Zelig
You wanted more when it was all over!
![Video for the film Zelig — 35mm Theatrical Teaser Trailer [4K] [FTD-0893]](https://www.acmodasi.com/amdb/images/posters/9/5/zelig-1983-t3YmP.jpg)
Country
Genre
Budget
$13 500 000
Box office
$11 798 616
Director
Actors
Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Patrick Horgan, John Buckwalter, Marvin Chatinover, Stanley Swerdlow, Paul Nevens, Howard Erskine, Richard Whiting, Ralph Bell
All actors and roles (10)
All actors and roles (10)
Scenario
Producer
Robert Greenhut, Charles H. Joffe, Jack Rollins
Camera operator
Composer
Dick Hyman
Artist
Mel Bourne
Audition
Juliet Taylor
Editing
Susan E. Morse
Whole Team (79)
Whole Team (79)
Short description
Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others.
What's left behind the scenes
- In one scene, the narrator mentions a photograph of Leonard Zeliga as a pagliacci, which translates from Italian as "clowns." It would be more accurate to use the singular form of the word – pagliaccio.
- In 2007, Italian psychiatrists led by Giovanni Coniglia discovered a rare neurological disorder, the victims of which behave as the protagonist of this film does (psychologically, but not physically). They proposed naming this disorder Seligman syndrome.
- At the time, Woody Allen's friend Dick Cavett was hosting a series of historical programs for HBO in which his image was inserted into archival footage. Allen was so intrigued by the process that it served as the impetus for creating this film.
- Mae Questel, who voiced the animated character Betty Boop from 1931 to 1989, provided the voice for Helen Kane singing 'Chameleon Days' in this film.
- Mae Questel, who voiced the animated character Betty Boop from 1931 to 1989, provided the voice for Helen Kane singing "Chameleon Days" in this film.
- While attempting to make the film look like old newsreel footage, Woody Allen managed to film two other movies ('A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy', 1982, and 'Broadway Danny Rose', 1984). Allen later revealed that there were no mechanical ways to age the film, and they simply had to crumple and stomp on the negatives.
- To help make the film look like it was from the 1930s, DuArt, a data processing laboratory, called on its specialists who were already retired and who had the appropriate experience.
- While trying to make the film look like footage from old newsreels, Woody Allen managed to shoot two more films ('Sexual Comedy in a Summer Night', 1982, and 'Broadway Danny Rose', 1984). Allen later said that there were no mechanical ways to age the film, and they simply had to crumple and trample the negatives.
- The first cut of the film was only 45 minutes long, and Woody Allen had to add more archival footage and film several additional scenes to fill the time (mostly scenes with voice-over narration).
- One scene was filmed with silent film legend Lillian Gish. During filming, she scolded the cinematographer Gordon Willis about the lighting on set. While the stunned crew looked on, she gave Willis step-by-step instructions on how to redo the lighting. Willis agreed with her, but the scene never made it into the final version of the film.
- John Gielgud was originally cast as the narrator. He even recorded all of his lines, but after listening to the recording, Woody Allen decided that his voice was not suitable because it sounded "too majestic" for the role.
- The final scene was filmed in the same house used during the filming of 'A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy' (1982).
- John Gielgud was originally cast as the narrator. He even recorded all of his lines, but Woody Allen, after listening to the recording, decided that his voice was not suitable because it sounded 'too majestic' for the role.
- Woody Allen initially wanted Greta Garbo to play the role of the journalist conducting the interview.
- The final scene was filmed in the same house that was used during the filming of 'Sexual Comedy in a Summer Night' (1982).
- Woody Allen originally wanted Greta Garbo to play the role of the interviewing journalist.
- The cinematographer used old lenses, cameras, sound and lighting equipment. Moreover, he trampled on the film to age it.
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Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
