Stardust Memories (1980)
"Doesn't he know he's got the greatest gift anyone can have, the gift of laughter?" - film critic in Stardust Memories
Following the critical success of both Annie Hall and Manhattan and the backlash against the chamber drama of Interiors, Allen produced one of the angriest and bitter films he would ever make, Stardust Memories. The film - which deals with a neurotic director who no longer wants to make "funny films" - was seen by many as being a story about Woody Allen. Fans of Allen's work were initially hurt upon its release, embittered by what they saw as an attack on their intelligence, taste, and opinions. Allen himself has admitted in recent years that it was probably a mistake to cast himself as director Sandy Bates, the film's main character. Seeing Allen as a director all but forced audiences to see the film as highly autobiographical, despite Allen's claim that it was no more so than any of his previous films. The film was savaged by most critics, and fared poorly with most audiences as well.
Yet, it's surprisingly good.
Stardust Memories is an interesting film on many levels. On the surface, it functions as a fantasy/drama/comedy, and an homage of sorts to Fellini's 8 1/2 (Allen has often sited his love for Fellini's masterpiece, though he often denies a direct connection between the two). The film loosely follows Sandy Bates (Allen) as he attends a convention featuring honorary screenings of his own earlier work, complete with a question and answer session in between the films. Most likely, it was these bitterly comedic Q&A session scenes that so offended Woody's fans and whetted the malicious appetites of his long time critics in the media. Despite its many targets though, the film is also a love story, a criticism of the major movie studios, and a social commentary on existence. Many viewers, especially upon its initial release, overlooked a good deal of these intriguing sub-plots, choosing to see only what they wanted, and then proceeding to take offense. This, of course, is a mistake. Filmed in glorious black-and-white and filled to the brim with outstanding performances and astute observations on life, fame, and love, Stardust Memories is a complicated, intricate, cynical, and casually hilarious film.
Release Date: September 26, 1980
Domestic Total Gross: $10,389,003
Distributor: United Artists
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