This is a revision by Woody Allen of Ingmar Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night. It retains the same period setting, the dawn of the twentieth century, but is transferred to rural New York state. There is an impression of a society on the cusp of change; of liberation for women, and a wave of technology which will challenge the popular belief in spiritualism.
This is Allen's only entirely colour release in a run of four otherwise black and white productions. Gordon Willis cheerfully captures the golden sunlight flitting on the landscape of New England. It is a gorgeous, optimistic film nicely scored with classical pieces.
It mostly reflects on themes related to sexual desire. Three couples meet at a country house, but change partners during a long night of enchantment as they experience the ethereal magic of the woods. The ensemble cast is wonderful. Julie Hagerty stands out as a sexually pragmatic nurse.
Woody also scores as Wall Street banker seeking to invent man powered flight. Great to see Tony Roberts back as his womanising pal. This is one of the director's most purely uplifting experiences, brimming with wit and accessible philosophy. It really should be better known.