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Play It Again, Sam

Play It Again, Sam

Comedy · Romance · 1972

A neurotic film critic obsessed with the movie Casablanca attempts to get over his wife leaving him by dating again with the help of a married couple and his illusory idol, Humphrey Bogart.

Movie details

Play It Again, Sam

“By day he is Woody Allen. But when night falls and the moon rises, Humphrey Bogart strikes again.”

1972 Comedy · Romance 1h 25m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.5 / 10

Community rating

A neurotic film critic obsessed with the movie Casablanca attempts to get over his wife leaving him by dating again with the help of a married couple and his illusory idol, Humphrey Bogart.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Play It Again, Sam?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Herbert Ross

Written by

Woody Allen

Woody Allen

Woody Allen

Allan Felix

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton

Linda Christie

Tony Roberts

Tony Roberts

Dick Christie

Jerry Lacy

Jerry Lacy

Humphrey Bogart

Susan Anspach

Susan Anspach

Nancy

Jennifer Salt

Jennifer Salt

Sharon Lake

Joy Bang

Joy Bang

Julie

Court is in session

Put Play It Again, Sam on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.