know? I - my mother was too busy running the boiled chicken through the deflavorizing machine to think about shooting herself or anything.

Sustenance

AI recommended a charcuterie board, as seeing as there are no food or drink based scenes, I see no reason to argue.

Future Inspiration

The film is based on Fellini's 8 1/2, so that is an obvious start.

Should I feel obliged to invest more time in Woody Allen, these are the Top 5 AI recommendations;

Annie Hall (1977)

Manhattan (1979)

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)