Sweet and Lowdown (1999)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

26 January 2000 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Plot:

In the 1930s, fictional jazz guitarist Emmet Ray idolizes Django Reinhardt, faces gangsters and falls in love with a mute.

Plot Keywords:

Musical Saw | Jazz Music | Mockumentary | On Screen Narration | Pimp

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 11 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Himself
Ben Duncan	...	Himself
Daniel Okrent	...	A.J. Pickman
Dan Moran	...	Boss
Tony Darrow	...	Ben
Chris Bauer	...	Ace - Pool Player
Sean Penn	...	Emmet Ray
Constance Shulman	...	Hazel - Hooker #1
Kellie Overbey	...	Iris - Hooker #2
Darryl Alan Reed	...	Don
Marc Damon Johnson	...	Omer
Ron C. Jones	...	Alvin (as Ron Cephas Jones)
Steve Bargonetti	...	Musician Friend
Benjamin Franklin Brown	...	Musician Friend
James Urbaniak	...	Harry
Vince Giordano	...	Bass Player #1
Emme Kemp	...	Jam Session Musician
Clark Gayton	...	Jam Session Musician
Marcus McLaurine	...	Jam Session Musician
Carolyn Saxon	...	Phyliss
Brian Markinson	...	Bill Shields
Drummond Erskine	...	First Hobo
Joe Ambrose	...	Second Hobo
Molly Price	...	Ann
Joseph Rigano	...	Stagehand (as Joe Rigano)
Denis O'Hare	...	Jake
Dennis Stein	...	Dick Ruth - Club Owner
Nat Hentoff	...	Himself
Katie Hamill	...	Mary
Samantha Morton	...	Hattie
Kaili Vernoff	...	Gracie
Carole Bayeux	...	Rita - Opium Party Hostess
Paula Parrish	...	Party Guest
Cory Solar	...	Party Guest
Lexi Egz	...	Party Guest
Yvette Mercedes	...	Party Guest
Peter Leung	...	Party Guest
John Waters	...	Mr. Haynes
William Addy	...	Master of Ceremonies
Dick Monday	...	Chester Weems
Mary Stout	...	Felicity Thomson - Amateur Singer
Dick Mingalone	...	Birdman
Mr. Spoons	...	Spoon Player
Carol Woods	...	Helen Minton
Josh Mowery	...	Movie Director
Fred Goehner	...	William Weston
Eddy Davis	...	Bass Player #2
Vincent Guastaferro	...	Sid Bishop
Ralph Pope	...	Panhandler
Douglas McGrath	...	Himself
Jerome Richardson	...	Club Musician
Earl P. McIntyre	...	Club Musician
James Williams	...	Club Musician
Frank Wess	...	Club Musician (as Frank Wellington Wess)
Al Bryant	...	Club Musician
Ray Garvey	...	Club Manager
Sally Placksin	...	Sally Jillian
Uma Thurman	...	Blanche
Lola Pashalinski	...	Blanche's Friend
Simon Wettenhall	...	Jam Session Musician
Orange Kellin	...	Jam Session Musician
Brooks Giles III	...	Jam Session Musician
Anthony LaPaglia	...	Al Torrio
Brad Garrett	...	Joe Bedloe
Alfred Sauchelli Jr.	...	Ned - Pool Player
Michael Bolus	...	Lynch - Bar Room Friend
Mick O'Rourke	...	Holdup Man
John Patrick McLaughlin	...	Holdup Man (as John P. McLaughlin)
Chuck Lewkowicz	...	Police Officer
Rick Mowat	...	Flat Tire Man
Ted Wilkins	...	Gas Station Proprietor
Michael Sprague	...	Django Reinhardt
Gretchen Mol	...	Ellie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Criscuolo	...	Carnival Vendor (uncredited)
Stanley Crouch	...	Himself (uncredited)
Anna Damergis	...	Manicurist (uncredited)
Catherine Dudley	...	Eavesdropper (uncredited)
Kenneth Edelson	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Alan Francis	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Rick Hickman	...	Angry Townsman (uncredited)
Fiona Jones	...	Farmer's Wife (uncredited)
Trish McGettrick	...	Patron (uncredited)
Maria Ottavia	...	Mother and Family on Boardwalk (uncredited)
Adam Sietz	...	John (uncredited)
John H. Tobin	...	Bartender Serving Emmet (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
Fei Zhao		(director of photography) (as Zhao Fei)

Film Editing by
Alisa Lepselter

Casting by
Laura Rosenthal
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Tom Warren

Set Decoration by
Jessica Lanier

Costume Design by
Laura Cunningham		(as Laura Cunningham Bauer)

Makeup Department
Stephen G. Bishop	....	hair stylist
Milton Buras	....	hair stylist
Robert Kushner	....	wigmaker: Ira Senz
Eva Polywka	....	makeup artist
Rosemary Zurlo	....	makeup artist (as Rosemarie Zurlo)
Linda Lazar	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Nicki Ledermann	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Sanja Milic	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Richard Brick	....	unit production manager
Margo Myers	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lisa Janowski	....	second assistant director
Richard Patrick	....	first assistant director
Helen Rella	....	dga trainee (as Helen Anne Rella)
Brian A. York	....	second second assistant director (as Brian York)

Art Department
Mark Bachman	....	sign designer
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Regina Graves	....	assistant set decorator
Daniel K. Grosso	....	lead man
Vincent Guarriello	....	chief construction grip
Christian Halac	....	art department assistant
Jon Kaloudis	....	art department assistant
Hyun-joo Kim	....	assistant art director (as Hyun-Joo Kim)
Beth Kuhn	....	assistant art director
Glenn Lloyd	....	graphics and research
Leonardo Mastrantoni	....	shop assistant
Robin McAllister	....	assistant property master
Jessica A. Milstein	....	set decorating coordinator (as Jessica Milstein)
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator (as Ronald Petagna)
Paul Robinson	....	assistant art director
Cliff Schorr	....	stand-by scenic artist
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist
David Stein	....	assistant art director
Margot Therre	....	lead scenic artist
Josh Wick	....	art department assistant
Greg Aharoni	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Suzanne E. Cestare	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Eric Cheripka	....	property assistant (uncredited)
James Donahue	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
William Durnin Jr.	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Stephen Finkin	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ray Fisher	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Tony Gamiello	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Gilbert Gertsen	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Gordon Gertsen	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Greco	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ruth Katz	....	set dresser (uncredited)
James McDonagh	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Jeff Naparstek	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Jeffrey Rollins	....	props (uncredited)
Ari David Schwartz	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer: Sound One Corporation
Kate Eales	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist (as Frank J. Graziadei)
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
John Hirst	....	sound playback
Bradford L. Hohle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
George A. Lara	....	foley recording engineer (as George Lara)
Les Lazarowitz	....	production sound mixer
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
Glenfield Payne	....	sound effects editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Bruce Pross	....	foley editor
Neil Riha	....	boom operator
Melanie Ryder	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
John Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator
Ron Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Scott David	....	digital artist (as Scott Roscoe David)
Camille Geier	....	visual effects producer
Thomas Rosseter	....	visual effects supervisor (as Tom Rosseter)
Camille Eden	....	visual effects production coordinator: ILM (uncredited)

Stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunt coordinator
Norman Douglass	....	stuntman
Vic Bucossi	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Shumbris	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David E. Baron	....	second assistant camera (as David Baron)
Bob Brennan	....	best boy grip (as Robert Brennan)
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Jack Coffen	....	best boy electric
Michael Green	....	camera operator
Chris Hammond	....	best boy electric
A. Lee Morris	....	camera loader
Gary Muller	....	first assistant camera
George Patsos	....	key grip
Michael Proscia Jr.	....	gaffer
Matt Chubet	....	grip (uncredited)
Michael Gallart	....	grip (uncredited)
Wayne Paull	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Mark Proscia	....	electrician (uncredited)
Chris Zizzo	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sarah Allentuch	....	casting assistant
Kristy Fitts	....	extras casting associate (as Kristi Fitts)
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto	....	casting associate (as Patricia Kerrigan)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patricia Eiben	....	shop wardrobe supervisor
Barrett Hong	....	wardrobe supervisor
Anastasia Leopold	....	wardrobe tracker
Fionnuala M. Lynch	....	extras wardrobe supervisor (as Fionnuala Lynch)
Jennifer Newman	....	wardrobe assistant
Suzanne Pettit	....	wardrobe supervisor
Heather Priest	....	assistant costume designer
Elizabeth Roles	....	wardrobe assistant
Bobby Frederick Tilley	....	assistant costume designer
Jennifer Ingram	....	costumer (uncredited)
Roseann Milano	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Margaret Morettini	....	costume shopper (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Katherine Belsey	....	post-production coordinator
Sheri Bylander	....	assistant editor
Sara Corrigan	....	assistant editor
Katy Kei Cunningham	....	post-production assistant
Jennifer Lilly	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Howard Alden	....	musician: solo guitar
James Chirillo	....	additional musician: rhythm guitar
Kelly Friesen	....	musician: bass
Joel Helleny	....	additional musician: trombone
Dick Hyman	....	additional musician: piano
Dick Hyman	....	conductor
Dick Hyman	....	music arranger
Walt Levinsky	....	music recording supervisor
Carmel Malin	....	musicians coordinator
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances
Ken Peplowski	....	musician: clarinet
Bucky Pizzarelli	....	musician: rhythm guitar
Ted Sommer	....	musician: drums
Byron Stripling	....	additional musician: trumpet
Roy B. Yokelson	....	music recording engineer

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

Other crew
Leon Adair Jr.	....	parking coordinator (as Leon Adair)
Howard Alden	....	instructor: solo guitar
Michael Anthony	....	location assistant
Abby Bailey	....	assistant production accountant
David Brotsky	....	location production assistant
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
Lauren G. Chapin	....	assistant: Mr. Allen
Drew Dillard	....	location manager
Kimberly N. Fajen	....	production coordinator
Debora Fearon	....	craft service
Alex Fernández	....	set production assistant (as Alex Fernandez)
Ramsey Fong	....	production secretary
Meredith Garlick	....	assistant: Mr. Brick
Sarah Garrett	....	set production assistant
Jessica Glass	....	location production assistant
Amanda Ladd	....	payroll accountant
Pietro Lorino Jr.	....	production accountant
Shuping Lu	....	interpreter: Mr. Zhao (as Shuping Lu Roman)
Colin MacLellan	....	set production assistant (as Colin A.J. MacLellan)
Michael McBrien	....	location assistant
Patrick McMahon	....	set production assistant
Kiersten Pilar Miller	....	set production assistant
Christie Mullen	....	location assistant
Yasmine Mustaklim	....	accounting assistant
Kim Noble	....	location assistant
Bucky Pizzarelli	....	instructor: rhythm guitar
Xiaobing Rao	....	interpreter: Mr. Zhao (as Bing Rao)
Jason Rubenstein	....	set production assistant
Salvatore Savo	....	office assistant
Andy Seigel	....	pool consultant
Kate Siamon	....	location production assistant
Jennifer Silverman	....	assistant production coordinator
Ted Sommer	....	instructor: drums
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Steven Weisberg	....	location assistant
Will Wilder	....	assistant parking coordinator
Tom Yeager	....	assistant location manager
Martin Zeichner	....	video dailies
Marc Baron	....	photo double: Sean Penn (uncredited)
Marc Baron	....	stand-in: Sean Penn (uncredited)
Eric Brown	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Guy Efrat	....	location scout (uncredited)
Maggie Engelhardt	....	office production assistant (uncredited)
Sarah Rae Garrett	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Danielle Giovannello	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tudor Jones	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Christie Mullen	....	location scout (uncredited)

Thanks
Valerie Haller	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank
Robert C. Janiszewski	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank: County Executive of Hudson County, New Jersey
Greg Johnson	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank

Production Companies

• Magnolia Productions
• Sweetland Films

Distributors

• Arthaus Filmverleih (Germany)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (USA) (TV) (a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• FS Film Oy (Finland)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Films de l'Elysée, Les (Luxembourg)
• GAGA Communications
• Pyramide Distribution (France)
• SF Film (Denmark)
• SF Film (Sweden)
• SF Norge A/S (Norway)
• Sony Pictures Classics (USA)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (uncredited)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben, Inc.)
• Axium Payroll Services  payroll (as Axium Entertainment Services)
• Condé Nast Publications, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank
• Dawn Animal Agency  animals
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints (as Deluxe®)
• Du Art Film Laboratories  color (as DuArt Film Laboratories)
• Effects House, The  titles
• Flashy Trash & Company  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank (as Flashy Trash & Company, Chicago, Illinois)
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• History For Hire  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank (as History For Hire Prop House)
• Hudson County Cultural & Heritage Affairs  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank
• Ira Senz  wigmaker
• J.G. Films  negative matching
• Nagra Sound Service  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank (as Nagra USA, Nashville, Tennessee)
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank (as The N.Y.C. Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting)
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• Panavision  camera and lenses (as Panavision®)
• RCA Records  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank (as The RCA Records Label, A Unit of BMG Entertainment)
• Ralph Lauren  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank (as Polo Ralph Lauren)
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording mixing (as Sound One Corp.)
• Turner Entertainment  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank (as Turner Entertainment Co.)

Also Known As:

Woody Allen Fall Project 1998 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some substance abuse.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Fresh Pond Rail Yards, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Magnolia Productions

Trivia:

The guitar that 'Sean Penn' plays in the movie is a Selmer Maccaferri of about 1932 (though it seems likely that it's a reproduction of the rare instrument and not an original) This is the same kind of guitar played and made famous by Django Reinhardt.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The guitar that Emmett destroys at the end of the movie is (thankfully) not a genuine Selmer Maccaferri. The shattered fragments clearly show a bolt-on neck. The genuine instruments used a bolt during construction, but this bolt was removed before the guitar was completed, leaving an empty hole. (The instrument actually destroyed was a disposable prop created by Michael Dunn.)

Quotes:

Emmet Ray: This is my one day off, I want a talking girl.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Avalon

The ideal thing is to be funny and also say something significant

One can hit the end, if you understand that this what you are doing is mercy by God and still don't care and don't want to admit and don't want to enter into life, then at one point everything will be taken from you.

Ray (Sean Penn) was an eccentric genius who liked to shoot rats in garbage dumps and watch trains for hours. What we essentially learn about Ray is that, outside his music, he was a selfish, womanizing, alcoholic, egotistical louse. But with a guitar in his hands, he was transformed into a muse, an artist, an angel of jazz. He sleeps with women, but his true love is music. Notes one character before taking up with him, "He can only feel pain through his music. Such is the ego of genius. I must get used to it." The woman who almost changes his life is as sweet as he is lowdown. She's Hattie (Samantha Morton), a waiflike mute. But Hattie and Emmet's romance is derailed. By his ambition, his unreliability, his abusiveness and, most specifically, by a swank-looking debutante (Uma Thurman) with pretensions of being a writer.