Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story

Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story
Directed by Woody Allen
Produced by Jack Kuney
Written by Woody Allen
Starring Woody Allen
Diane Keaton
Jean De Baer
Narrated by Reed Hadley
Edited by Eric Albertson
Release dates
  • 1971
Running time
 25 mins
Country United States
Language English

Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story is a short film directed by Woody Allen in 1971. The film was a satirization of the Richard Nixon administration[1] made in mockumentary style.[2][3]

Allen plays Harvey Wallinger, a thinly disguised version of Henry Kissinger.[3] The short was produced as a television special for PBS and was scheduled to air in February 1972, but it was pulled from the schedule shortly before the airdate. Reportedly, PBS officials feared losing its government support and decided not to air it.[1][2] Allen, who previously had sworn off doing television work, cited this as an example of why he should "stick to movies".[2] The special never aired and can now be viewed in The Paley Center for Media.[4]

Two of Allen's regular leading ladies, Louise Lasser and Diane Keaton, make appearances, as does the Richard Nixon-lookalike Richard M. Dixon. The fictional characters are interspersed with newsreel footage of Hubert Humphrey, Spiro Agnew, and Nixon in embarrassing public moments. Allen would later explore this style again in Zelig.[1][3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Stewart, Barbara (1997-12-04). "Showering Shtick On the White House: The Untold Story; Woody Allen Spoofed Nixon in 1971, But the TV Film Was Never Shown". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Zaloudek, Mark (2007-11-16). "TV producer Kuney earned many honors". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 James, Caryn (1997-12-04). "Pointing The Way to 'Annie Hall' And Beyond". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  4. ↑ Delaney, Pete. "The Best of Woody Allen's 'Early/Funny' TV: Part Three". TVparty!. Retrieved 2009-08-19.

External links