Mighty Aphrodite (1995)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

11 January 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

The new comedy from Woody Allen

Plot:

When he discovers his adopted son is a genius, a New York sportswriter seeks out the boy's birth mother: a prostitute.

Plot Keywords:

Prostitute | Adopted Son | Greek Chorus | New York | Adoption

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 13 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Pamela Blair	...	Greek Chorus
Rene Ceballos	...	Greek Chorus (as René Ceballos)
Elie Chaib	...	Greek Chorus
George De La Pena	...	Greek Chorus
Joanne DiMauro	...	Greek Chorus
Denise Faye	...	Greek Chorus
Marian Filali	...	Greek Chorus (as Marianne Filali)
Angelo Fraboni	...	Greek Chorus
Scott Fowler	...	Greek Chorus
Seth Gertsacov	...	Greek Chorus
Patti Karr	...	Greek Chorus
Fred Mann III	...	Greek Chorus
John Mineo	...	Greek Chorus
Christopher Nelson	...	Greek Chorus
Valda Setterfield	...	Greek Chorus
Sven Toorvald	...	Greek Chorus
F. Murray Abraham	...	Leader
Woody Allen	...	Lenny
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Amanda
J. Smith-Cameron	...	Bud's Wife
Steven Randazzo	...	Bud
David Ogden Stiers	...	Laius
Olympia Dukakis	...	Jocasta
Jeffrey Kurland	...	Oedipus
Tucker Robin	...	Infant Max
Donald Symington	...	Amanda's Father
Claire Bloom	...	Amanda's Mother
Nolan Tuffy	...	Two-Year-Old Max (as Nolan Tuffey)
Jimmy McQuaid	...	Max
Yvette Hawkins	...	School Principal
Karin Haidorfer	...	Park Avenue Couple
Gary Alper	...	Park Avenue Couple
Rosemary Murphy	...	Adoption Coordinator
Peter McRobbie	...	Linda's Ex-Landlord
Kathleen Doyle	...	Ex-Landlord's Wife
Jennifer Greenhut	...	Lenny's Secretary
Sondra James	...	Operator / Chorus Voice
Paul Giamatti	...	Extras Guild Researcher
William Addy	...	Superintendent
Peter Weller	...	Jerry Bender
Kenneth Edelson	...	Ken
Danielle Ferland	...	Cassandra
Mira Sorvino	...	Linda Ash
Dan Mullane	...	Messenger
Thomas Durkin	...	Race Announcer
Dan Moran	...	Ricky, the Pimp
Paul Herman	...	Ricky's Friend
Tony Sirico	...	Boxing Trainer
Tony Darrow	...	Boxing Trainer
Ray Garvey	...	Boxing Trainer
Michael Rapaport	...	Kevin
Jack Warden	...	Tiresias
Kent Blocher	...	Zeus (voice)
Joseph P. Coleman	...	Porno Film Star
Georgette Pasare	...	Porno Film Star
Al Cerullo	...	Actual Helicopter Pilot
Bray Poor	...	On-camera Helicopter Pilot
David H. Kramer	...	Chorus Voice
Dann Fink	...	Chorus Voice
Karen Longwell	...	Chorus Voice
Dominic Marcus	...	Chorus Voice
Craig Sechler	...	Chorus Voice
Bill Timoney	...	Chorus Voice
Lisa Vidal	...	Chorus Voice
Bruce Winant	...	Chorus Voice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John D. Bair	...	Lenny's Office Clerk (uncredited)
John Dalton	...	Art Gallery Snob (uncredited)
Barney Fitzpatrick	...	Sports Reporter (uncredited)
Julie Halston	...	Guest (uncredited)
Adrian Lee	...	Chatty Park Woman (uncredited)
Rawleigh Moreland	...	Sports Reporter (uncredited)
Paul Navarra	...	Sports Reporter (uncredited)
Don Wallace	...	Julius (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Letty Aronson	....	co-executive producer
J.E. Beaucaire	....	executive producer
Jean Doumanian	....	executive producer
Robert Greenhut	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	co-executive producer
Thomas A. Reilly	....	associate producer (as Thomas Reilly)
Helen Robin	....	co-producer
Jack Rollins	....	co-executive producer

Cinematography by
Carlo Di Palma		(director of photography) (as Carlo DiPalma)

Film Editing by
Susan E. Morse

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Tom Warren

Set Decoration by
Susan Bode

Costume Design by
Jeffrey Kurland

Makeup Department
Fern Buchner	....	makeup designer
Romaine Greene	....	hair designer
Werner Sherer	....	hair (as Werner Scherer)
Rosemary Zurlo	....	makeup artist
Alessandro Bertolazzi	....	key makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lucia Connelli	....	production supervisor: Italy (as Lucia Comelli)
Paolo Pioggia	....	production manager: Italy
Helen Robin	....	production manager
Michele Virgilio	....	production manager: Italy

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

Art Department
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter
Gianni Giovagnoni	....	art director: Italy (as Gianni Giovannoni)
Vincent Guarriello	....	chief construction grip
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department coordinator
James Mazzola	....	property master
Wayne Moss	....	standby carpenter
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator
James Sorice	....	master scenic
Dave Weinman	....	set dresser
Ian Zdatny	....	standby scenic artist

Sound Department
Gary Alper	....	production sound mixer
Lee Dichter	....	re-recording mixer: Sound One Corp.
Dan Evans Farkas	....	assistant sound editor (as Daniel Evans Farkas)
Tom Gould	....	cableperson
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor (as Bob Hein)
Bradford L. Hohle	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Stuart Levy	....	foley supervisor
Kimberly R. McCord-Wilson	....	apprentice sound editor (as Kimberly McCord)
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
Micah Solomon	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
David E. Baron	....	second assistant cameraman (as Dave Baron)
Deborah Brozina	....	camera trainee (as Deborah E. Brozina)
Ronald Burke	....	best boy grip
Jack Coffen	....	best boy electric
Michael Green	....	first assistant cameraman
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Walter Iooss Jr.	....	photographs: select sports, courtesy of
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator
Michael Proscia Jr.	....	gaffer
Robert Ward	....	key grip (as Bob Ward)
Alfredo Betrò	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Chris Hammond	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Judie Fixler	....	additional casting: Todd Thaler Casting
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto	....	casting assistant (as Patricia Kerrigan)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Glaser	....	assistant costume designer
Virginia D. Patton	....	costumer assistant
Melissa Stanton	....	wardrobe supervisor
Benjamin Wilson	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Kent Blocher	....	assistant film editor
William Kruzykowski	....	assistant film editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Mary Sue Berry	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Sid Cooper	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Al Dana	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Kenny Davern	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Kevin De Simone	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Dick Hyman Chorus & Orchestra	....	performer: "When You're Smiling"
Paul Evans	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Chrissy Faith	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
John Frosk	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Vince Giordano	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Milt Grayson	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Joel Helleny	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Dick Hyman	....	music arranger
Dick Hyman	....	music conductor
Kenny Karen	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Randy Lawrence	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Walt Levinsky	....	music recording supervisor (as Walter Levinsky)
Jeff Lyons	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Joe Malin	....	musicians coordinator
Michael Mark	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Arlene Martel	....	chorus: Dick Hyman (as Arlene Martell)
George Masso	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Charles McGruder	....	chorus: Dick Hyman (as Charles Magruder)
June McGruder	....	chorus: Dick Hyman (as June Magruder)
Helen Miles	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Jenna Miles	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Billy Page	....	composer: "The 'In' Crowd"
Bucky Pizzarelli	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Robert Ragaini	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Lenny Roberts	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Annette Sanders	....	chorus: Dick Hyman
Randy Sandke	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra (as Randal Sandke)
Ted Sommer	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Vanéese Y. Thomas	....	chorus: Dick Hyman (as Vaneese Thomas)
Frank Wess	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Joe Wilder	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Chuck Wilson	....	musician: Dick Hyman Orchestra
Roy B. Yokelson	....	music recording engineer

Transportation Department
Harold 'Whitey' McEvoy	....	transportation captain (as Harold McEvoy)
Peter Tavis	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Erika Aronson	....	location assistant
Nicolò Bongiorno	....	production staff: Italy (as Nicolo Baongiomo)
Salvatore Carino	....	assistant production auditor
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
Alexander Cohen	....	production assistant
Graciela Daniele	....	choreographer
Drew Dillard	....	location scout
Genka Emili	....	production staff: Italy
Lauren Gibson	....	assistant to: Mr. Allen
Dori Golod	....	assistant production coordinator
Ken Halsband	....	location assistant (as Kenneth Halsband)
Hernando Henao	....	craft service: Something's Cooking
Sam Hutchins	....	location scout
Eric Kopeloff	....	assistant to: Ms. Morse
Scott Kordish	....	production coordinator
Caryn Krooth	....	production assistant
Nancy Lefkowitz	....	production assistant
Valeria Licurgo	....	production staff: Italy
John A. Machione	....	production auditor
Lilene Mansell	....	dialect coach
Fabio Napolitano	....	production staff: Italy
Dana Robin	....	location manager
Willie Rosario	....	assistant choreographer
Phil Schulz	....	production assistant (as Philip Schultz)
Cinzia Sleiter	....	production staff: Italy
Marce Sterner	....	location scout
Chap Taylor	....	production assistant
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Mark Van Holstein	....	location scout (as Mark von Holstein)
Gilbert S. Williams	....	production assistant (as Gilbert S. Williams Jr.)
Julia Wilson Dickson	....	dialect coach (as Julia Wilson Dixon)
Cary Wong	....	production assistant
Tom Yeager	....	studio manager
Melissa Zaroff	....	production assistant
Joseph Zolfo	....	production assistant
John P. Adams	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Derek Decelles	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Peter Soldo	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Eric Yellin	....	production assistant: re-shoots (uncredited)

Thanks
Greg Johnson	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank for their assistance
Floyd Patterson	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank for their assistance
Dan Reeves	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank for their assistance
Jill Rosenthal	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank for their assistance: Questers Tours & Travel
Martin Schnell	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank for their assistance: 20th Century Draperies

Production Companies

• Sweetland Films (A Jean Doumanian Production)
• Magnolia Pictures (as Magnolia Productions, Inc.)
• Miramax Films (uncredited)

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1996) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (1996) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Concorde Film (1996) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (1996) (France) (theatrical)
• Emerald (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (1996) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Spentzos Films (Greece) (VHS)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bangladesh) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bhutan) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (India) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Maldives) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Nepal) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Pakistan) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Sri Lanka) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Asienda Autonoma Incremento Toristico  special thanks for the use of
• B.B.E. Politecne Associates  production unit: Italy
• Big John's Moving  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Big John's Moving, Inc.)
• Christinerose Gallery  select artwork courtesy of: "True Love," 1993 by Elizabeth Berdann; "Web Breasts," 1994 by Julia Kunin; "Reason of Sorts," 1994 by Charles Lahti
• Comune e Apt Taormine  special thanks for the use of
• Du Art Film Laboratories  color by (as DuArt Film Laboratories)
• Effects House, The  titles
• Everlast Sports Mfg Co.  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• J.G. Films  negative matching (as J.G. Films, Inc.)
• Knoedler & Company  select artwork courtesy of: "Sockard on Orange," 1973 by Robert Motherwell; "Dreen Blue," 1994 by Sean Scully
• Madison Square Garden Organization  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Madison Square Garden Corporation)
• Magnolia Productions  acknowledgment: is the author of this motion picture for purposes of copyright and other laws (as Magnolia Productions, Inc.)
• Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Milwaukee Bucks, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• National Basketball Association  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as NBA Entertainment, Inc.)
• New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• New Jersey Turnpike Authority  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• New York City Department of Parks and Recreation  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as New York City Department of Parks & Recreation)
• New York Giants  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as The New York Giants)
• New York Knickerbockers Basketball Club, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• On Location Education  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex® Cameras by
• Questers Tours & Travel  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Questers Tours & Travel, Inc)
• RHH/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as RHH/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services, Inc.)
• Regione Siciliana Assessorato Turismo Comunicazion  special thanks for the use of (as Regione Sicilia-Assessorato Turismo)
• Something's Cooking  craft service
• Sony Classical  soundtrack (uncredited)
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording mixer (as Sound One Corp.)
• Sovraitenoenza Antichita e Belle Art  special thanks for the use of
• Sportsradio 66, WFAN, New York  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as WFAN-NY Sports Radio-66AM)
• Sweetland Films  acknowledgment: is the author of this motion picture for purposes of copyright and other laws (as Sweetland Films, Inc.)
• Teatro Greco  special thanks for the use of: Greek Theatre
• Technicolor  prints by
• Todd Thaler Casting  additional casting
• Town of Southampton Department of Parks & Recreation  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Village of North Tarrytown  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Village of Quogue, NY  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance

Also Known As:

"Poderosa Afrodita" - Argentina, Mexico (imdb display title), Spain
"Geliebte Aphrodite" - Austria, Germany
"Maudite Aphrodite" - Canada (French title), France
"Poderosa Afrodite" - Brazil, Portugal
"Akatamahiti Afroditi" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Aphrodita Ha-Gdolla" - Israel (Hebrew title)
"Frodige Afrodite" - Norway (imdb display title)
"Hatalmas Aphrodité" - Hungary
"Jej wysokosc Afrodyta" - Poland (imdb display title)
"La dea dell'amore" - Italy
"Mig og Afrodite" - Denmark
"Mocna Afrodita" - Serbia (imdb display title)
"Mogocna Afrodita" - Slovenia
"På tal om Afrodite" - Sweden
"Poderosa Afrodita" - Spain (Catalan title)
"Rakkauden jumalatar" - Finland
"Sevimli fahise" - Turkey (Turkish title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sex-related material

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (Mono)

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Denmark:A | Finland:S | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Sweetland Films

Trivia:

In the scene where the football practice is taking place, one of the players in shorts, T-shirt and a baseball cap is legendary 49ers quarterback Joe Montana.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The scene at the school where Lenny and Amanda consider sending their child was shot at the City & Country School in New York, a world-famous progressive K-8 school in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan. During their visit, a school administrator mentions that the child's test scores are acceptable. In real life, however, the school does not use standardized-test scores when considering prospective students.

Quotes:

Linda Ash:You didn't want a blowjob so the least I could do is get you a tie.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Edición Especial Coleccionista: Casino Royale (#3.6)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Li'l Darlin'

Superb balance between sophistication and corn

Spike Jones once said that his material was too corny for sophisticated people but too sophisticated for corny people. Woody Allen's material can lend itself to similar critique. Mighty Aphrodite has a superb balance between sophistication and corn.

The Greek chorus idea is very well used, both at a sophisticated level - the film is essentially a modernised Greek drama - and at a corn level (when the chorus morphed into a more Broadway-style chorus Janie avoided the cheese by going into the kitchen and uncorking the wine). The Greek myth theme is well done throughout - I loved the appeal to Zeus especially. Also the deus ex machina resolution was terrific fun, although I think not entirely original (I believe it was Cocteau who previously used the helicopter as a visual deus ex machina).

Fine performances - Mira Sorvino is a super "tart with a heart". Even Helena Bonham Carter is more effectively used in this film than in her standard Merchant Ivory roles, although I thought she lacked chemistry with Woody. Good also to see F Murray Abraham as the leader of the chorus - why do we see so little of him these days?

I'm a fan of Woody, but he has been patchy in the last 10 years or so. With this one, he really was in sparkling form. Well worth seeing.