Lax is easily the best writer on Woody Allen - this was his first book on the subject, written just after Sleeper came out, and it’s terrific. It’s like a long magazine profile piece, but has plenty of depth and astute analysis – it’s also very fresh, and Woody was extremely open at this point in his career. He talks about making a modern day relationship film with Diane Keaton after Sleeper, but got sidetracked into Love and Death instead (I’m glad he did, I think that film really helped in his development prior to Annie Hall). He talks extensively about humour, what he thinks is funny, teaching from Danny Simon, experiences as a performer, love of Mort Sahl, Bob Hope, SJ Perelman, Robert Benchley, etc.
There’s also lots of funny stuff about the making of What’s New Pussycat and Casino Royale, the writing of his plays, his early movies and TV work. I didn’t realise he borrowed the structure of Seven Year Itch for Play It Again, Sam and Teahouse of the August Moon for Don’t Drink the Water. Or that he made a political special for PBC in 1971 that was pulled from the air for being anti-Nixon. Invaluable for Allen fans.
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