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Introduction and Scope
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Works by Woody Allen
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Christine Stachowicz,
Graduate Student in Library Science,
in conjunction with coursework in the
School of Information and Library Science,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
stacc@ils.unc.edu.
Last updated June 30, 2002
All links were active as of that date.
Numerous biographical sketches of Woody Allen have been written in both book and essay form. Listed below are some considered to be of value for research purposes. An index to biographical material is also included for further reference.
Richard Schwartz combines elements of biography and criticism in this encyclopedia of Woody Allen's creative life and work. Arranged alphabetically and well-indexed, this compendium includes entries for Allen's films, plays, stories, awards, themes, influences and more, in an attempt to "take his work on its own terms and explore the complete vision that Allen realizes in his art" (Introduction), and show how he fits within the context of the great cinematic and literary tradition from which he draws. Both entertaining and informative, this work will be of value primarily for its discussion of the themes of Woody Allen's work to date.
For this authorized biography, Eric Lax, a personal friend of Woody Allen and the author of On Being Funny: Woody Allen and Comedy, was again given full access to Allen, his home, his friends and colleagues, and all aspects of his work. Written from the unique perspective of an insider who has witnessed Allen's evolution from gag writer to major filmmaker, this biography is full of details about Allen's background and career, and also grants the reader rare glimpses into Allen's work and artistic process.
Film professor and critic Douglas Brode profiles Allen's early life, his rise to comic stardom, and the development of his comic persona, and offers easily readable and insightful commentary on Woody Allen and his films to date. Brode's "paradox principle" premise--that Allen's "best moments, comic or otherwise, are those in which the image and words contradict one another" (p. 37)--is considered throughout his comprehensive study.
Between Volume I, covering the period 1890-1945, and Volume II, covering 1945-1985, this set provides introductions to the lives and work of approximately four hundred of the world's best-known film directors. Some of the book reflects original research, but the work is primarily the compilation of "information previously scattered through many reference books, monographs, histories, biographies, critical essays, reviews, and interviews" (Preface). Each article is followed by a filmography and a brief bibliography of books and essays on the director.
Woody Allen information: The entry for Woody Allen, at almost 10 pages long, does a good job describing not only his films, but also his influences, his favorite themes, and his experimentation and evolution as a filmmaker. A well-written essay, it provides thorough, analytical synopses of works through 1986.
These works represent volumes 26 and 44 of the Dictionary of Literary Biography series. Together, they provide a valuable introduction to, and assessment of, 129 significant screenwriters through biocritical essays produced by a scholar in the field. By concluding each well-written essay with bibliographic information for books and periodical articles on the subject, this source provides yet another useful starting place.
Woody Allen information: The well-illustrated entry for Woody Allen discusses not only his screenwriting efforts, but also how his plays, books, and recordings likewise mark his evolution to sophisticated artist. Providing a brief but analytical comment on each of his films through 1985, this work serves as yet another solid introduction to the man and his work.
Updated: Semiannually
Woody Allen information: Searching on "allen, woody" yields hundreds of hits. Many of these are duplicates representing different editions of the same work, but once the results are sifted through, the researcher can accumulate a number of good sources for basic biographical information.
Davis PN1998.3 .A455 S38 2000
Davis, UL PN2287 .A53 L325 1991
Davis PN2287 .A53 B76 1985
Davis Ref. PN1998.2 .W67 1987
Davis Ref. Row 3 PS21 .D5185 1978 vol. 26
American Screenwriters, Second Series. Detroit: Gale, 1986.
Davis Ref. Row 3 PS21 .D5185 1978 vol. 44
Publisher: Gale Group, Detroit, 2000
http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/eid/list.php?letter=B
General Description: A useful starting point of any search for basic biographical information, Biography and Genealogy Master Index indexes multiple editions of over 700 current and retrospective biographical reference sources, covering contemporary as well as historical figures.
Location: From the UNC Libraries home page, click on E Indexes and Databases and select B, or use the link above. Then click on the link named Biography and Genealogy Master Index.