Rent Play It Again, Sam (1972)

Comedy Classic. - Play It Again, Sam review by Steve

My pick for the funniest film ever made, adapted from Woody Allen's Broadway hit. Woody goes through a crisis after his wife leaves him. He gets trapped in a fantasy world where he is given life/love lessons by an apparition of Humphrey Bogart (Jerry Lacy), while he suffers a series of excruciating dates with kooks, neurotics and oddballs...

Until he falls in love with Diane Keaton, the wife of his best friend (Tony Roberts). The scenario is huge fun for film fans as Bogart gives macho advice in his screen image. And Woody plays his own stand up persona of the luckless neurotic. He and Keaton are fantastic together, as they always are.

Woody Allen's screenplay is among the greats. There's a stunning line every minute and the quotable dialogue is as beautifully written as it is hilarious. Like when Woody tries to pick up a suicidal woman in a gallery. Or when he strikes out with a nymphomaniac...

The physical humour is just as funny. This is different from Woody's other early films. It has a story arc rather than being a collection of sketches strung together. It's set in 'Frisco. The characters are more developed. There are so many great gags, but the film is quietly moving too, with engaging themes.

'Of all the gin joints in all the world...' - Play It Again, Sam review by AS

If you're a fan of Woody Allen's verbal and physical gags, you have to see this play-turned-movie which has a flock of both every five minutes. It's the original Woody neurotic character trying to get a girl (with a little help from Humphrey Bogart) and he's never done it better. But to make sense of the proceedings and much of the dialogue and, of course, the iconic closing scene, you first must see 'Casablanca'. (If you haven't seen 'Casablanca' what planet have you been living on?)