Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

13 October 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A film about humanity.

Plot:

An opthamologist's mistress threatens to reveal their affair to his wife, while a married documentary filmmaker is infatuated by another woman.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Mistress | Doctor | Adultery | New York

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Bill Bernstein	...	Testimonial Speaker
Martin Landau	...	Judah Rosenthal
Claire Bloom	...	Miriam Rosenthal
Stephanie Roth Haberle	...	Sharon Rosenthal (as Stephanie Roth)
Gregg Edelman	...	Chris
George J. Manos	...	Photographer (as George Manos)
Anjelica Huston	...	Dolores Paley
Woody Allen	...	Cliff Stern
Jenny Nichols	...	Jenny
Joanna Gleason	...	Wendy Stern
Alan Alda	...	Lester
Sam Waterston	...	Ben
Zina Jasper	...	Carol
Dolores Sutton	...	Judah's Secretary
Joel Fogel	...	T.V. Producer (as Joel S. Fogel)
Donna Castellano	...	T.V. Producer
Thomas Crowe	...	T.V. Producer (as Thomas P. Crow)
Mia Farrow	...	Halley Reed
Martin S. Bergmann	...	Prof. Louis Levy
Caroline Aaron	...	Barbara
Kenny Vance	...	Murray
Jerry Orbach	...	Jack Rosenthal
Jerry Zaks	...	Man on Campus
Barry Finkel	...	T.V. Writer
Steve Maidment	...	T.V. Writer
Nadia Sanford	...	Alva
Chester Malinowski	...	Hit Man
Stanley Reichman	...	Chris's Father
Rebecca Schull	...	Chris's Mother
David S. Howard	...	Sol Rosenthal
Garrett Simowitz	...	Young Judah
Frances Conroy	...	House Owner
Anna Berger	...	Aunt May
Sol Frieder	...	Seder Guest
Justin Zaremby	...	Seder Guest
Marvin Terban	...	Seder Guest
Hy Anzell	...	Seder Guest
Sylvia Kauders	...	Seder Guest
Victor Argo	...	Detective
Lenore Loveman	...	Wedding Guest
Nora Ephron	...	Wedding Guest
Sunny Keyser	...	Wedding Guest
Merv Bloch	...	Wedding Guest
Nancy Arden	...	Wedding Guest
Thomas L. Bolster	...	Wedding Guest
Myla Pitt	...	Wedding Guest
Robin Bartlett	...	Wedding Guest
Grace Phillips	...	Bride (as Grace Zimmerman)
Randy Aaron Fink	...	Groom
Joel Y. Zion	...	Rabbi (as Rabbi Joel Zion)
Major Halley Jr.	...	Jazz Band
Walt Levinsky	...	Jazz Band (as Walter Levinsky)
George Masso	...	Jazz Band
Charles Miles	...	Jazz Band
Derek Smith	...	Jazz Band
Warren Vaché	...	Jazz Band
Pete Antell	...	Wedding Band
Anthony Gorruso	...	Wedding Band
Gary Allen Meyers	...	Wedding Band
Lee Musiker	...	Wedding Band
Tony Sotos	...	Wedding Band
Tony Tedesco	...	Wedding Band
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nancy Cohen	...	Kathy - Makeup Person (uncredited)
Marilyn Dobrin	...	Theater Popcorn Vendor (uncredited)
Avner Eisenberg	...	Brother-in-law (uncredited)
Matthew T. Gitkin	...	Cliff's Assistant (uncredited)
Daryl Hannah	...	Lisa Crosley (uncredited)
Wanda Toscanini Horowitz	...	Herself (uncredited)
Peter Kalin	...	Fantasy Focus During Dance Sequence (uncredited)
Fred Melamed	...	The Dean (uncredited)
Benito Mussolini	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Maggie Wagner	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Greenhut	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	executive producer
Thomas A. Reilly	....	associate producer (as Thomas Reilly)
Helen Robin	....	associate producer
Jack Rollins	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Sven Nykvist

Film Editing by
Susan E. Morse

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Speed Hopkins

Set Decoration by
Susan Bode

Costume Design by
Jeffrey Kurland

Makeup Department
Fern Buchner	....	makeup artist
Anthony Cortino	....	hair stylist
Romaine Greene	....	hair stylist
Frances A. Kolar	....	makeup artist (as Frances Kolar)
Craig Lyman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph Hartwick	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Huberman	....	dga trainee
Richard Patrick	....	second assistant director
Thomas A. Reilly	....	first assistant director (as Thomas Reilly)

Art Department
Joseph Alfieri	....	stand-by carpenter (as Joe Alfieri)
Vincent Guarriello	....	chief construction grip
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department coordinator
James Mazzola	....	property master
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator
Cosmo Sorice	....	stand-by scenic artist
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist
Dave Weinman	....	set dresser
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jeanne Atkin	....	apprentice sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer: Sound One Corporation
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist
Robert Hein	....	sound editor (as Bob Hein)
Lori Kornspun	....	assistant sound editor
James Sabat	....	production sound mixer
Louis Sabat	....	boom operator
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ronald Burke	....	dolly grip
Michael Caracciolo	....	second assistant camera
Michael Green	....	assistant camera
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Jim Manzione	....	best boy
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator
Chris Noor	....	assistant camera trainee
Ray Quinlan	....	gaffer
Robert Ward	....	key grip (as Bob Ward)
David E. Baron	....	camera intern (uncredited)

Casting Department
Judie Fixler	....	additional casting: Todd Thaler Casting
Victoria Kress	....	casting assistant
Ellen Lewis	....	casting associate
Laura Rosenthal	....	casting assistant
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Christians	....	wardrobe supervisor: men
Patricia Eiben	....	wardrobe supervisor: women
Lauren Gibson	....	costume assistant
Donna Zakowska	....	assistant costume designer
Ursula Schrader	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
William Kruzykowski	....	assistant film editor
Mark Livolsi	....	assistant film editor
Anne McCabe	....	apprentice film editor

Music Department
Bernie Leighton	....	musician: piano
Joe Malin	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
Harold 'Whitey' McEvoy	....	transportation captain
Peter Tavis	....	transportation co-captain
Patrick Hogan	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jerry Caron	....	assistant production coordinator
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
Shari Chertok	....	film researcher
David Davenport	....	production assistant
Michael DeCasper	....	production assistant
Jonathan Filley	....	location manager
Barbara Heller	....	location scout
Michael Jackman	....	assistant production auditor
Amy Leigh Johnson	....	assistant: Mr. Allen
Linda Lilienfeld	....	film researcher
Peter Lombardi	....	production auditor
Brian Mannain	....	studio manager
Kati Meister	....	film researcher
Elise Pettus	....	production assistant
Dana Robin	....	location scout
Helen Robin	....	production coordinator
Scott Schaffer	....	craft service (as Scott Shaffer)
Doug Shannon	....	production assistant
Jay Smith	....	production assistant
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Gilbert S. Williams	....	production assistant
Granville Greene	....	production assistant (uncredited)
David Lanphier Jr.	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Joe McDougall	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Matthew T. Weiner	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Nicholas Wolfert	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Flashstar (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1990) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1990) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (1990) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Canal Film (2008) (Norway) (TV)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)

Other Companies

• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• Optical House, The  titles
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• Pacific Title  optical effects
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording
• Todd Thaler Casting  additional casting

Also Known As:

"Crímenes y pecados" - Argentina, Mexico (imdb display title)
"Verbrechen und andere Kleinigkeiten" - Austria, West Germany
"Apisties kai amarties" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Bűnök és vétkek" - Hungary
"Brott och förseelser" - Finland (Swedish title)
"Crimes e Escapadelas" - Portugal
"Crimes e Pecados" - Brazil
"Crimes et délits" - France
"Crimini e misfatti" - Italy
"Delictes i faltes" - Spain (Catalan title)
"Delitos y faltas" - Spain
"Mord og andre misforståelser" - Norway
"Rikoksia ja rikkomuksia" - Finland
"Små och stora brott" - Sweden
"Små og store synder" - Denmark
"Suçlar ve kabahatler" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Zbrodnie i wykroczenia" - Poland (imdb display title)
"Zlocini i prestupi" - Serbia (imdb display title)
"Zlociny a poklesky" - Czechoslovakia (Czech title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:12 | Norway:10 | Norway:15 (self applied) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Peru:14 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG-13 | UK:15 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Trivia:

Cameo: [Daryl Hannah]

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Judah decides to have Delores killed, he only dials seven digits on the phone calling his brother, Jack. Judah lives in Connecticut and Jack lives in New York, so he would have to dial at least 10 digits to call him.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Testimonial Speaker:We're all very proud of Judah Rosenthal's philanthropic efforts. His endless hours of fund raising for the hospital, the new medical center, and now, the ophthalmology wing, which until this year had just been a dream. But it's due to Rosenthal our friend that we most appreciate. The husband, the father, the golf companion. Naturally if you have a medical problem you can call Judah...
Miriam Rosenthal:You're blushing darling.
Testimonial Speaker:...day or night, weekends or holidays. But you can also call Judah to find out which is the best restaurant in Paris - or Athens. Or which hotel to stay at in Moscow. Or the best recording of a particular Mozart symphony...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Beverly Hills, 90210: Crimes and Misdemeanors (#8.19)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Because

Rare film that ventures into Good and Evil Conscience

Let's begin by declaring that you do not need to be a Woody Allen fan to appreciate this film. As is often the case, Allen's schlemiel character is the least sympathetic and interesting one in the movie.

But that aside, here's a story that I found thoroughly engaging. Is there a perfect crime? Is guilt the same as remorse? How does a "good" person come to terms with his sins?

The blind Rabbi: Is God unseeing? The Holocaust survivor philosopher who challenges survival (that's all I can say without spoiling): is there any real redemption?

The movie has flaws but I give it a "10" for daring to ask serious questions. (And the visit to the old house in Brooklyn has a dynamism that all of us who remember our childhood homes will relate to.)