Review of Midsummer Night´s Sex Comedy, A

Introduction

This is Woody Allen in lyrical mood again. Comparisons in style with Ingmar Bergman are frequently made by cineastes, but personally I find Woody`s film-making much more accessible. Set in the turn-of-the-20th-Century, this is a comedy of sexual manners. Anybody hoping for anything remotely racy should be ashamed of themselves. Woody Allen`s nearest-the-knuckle moments are restricted to "What`s New Pussycat", "Everything You Wanted To Know.." and of course his private life. This movie was made at a happier time in his life, signified by the presence of Mia Farrow as his first-time leading lady. Supported by a large, talented cast including Jose Ferrer, Julie Hagerty (of Airplane!) and Mary Steenbergen, this is a surprisingly amiable picture, full of charm and perfect observation.

Video

Sumptuously shot in Technicolor by Gordon Willis, the movie is presented in its original 1.85:1 anamorphic ratio. MGM have done a good job as ever making a transfer to DVD and this film should be in anybody`s Woody Allen collection.

Audio

This movie comes with an uneventful Dolby 2.0 Stereo soundtrack. Woody Allen has never embraced the more whizz-bang elements of film soundtrack recording, happy with a simple mono, or at a stretch plain vanilla stereo mix. This film is no exception. The incidental music consists of selections from Mendelssohn.

Features

Woody Allen insists on a moratorium on extras for his films, believing they should stand up on their own without bells and whistles. There are the original theatrical trailer and full English hard-of-hearing subtitles.

Conclusion

Woody Allen eschews his favourite Manhattan for the countryside in this underrated movie. Beautifully shot and full of delightful moments of dialogue and human observation, it is a shame that the film is not recognised by a wider audience. One of the film`s best moments is Woody`s flying bicycle and the logic that brings it to earth.