Deconstructing Harry (1997)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

12 December 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Harry Block wrote a bestseller about his best friends. Now, his best friends are about to become his worst enemies.

Plot:

Suffering from writer's block and eagerly awaiting his writing award, Harry Block remembers events from his past and scenes from his best-selling books as characters, real and fictional, come back to haunt him.

Plot Keywords:

Directed By Star | Writer's Block | Surreal | Enema | Narration

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Harry Block
Richard Benjamin	...	Ken / Harry's Character
Kirstie Alley	...	Joan
Billy Crystal	...	Larry / The Devil (Harry's Character)
Judy Davis	...	Lucy
Bob Balaban	...	Richard
Elisabeth Shue	...	Fay
Demi Moore	...	Helen / Harry's Character
Robin Williams	...	Mel / Harry's Character
Caroline Aaron	...	Doris
Eric Bogosian	...	Burt
Mariel Hemingway	...	Beth Kramer
Amy Irving	...	Jane
Julie Kavner	...	Grace / Harry's Character
Eric Lloyd	...	Hilly
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	...	Leslie / Harry's Character
Tobey Maguire	...	Harvey Stern / Harry's Character
Stanley Tucci	...	Paul Epstein / Harry's Character
Stephanie Roth Haberle	...	Janet / Harry's Character (as Stephanie Roth)
Dan Frazer	...	Janet's Dad / Harry's Character
Joel Leffert	...	Norman / Harry's Character
Lynn Cohen	...	Janet's Mom / Harry's Character
Joe Buck	...	Yankee Announcer / Harry's Character (voice)
Jane Hoffman	...	Grandma / Harry's Character
Annette Arnold	...	Rosalee / Harry's Character
Frederick Rolf	...	Harvey's Doctor / Harry's Character
Elisabeth Kieselstein-Cord	...	Rosalee's Sister / Harry's Character
Lortensia Hayes	...	Jennifer / Harry's Character
Alicia Meer	...	Woman in Shoestore / Harry's Character
Victoria Hale	...	Woman in Shoestore / Harry's Character
Irving Metzman	...	Shoe Salesman / Harry's Character
Sunny Chae	...	Lily Chang / Harry's Character
Ralph Pope	...	Death / Harry's Character
Robert Harper	...	Harry's Doctor
Tony Darrow	...	Camera Operator / Harry's Character
Jonathan LaPaglia	...	First Assistant Cameraperson / Harry's Character
Jeff Mazzola	...	Second Assistant Cameraperson / Harry's Character
Timothy Jerome	...	Director / Harry's Character
Peter Castellotti	...	Crew Member / Harry's Character (as Pete Castellotti)
Judy Bauerlein	...	Actress / Harry's Character
Joseph P. Reidy	...	First Assistant Director / Harry's Character (as Joseph Reidy)
Phyllis Burdoe	...	Script Supervisor / Harry's Character
Barbara Hollander	...	Mel's Daughter / Harry's Character
Adam Rose	...	Mel's Son / Harry's Character
David S. Howard	...	Mel's Doctor / Harry's Character
Amanda Barudin	...	Beth Kramer's Daughter
Juliet Gelfman-Randazzo	...	Baby Hilly / Harry's Character
Floyd Resnick	...	Israeli Patient / Harry's Character
Brian McConnachie	...	Dr. Reese
Peter Jacobson	...	Goldberg / Harry's Character
Tracey Lynne Miller	...	Goldberg's Girlfriend / Harry's Character
Hazelle Goodman	...	Cookie
Jennifer Garner	...	Woman in Elevator / Harry's Character
Irwin Charone	...	Bar Mitzvah Host / Harry's Character
Hy Anzell	...	Max / Harry's Character
Shifra Lerer	...	Dolly / Harry's Character
John Doumanian	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest / Harry's Character
Alexa Aronson	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest / Harry's Character
Kenneth Edelson	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest / Harry's Character
Viola Harris	...	Elsie / Harry's Character
Si Picker	...	Wolf Fishbein / Harry's Character
Howard Spiegel	...	Mr. Farber
Eugene Troobnick	...	Prof. Wiggins
Scotty Bloch	...	Ms. Paley
Ray Aranha	...	Prof. Aranha
Paul Giamatti	...	Prof. Abbott
Marvin Chatinover	...	Prof. Cole
Daniel Wolf	...	Prof. Wolf
Waltrudis Buck	...	Dean of Adair University
Philip Bosco	...	Prof. Clark
Arden Myrin	...	Mary (Student)
Daisy Prince	...	Elevator Voice (voice)
Peter McRobbie	...	Damned Man / Harry's Character
Gene Saks	...	Harry's Father
Dan Moran	...	Devil
Ray Garvey	...	Policeman on Campus
Linda Perri	...	Policewoman on Campus
Tony Sirico	...	Policeman at Jail
Jerry Bruno	...	Electric Bass Player / Harry's Character
Ray Cohen	...	Piano Player / Harry's Character
Michael Manishor	...	Piano Player / Harry's Character
Dave Stettner	...	Trumpet Player / Harry's Character
Sid Jenkowsky	...	Saxophone / Clarinet Player (Harry's Character)
Bobby Shankin	...	Drummer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Max Chalawsky	...	Mendel Birnbaum (scenes deleted)
Dana Eshghi	...	Student on campus
Chris Bauer	...	(uncredited)
Vernon Campbell	...	Guard (uncredited)
Brett Glazer	...	Student (uncredited)
Katie Piel	...	Student #2 (uncredited)
Tim Realbuto	...	Boy at Bar Mitzvah / Harry's Character (uncredited)
Elisabeth Röhm	...	(uncredited)
Todd Stockman	...	Father (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Letty Aronson	....	co-executive producer
J.E. Beaucaire	....	executive producer
Richard Brick	....	co-producer
Jean Doumanian	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	co-executive producer
Jack Rollins	....	co-executive producer

Cinematography by
Carlo Di Palma		(as Carlo DiPalma)

Film Editing by
Susan E. Morse

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Tom Warren

Set Decoration by
Susan Kaufman
Elaine O'Donnell

Costume Design by
Suzy Benzinger

Makeup Department
Margot Boccia	....	makeup artist
Romaine Greene	....	hair stylist
Peggy Nicholson	....	hair stylist
Rosemary Zurlo	....	makeup artist (as Rosemarie Zurlo)
Linda Lazar	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Charles Darby	....	production manager
Linda Saffire	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stacey Beneville	....	dga trainee
Richard Patrick	....	first assistant director
Lisa M. Rowe	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Daniel K. Grosso	....	set dresser
Vincent Guarriello	....	chief construction grip
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department coordinator
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator
Cliff Schorr	....	stand-by scenic artist
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist
Mark Bachman	....	principal signwriter (uncredited)
Daniel Fisher	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Beth Kuhn	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Ronnie Petagna	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Brett Pransky	....	art crew (uncredited)

Sound Department
Nancy Allen	....	assistant sound editor
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Benjamin Cheah	....	assistant sound editor (as Ben Cheah)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor (as Bob Hein)
Bradford L. Hohle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Toussaint Kotright	....	cable person
Les Lazarowitz	....	production sound mixer
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
Anthony Ortiz	....	boom operator
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
David Wahnon	....	assistant sound editor
Dustin DuPilka	....	assistant foley artist (uncredited)
V.B. Paravati	....	dailies transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bill Hansard	....	projection effects: HEI
John Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Katharine Baird	....	digital rotoscope artist: ILM (as Katherine C. Baird)
Cathy Burrows	....	digital rotoscope artist: ILM (as Cathy M. Burrow)
Tami Carter	....	digital rotoscope artist: ILM
Camille Geier	....	visual effects producer: ILM (as Camille Pirolo Geier)
Greg Hyman	....	visual effects editor: ILM
Janet Lewin	....	visual effects coordinator: ILM
Greg Maloney	....	digital compositor: ILM
Terry Molatore	....	lead rotoscope artist: ILM (as Terry Sittig-Molatore)
Josh Pines	....	scanning supervisor: ILM (as Joshua Pines)
Thomas Rosseter	....	visual effects supervisor: ILM (as Tom Rosseter)
Kenneth Smith	....	digital timing supervisor: ILM

Camera and Electrical Department
David E. Baron	....	second assistant camera (as David Baron)
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Jack Coffen	....	best boy electric
Edward J. Egan III	....	best boy grip
Michael Green	....	camera operator
A. Lee Morris	....	camera trainee
Gary Muller	....	first assistant camera
Michael Proscia Jr.	....	gaffer
Robert Ward	....	key grip (as Bob Ward)
Howard J. Cournoyer	....	moving light operator (uncredited)
Chris Hammond	....	electrician (uncredited)
Wayne Paull	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Phillip Todd	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Fleet Emerson	....	extras casting
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto	....	casting associate (as Patricia Kerrigan)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lars Andersen	....	assistant costume designer
Patrick Chevillot	....	assistant costume designer
Kevin P. Faherty	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Kevin Faherty)
Juliet Ouyoung	....	assistant costume designer
Melissa Stanton	....	wardrobe supervisor
Debra Tennenbaum	....	assistant costume designer
Rosemary Lepre	....	costume assistant (uncredited)
Kay Michaels	....	costume dyer (uncredited)
Roseann Milano	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Jamal El-Amin	....	apprentice editor
William Kruzykowski	....	assistant film editor
Mark Livolsi	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Carmel Malin	....	musicians coordinator
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances

Transportation Department
Edward Iacobelli	....	transportation captain (as Ed 'Ack' Iacobelli)

Other crew
Jenn Blais	....	set production assistant
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
David DiCerto	....	assistant: Mr. Brick
Drew Dillard	....	location manager
Bronwen Epstein	....	assistant production coordinator
Joe Facey	....	craft service
Michael P. Fox	....	production secretary
Lauren Gibson	....	assistant: Mr. Allen (as Lauren Gibson Chapin)
Ken Halsband	....	location scout (as Kenneth Halsband)
Shell Hecht	....	production coordinator
Diane Howells	....	location assistant
Pietro Lorino Jr.	....	assistant production auditor
John Mingalone	....	set production assistant
Andy Muller	....	set production assistant
Dennis Muren	....	creative advisor
Murphy Occhino	....	set production assistant
Justin Reinsilber	....	location assistant
Shea Rowan	....	set production assistant
Marcy Shaffer	....	location assistant
Joan Stein	....	producing intern
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Craig Ulmschneider	....	set production assistant
Steven Weisberg	....	office assistant
Kathy Welch	....	production auditor
Tom Yeager	....	location scout (as Thomas Yeager)
Joseph Zolfo	....	location scout
Eric Kopeloff	....	assistant: Ms. Morse (uncredited)
Jeremy Strong	....	production intern (uncredited)
Eric Yellin	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Jean Doumanian Productions
• Sweetland Films

Distributors

• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (Switzerland)
• Bac Films (France)
• Budapest Film (Hungary)
• Buena Vista International
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Fine Line Features
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (UK) (DVD)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (UK) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
• Laurenfilm (2000) (Spain) (DVD)
• Líder Films (Argentina)
• New Line Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Spentzos Films (1997) (Greece) (all media)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  thanks
• Exposures  thanks
• J.G. Films  negative matching
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks
• On Location Education  thanks
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• REI Media Group  titles
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording facility
• Sylvia Fay Casting  extras casting
• Sylvia Fay/ Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting

Also Known As:

The Meanest Man in the World (USA) (working title)
Woody Allen Fall Project 1996 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (Mono)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Jean Doumanian Productions

Trivia:

Dustin Hoffman and Dennis Hopper were also sought in vain for the role of Harry Block.

Quotes:

Harry Block: Six shrinks later, three wives down the line, and I still can't get my life together.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Academy of Robots' Choice Awards Special (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

All the Things You Are

Allen at his best

Regardless of what Woody Allen may do in real life, he surely shines through his films. Just like the main character in this film who can't seem to get personal matters resolved, Allen faces the same predicament each day. He lets his films do the talking and stays away from the limelight. Deconstructing Harry does him justice in a few sequences as to what he feels and how the media treats him.

This film showcases some of Allen's better quirks when it comes to storywriting and directing. The much used "jump cut" effect helps to create a world that is disjointed from all else. When things are going fine, there are no jump cuts. However when things are less than opportune jump cuts add confusion to the scene and are used more often as the tension increases. The "out of focus" effect is the first of its kind and is very funny. The Robin Williams cameo didn't have much meaning, but his scene was one of the funniest due to him losing his touch. The same effect is used on Allen himself later in the film in another hillarious scene.

The storyline has many layers and isn't at all confusing (as others may have you believe) to the viewer. The use of actors portraying actors in this film is pure Allen genius and is another way that this film differs itself from the crowd. It is not so much that one follows along to see what happens to Harry, but rather to see what is going to happen next. When Allen needs an entourage to go to his alma mater honouring, he ends up taking a very unlikely group. The humour is at times crude and pokes fun at his usual groups (ie - ultraorthodox jews, hookers, WASP's and just about everyone else).

Allen uses his interesting techniques and smart plot to make this such a good film. One can only wonder how he always gets the foxes. At least he got Billy Crystal to play the devil. How fitting.

8/10 stars.