Woody Allen - Stardust Memories - Opening Scene

[puckering1]

A Woody Allen classic.

[lotuseater6691]

not as strange as i remember.

[wsdasda]

And look Sharon Stone at 1:10-1:16 interesting

[schooljunke]

totally awesome!

[jerryhello100]

Look at the nose on that kid at 2:22, extraordinary.

[shaneu1]

Every time I see "Stardust Memories" (most recently, last evening), I find myself wishing that Mr. Allen would build an entire film around this scene.

[Hariguez]

Ricorda molto l'inizio di 8 1/2 di Fellini.

It remembers Fellini's 8 1/2.

[JasonRB02]

It's one of my favourite films. Of course it's a rip off of Bergman. It's meant to be. The whole point of the movie is that he's poking fun at himself for wanting to make a serious film and yet all people ever remember is the early funny ones. And actually it is very funny as well.

[Mazurka1001]

Fun to read this on the 'subconscious' level of "Woody Allen"...as obvious as Matzo balls !

[SLACKER614]

this film did not go over big in america because americans are idiots when it comes to films..

[ryznaga]

@SLACKER614 Which is weird since A. Americans have made the greatest movies in the history of cinema B. This is an American movie C. Our film industry dominates the world. D. As well as this website, and most everything you use online.

[SLACKER614]

@ryznaga which is wierd since most of those who created Hollywood were immigrants...its people like you that make people wanna leave this country...you are a disgrace..

[thevoyeursvoyeur]

first of all, this is way more of a tribute than a rip-off. i so wish that directors would "rip-off" fellini and bergman and truffaut and godard and bunuel instead of what they make these days. films would be so much better.

[cremeofthereich]

I liked this flick for it's hillarious moments, I could care less about whether or not there were any intended connections to Fellini or Bergman or Clint fucking Eastwood for that matter. When you laugh here, you'll laugh hard, that's all that counts. 

[Panico2]

for me the scene is woody allen's philosophy of life all over. you can take the happy, joyous route or the miserable, dour one. you both end up at the same point at the end: death, here symbolised by the rubbish dump.

[grafonolafavorite]

@Panico2

In response: Dear Panico2, You are so right.

[coolwasabi2007]

And, yes...this typifies my life...all the people on Woody's train have been part of my life...and yes, the people in the other car I do wish to know....and yes the guy crying is an old friend....if not me...

[coolwasabi2007]

I struggle through life and this opening scene from Stardust Memories typifies my mornings.....

[Misantropist]

Fellini Fellini, fellini ?

[martymarty1956]

this is my life........I'm on the wrong train.

[SarahRyan2002]

Check out 'sarah ryan deluded' You will either love it or hate it.

[CrimsonJupiter]

why do you say that? i just watched it. i don't think it's a love or hate piece. anyway, i liked it :)

[thagen62]

@SarahRyan2002

i think because its a film about making a film, there are definitely lifted from bergman and fellini, there are scenes however that are vintage woody allen

[Duckworth17]

To a degree it's true that

the film is something of a 'mess' ...and lacking seamless quality -- yet there are these 12 MAGNIFICENT SCENES like the first one : which exceeed 81/2 in terms of laughter as ART. Nothing that 've ever seen approaches this scene...way he's fashioned it here. ...(computer screen does not capture it.)

After that you have : 'Tickletoe' Basie scene as car pulls up (though brief - it's spectacular.

Air Balloon scene....with Glenn Miller. Outstanding.

[paulmx]

So Fellini's.

[kikiteka]

It's a clear homage to 8 1/2, but the difference is that 8 1/2 is ultimately joyful. Stardust memories is in the end hopeful, but it's also very angry.

[piffnationpiff]

this film isnt based on laughter, and if thats the only reason you didnt like it, you need to read more into Woody Allen's underlineing themes. do a little more research and this movie will pop out to you. its an awesome movie. philosophy FTW.

[seejaytftf]

It's understandable that you feel stung if a movie you love is subject to criticism, but please don't deride unfavorable opinions as necessarily "hateful."

There is an ugly misanthropy in this film that isn't true of the source material, Fellini's masterpiece "8 1/2." Just as I advice Star Wars fans to check out Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Hidden Fortress, so I highly recommend fans of SM to see the Fellini classic, if they haven't already done so.

[Amir3793]

But you have to see this movie is simply a parody of 81/2 Allen is basicly doing the things Fellini did but eith his own touch honestly I consider Stardudst Memories one of Allen's finest films next to Sleeper, Love and Death, Annie Hall, Sweet and Lowdown and so many more but thats just my humble opinon

[Amir3793]

Besides don't all moviemakers rip off their idols in some way you know the saying imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

[Amebixfan]

All these hateful comments about this movie sadden me :(

[andrewkaboli]

I cannot believe the negative reaction to this film. It is perhaps one of my favorites of Woody's. The immense self indulgence is acknowledged throughout the film. I find it to be full of longing and despair. The film and the director, himself, turn the mirror upon themselves time and time, again. No negative remark could be made that it doesn't already address.

[septip123]

there is no such thing as a "self-indulgent" artist. All artists, actors, directors, painters, etc. must constantly strive to find their own voice. Often, people miss that and they foolishly call it self-indulgence.

[mattrwsmith]

This is my life right now.

[HUTINAK]

After I saw this movie, I surrendered my "Woddy Allen Fan Club" card

I remember the theatre crowd laughing hysterically at the beginning.

Then as the movie progressed , the laughter dwindled , until nothing. 

And then the Walk-Out began

What a disappointment for all who went

[tristianity4u]

This is my least favourite Allen film. To me, it's a shameless ripoff of Fellini and Bergman. I should add that I'm a a big fan of Woody. It's bizarre that half of us Allen fans love this film and the other half can't stand it!

[CrimsonJupiter]

It is also one of my least favorite of his films. But i love the opening ;-)

[goback3spaces]

I'm not as wild about Woody; like some of the characters in this film, I like the "early, funny ones." But I cannot say how dreadful STARDUST MEMORIES is. Just seeing a few scenes on YouTube reminds me of how bankrupt, how ugly, how shameless the plagiarism is, and how contemptible Woody is for leaning so heavily on the work of others. When the whole Soon-Yi business broke, there was a rumor that Sinatra offered to have Woody's legs broken, as a present to Mia. STARDUST is a worse sin.

[tristianity4u]

Wow I wouldn't go that far but I think it's a very misanthropic film. I read somewhere that one of his producers (Rollins or Joffe) was very upset after seeing Stardust and wondered if they had perhaps done something to contribute to the profound unhappiness of Woody Allen.

[goback3spaces]

Yeah, the Sinatra thing goes too far. But it's such a goddamned impertinent film. And I'd hope that Woody, at some point, was himself upset for making Rollins or Joffe unhappy.

[HS22181]

Sinatra should have just done it. That would have been very Night Porter(ish) of him. Recall when Max (Dirk Bogarde) presents Lucia (Charlotte Rampling) with her concentration camp tormentor's head in a box at the end of the cabaret scene in The Night Porter. Perfect.

[goback3spaces]

Never saw THE NIGHT PORTER, but have been meaning to catch up with it. Yeah, the Sinatra mob-fantasy against Woody continues to fascinate. I'd also mention that another of Mia's ex-husbands, Andre Previn, went on record saying that he thought Woody was the most evil man on the planet.

[HS22181]

goback3spaces, Respect to Andre Previn. I have The Night Porter dvd. It is one of my all time favorite films. Clips of The Night Porter are on YouTube. The cabaret scene is one of them. If you enjoy the genre of disturbing movies another I discovered recently is The Girl on the Bridge (French: La fille sur le pont). Clips of it are also on YouTube.

[Amebixfan]

He's constantly said he steals from the best.

[bapyou]

@tristianity4u " a shameless ripoff of Fellini and Bergman."

You could say that. Or you could call it an homage.

[johnnycoyo]

@tristianity4u It's Woody's Favorite and mine too ...Woody always gave Bergman and Fellini there due ...I love the fun he clearly had making this masterpiece :)))

[frankorrall]

@tristianity4u This is one of my favorites, and - actually, I see it as a pure hearted salute to Fellini - with woody's own added style - I appreciate the work.

[grafonolafavorite]

@tristianity4u

Dear tristianity, Where is your sense of humour? Mr. Allen is our Fellini. Our Bergman. I do believe he is a fan of both. He is ripping them both off and he knows it and so does everyone else. Ripping off is pure flattery. Tis one of my favorite Allen movies.

Remember: "If it bends, it's funny. If it breaks, it isn't."

This movie bends. Yours truly, grafinolafavorite.

[Amebixfan]

You should of added the studio executives/critics going mad about it!

[CrimsonJupiter]

No, i shouldn't. It was the whole purpose of putting it up to have it stand alone, out of context with the movie.

[moonphone]

My favorite Woody Allen film. More or less his take on Fellini. I like the symbolic reference with the sand spilling out of the suitcase..-time running out...

[alpiarts]

A scene from such a good movie can say more than thousand words. Thank you for uploading this !

[RuskeaKettu]

Another thank you for posting this clip!

Such a terrific and memorable scene: at once absurd and hilarious, yet poignant all the same. I've certainly had a few life experiences during which I've thought upon this scene.

That's a young Sharon Stone at 1:11 (the glamorous blonde); supposedly this is her film appearance.

[Angelus22]

Totally random, but the woman at 2:25 is my Aunt.

[Bluepoppy19]

Love it, can feel his mounting anxiety and panic as he realises he desperately wants off that life-train/route.

Thanks for posting it.

[bendkafka]

How self-indulgent! Funny stuff. I love it. Thanks for posting.

[westcoast1965]

Thank you for posting this! This is my favourite movie opening of all time!

[tristianity4u]

You should see the opening of the Fellini Film 8 1/2. It may look familiar!

[westcoast1965]

I saw 8 1/2 when I was a kid but don't remember it much.  I realize it's very derivative, I always thought of it as a nod to Bergman. Some of the movie stands up to repeated viewing but I've always found the opening sequence hilarious