Sleeper (1973)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writers:

Woody Allen (written by) and
Marshall Brickman (written by)

Release Date:

17 December 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A love story about two people who hate each other. 200 years in the future.

Plot:

A nerdish store owner is revived out of cryostasis into a future world to fight an oppressive government.

Plot Keywords:

Future | Sex | Robot | Orgasmatron | Health Food

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Miles Monroe
Diane Keaton	...	Luna Schlosser
John Beck	...	Erno Windt
Mary Gregory	...	Dr. Melik
Don Keefer	...	Dr. Tryon
John McLiam	...	Dr. Aragon
Bartlett Robinson	...	Dr. Orva
Chris Forbes	...	Rainer Krebs
Mews Small	...	Dr. Nero (as Marya Small)
Peter Hobbs	...	Dr. Dean
Susan Miller	...	Ellen Pogrebin
Lou Picetti	...	M.C.
Jessica Rains	...	Woman In The Mirror
Brian Avery	...	Herald Cohen
Spencer Milligan	...	Jeb Hrmthmg
Stanley Ross	...	Sears Swiggles
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Cannon	...	Various Voice-Overs (voice)
Regis Cordic	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Howard Cosell	...	Himself (on Wide World of Sports) (archive footage) (uncredited)
George Furth	...	Guest at Luna's Party (uncredited)
Laurence Kirchmar	...	McDonald's Kid (uncredited)
Jackie Mason	...	Robot Tailor (voice) (uncredited)
Richard Nixon	...	Himself (Checkers speech, discloses his personal finances) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Albert Popwell	...	Reprogramming Scientist (uncredited)
Douglas Rain	...	Evil Computer / Various Robot Butlers (voice) (uncredited)
Whitney Rydbeck	...	Janus (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits
Woody Allen		(written by) and
Marshall Brickman		(written by)

Produced by
Marshall Brickman	....	associate producer
Jack Grossberg	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	executive producer
Ralph Rosenblum	....	associate producer
Jack Rollins	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Woody Allen

Cinematography by
David M. Walsh

Film Editing by
O. Nicholas Brown
Ron Kalish
Ralph Rosenblum

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Dale Hennesy

Set Decoration by
Gary Moreno

Costume Design by
Joel Schumacher

Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup artist
Janice Brunson	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred T. Gallo	....	first assistant director
Henry J. Lange Jr.	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Barry Bedig	....	property master
Charles Deaton	....	architect: Doctor Melik's house
Jack M. Marino	....	assistant property master
Gary Martin	....	set coordinator (as Gary O. Martin)
Dianne Wager	....	set designer

Sound Department
Al Gramaglia	....	sound re-recording mixer: Magno Sound Recording Inc.
Norman Kasow	....	sound effects editor: Filmsounds, Inc.
Jack Solomon	....	sound mixer
Jess Soraci	....	sound effects editor: Filmsounds, Inc.

Special Effects by
A.D. Flowers	....	special effects
Gerald Endler	....	location special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bill Hansard	....	background projection
Harvey Plastrik	....	opticals
Ralph Rosenblum	....	visual effects editor (uncredited)

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator
James M. Halty	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Edesa	....	gaffer
Norman Harris	....	best boy (as Norman L. Harris)
Clyde Hart	....	key grip (as Clyde W. Hart)
Roger Shearman	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arnie Lipin	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Arnold M. Lipin)
G. Fern Weber	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Trudy Ship	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Felix Giglio	....	music supervisor
Phil Ramone	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Joe Sawyers	....	transportation captain (as Joe R. Sawyers)

Other crew
Antonio Encarnacion	....	assistant to producer (as Tony Encamacion)
Jean Gingerich	....	production accountant
Norman Gorbaty	....	title designer
Doris Grau	....	script supervisor
Lori Imbler	....	production secretary
R.J. Louis	....	location coordinator
Joel Marrow	....	assistant to producer
Peter J. Silbermann	....	unit publicist
Ben Bova	....	science consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Rollins-Joffe Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• New Star (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• United Artists Films (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1974) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• C.V.D.  Italian dubbing by
• Cinemobile System  locations
• Filmsounds  sound effects editing
• Magno Sound  sound re-recording
• Michael's Pub, New York City  music recording facility
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans  score performed by
• Preservation Hall, New Orleans  music recording facility
• The New Orleans Funderal Ragtime Orchestra  score performed by

Also Known As:

Der Schläfer (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
El dormilón (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
200 yil sonra (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
A hétalvó (Hungary) [hu]
El dormilega (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Il dormiglione (Italy) [it]
O Dorminhoco (Brazil) [pt]
O Herói do Ano 2000 (Portugal) [pt]
O ypnaras (Greece) [el]
Sjusovaren (Sweden) [sv]
Sleeper (Netherlands) [nl]
Sleeper - mig og fremtiden (Denmark) [da]
Spioch (Poland) [pl]
Unikeko (Finland) [fi]
Woody et les robots (France) [fr]
Yashnuni (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Yiddish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Finland:K-11 (new rating: 2001) | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Iceland:Unrated | Ireland:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Boulder, Colorado, USA

Company:

Rollins-Joffe Productions

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Woody Allen] [writer]Luna is a poet.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Volkswagen could not possibly start after 200 years in a cave. Gasoline typically has a 30 day shelf life. After 30 days the aromatic parts of the gasoline noticeably start to evaporate, and it begins a chemical breakdown process into gum, resin and varnish which cause misfires and poor starts, poor performance, and could cause engine damage. Degraded fuel in a running engine also leaves deposits in the carburetor plugging essential passages and can also leave deposits on the intake valve stem causing it to hang up and not close properly or even not to close at all.

Quotes:

Luna Schlosser: I think we should have had sex, but there weren't enough people.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Just Shoot Me!: My Dinner with Woody (#2.6)" (1997)

A treasure among other comedies because of its wit and charm.

Woody Allen's films are generally treasured among other comedies because of their wit and charm. Many critics would agree, though, that Allen's earlier films were among his best. One of those movies was a lighthearted film called `Sleeper,' which starred a younger version of Allen and a younger, but always beautiful Diane Keaton. Although `Sleeper' leaves a person in stitches from laughter, its one flaw is that it lacks an ending. But don't let that stop you from seeing this comedy classic. In the end, who cares where it goes because it's just flat out funny. `Sleeper' is the story of Miles Monroe (Allen), who is cryogenically frozen in 1973 after having a procedure in a hospital. He is awoken nearly 200 years later by a group of scientists who want Monroe to help them defeat the leader of their society, as America's future consists of a totalitarian state. While on his adventure through this futuristic world, Monroe meets a beautiful woman named Luna Schlosser (Keaton) who he begins to have a love interest in. The two team up to try to oust their tyrannical government and bring about freedom and prosperity. `Sleeper' was hysterical from beginning to end. The very opening scene shows Monroe covered in tin foil-clearly scientists in 1973 found new and amazing uses for this wonderful kitchen product. As soon as Monroe awakens, he is disoriented, smiling aimlessly into space and walking backwards and into people. Allen's comical blend of intellect and charm shows up soon after. The futuristic society is comprised of people who have no historical references for the events of the past 200 years, as their leader has undoubtedly outlawed certain forms of knowledge that could lead to rebellion. They use Monroe to fill in the historical gaps by showing him pictures of famous twentieth century individuals, such as Joseph Stalin. Monroe provides his own synopsis of their contributions to the world in his own clever way, as he does also for former President Nixon. Allen's writing, direction and performance were hilarious. Rarely do we see writing as clever and sidesplitting in today's comedies. The only other comic director today that could even compare to Allen would be Christopher Guest, whose mockumentary films such as `Best In Show,' and the recent `A Mighty Wind,' have a real source of comedy. Most present comedies are trivial, filled with rehashed jokes that depend more on toilet humor than any form of real wittiness. The film's only problem is that after an hour and a half, it doesn't seem to know what to do with itself. It ends on a clever note about love with the protagonists somehow managing to save themselves, but not really the day. They realize that perhaps the only thing worth fighting for, in the end is love. All in all, `Sleeper' was a very funny farce on science fiction stories, and it cemented Allen's ability to be an engaging and funny in his films. ***