SLEEPER

US, 1973, 88 minutes, Colour.
Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, John Beck.
Directed by Woody Allen.

Woody Allen fans have found this film very entertaining (although 'Bananas' is still better). There is less verbal humour than usual, although there is plenty of zany comment and hilarious combinations of the unlikely ('Norman Mailer' donating his ego for research,etc.). There is more visual humour, Allen's miming (eg. as a futuristic robot) and farcical situations (on giant banana peels). The satire on science-fiction (Allen wakes up in 2173 not too unlike 1973 with spy and medical send-ups, clever and parodies modern attitudes successfully. Diane Keaton is good foil for Allen.

1. A good comedy? Why? What were its best ingredients? Woody Allen's contribution as actor, writer, director?

2. What were the best comedy features of the film? Situations, dialoguef satire, farce?

3. How successful was the satire? Though set in the future, 2173 was close to 1973. what satire on the present did the film offer? About behaviour, beliefs, idealogies, science etc.? What satire on the future was there? How different would it be from the past? Better or worse? Why?

4. There was much satire and comment on the United States in the 70's. For example,, the identification of photos with Allen's comments. What satirical points were made about the personalities and styles of the 70's e.g. Nixon? what predictions for the future of the United States did the film offer?

5. How did the film utilise science-fiction conventions? The use of the sleeper, awaking in the future,, futuristic buildings and vehiclesp the conversation and styles of the future people? Incidentals, such as the giant vegetables etc.? How humorous was this use of science-fiction conventions? Why? How much satire on the conventions of medical films? Especially at the end with the operation?

6. What satire was there on spy melodramas? The spy melodrama of the future so much like the present? The satire on the use of the underground? The nature of revolutions?

7. How did Woody Allen utilise his 'little man' character? The fact that he was a victim of science. his waking up in the future, the details of his waking-up (his use of face and gesture?). The little man being used for spying. being chased by everyonef the victim of the heroine etc.? How much pathos does Allen get for his little man figure? e.g. when he was disguised as a vegetable etc.?

8. What comment did the film have on the use of life and death?

9. How attractive a heroine was Luna? Her socialite friends? Their style of life? The use of robots (Allen's farce as a robot?). The satire then on the globe and its sensuality? Luna and her involvement with Woody? Her going to the underground?

10. The satire on brain-washing etc.? The effect on Woody? Luna having to rescue him?

11. The film utilised romance and poked fun at sex. How much satire? He declared that that was what he believed in in the end. Was this true?

12. What is the point of making comedies like this? Just for laughs? For moral satire? How successful was this film on both counts?