Woody Allen classics take the plunge onto Blu-ray

“ANNIE HALL” 

Blu-ray widescreen, 1977, rated PG

Best extra: None

“MANHATTAN”

Blu-ray widescreen, 1979, rated R

Best extra: None

WOODY ALLEN has been a no-show at the Academy Awards for more than 30 years, whenever his films are up for a golden statue. It’s assumed he’ll keep that tradition February 26, when his latest comedy, “Midnight in Paris,” competes for Best Picture and, for himself, Best Director and Original Screenplay. Might be this Brooklyn born producer/writer/director and jazz clarinetist will be playing at some small, Manhattan club. Allen loves music, especially early jazz; that’s what draws him out of his private world to play and engage with other musicians. He might make light of his films and the honors they’ve earned, but jazz he takes seriously. 

Still, it’s the widespread appeal of Allen’s films that draw people to $100-a-head random concerts. One of his masterpieces, the semi-autobiographical “Annie Hall” won four Oscars, including for picture and actress (Diane Keaton). After all these years and repeated viewings, it is still hilariously funny and totally lovable. For those few who haven’t had the pleasure (what are you waiting for?), Allen stars as a successful comedian named Alvy Singer who falls for an eccentric, struggling nightclub singer (Keaton). The film follows their years-long, on-and-off relationship.

The movie looks great on Blu-ray, with skin tones natural and colors maintaining the rather muted quality that seems absolutely right for sooty, smoggy New York. The soundtrack is fine, too, with effects and music well-balanced, and all the wonderful dialogue comprehensible. 

“Manhattan” is Woody Allen’s cynical love letter to that city and you’re certain to feel the love from the first few minutes of the film. Jump cuts from one New York scene to another in luscious black and white culminate in a darkening skyline and gorgeous fireworks to Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Thrilling. The story is about Isaac Davis (Allen), a television sit-com writer who is in a relationship with a 17-year-old college girl (Mariel Hemingway), but who inadvertently falls for his (married) best friend (Michael Murphy)’s lover (Diane Keaton). Meryl Streep, in one of her first screen appearances, is stunning as Isaac’s formidable ex-wife, who has written a tell-all book about their divorce, and who left him for another woman.

The film looks terrific in its Blu-ray transfer, with lots of detail and excellent contrast and in-between gradations. There are beautiful, atmospheric scenes that have an appropriately gauzy look – the silhouette of Allen and Keaton in the planetarium; sitting on the bench at dawn under the 59th Street Bridge – that perfectly convey the blossoming love affair (and, of course, the ongoing one with that city!). The sound is just right, with the dialogue as clear and understandable as it needs to be. Gershwin never sounded so good.

— Peggy Earle

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