RWF ::: DECONSTRUCTING HARRY (1997) ::: Mel

General Information

Directed by
Woody Allen
Screenplay by
Woody Allen
World Premiere
August 26, 1997 (Venice Film Festival)
Theatrical Release Date
December 12, 1997
DVD Release Date
May 27, 1998
Production Companies
Jean Doumanian Productions, Sweetland Films
Distribution Company
Fine Line Features

Main Cast

Robin Williams
Mel
Woody Allen
Harry Block
Billy Crystal
Larry
Kirstie Alley
Joan
Bob Balaban
Richard
Richard Benjamin
Ken
Judy Davis
Lucy
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Leslie
Tobey Maguire
Harvey Stern

Summary

Harry Block is a well-regarded novelist whose tendency to thinly-veil his own experiences in his work, as well as his un-apologetic attitude and his proclivity for pills and whores, has left him with three ex-wives that hate him. As he is about to be honored for his writing by the college that expelled him, he faces writer's block and the impending marriage of his latest flame to a writer friend. As scenes from his stories and novels pass and interact with him, Harry faces the people whose lives he has affected--wives, lovers, his son, his sister.

Trailer

Quotes

Crewman #1
Holy shit, Mel is out of Focus!
Crewman #2
That's what I said, genius, he's out of focus.
Crewman #1
Let me see get the hell out of here...you're right Mel's himself is out of focus.
Crewman #2
What? What the hell are you talking about?
Crewman #1
I said the actor is out of focus!
Crewman #2
How can this be!
Mel
Is there a problem?
Director
Mel, Come here.
Mel
What?
Director
I don't know how to tell you this, but you're soft.
Mel
Well, I've gained a little weight.
Director
No it's not that, you're soft, you're out of focus.