Zelig

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

45K

YOUR RATING

Set in the 1920s and 1930s, the film focuses on Leonard Zelig (Woody Allen), a nondescript man who has the ability to transform his appearance to that of the people who surround him. He is first observed at a party by F. Scott Fitzgerald, who notes that Zelig related to the affluent guests in a refined Boston accent and shared their Republican sympathies, but while in the kitchen with the servants, he adopted a coarser tone and seemed to be more of a Democrat. He soon gains international fame as a "human chameleon".

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54 Photos

Satire Comedy

"Documentary" about a man who can look and act like whoever he's around, and meets various famous people."Documentary" about a man who can look and act like whoever he's around, and meets various famous people."Documentary" about a man who can look and act like whoever he's around, and meets various famous people.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

45K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 7 wins & 19 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 0:47

Official Trailer

Photos54

+ 46

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
To create authenticity, the production used actual lenses, cameras, and sound equipment from the 1920s and used the same lighting that would have been done. In addition, Gordon Willis took the exposed negatives to the shower and stomped on them. As a result, even having shot and being acclaimed for Le Parrain (1972) and Le Parrain, 2ᵉ partie (1974) before, Willis was greeted with his first Academy Award nomination.

Goofs
The speaking person in his 60s in one of the modern interviews is subtitled as "Former SS-Obergruppenführer Oswald Pohl". If the interviews were conducted in the early 1980s, the person is evidently too young; the real Pohl was born in June 1892, so he would have been in his late 80s/early 90s at the time... if he had not been hanged for war crimes in 1951.

Quotes
Leonard Zelig: I'm 12 years old. I run into a Synagogue. I ask the Rabbi the meaning of life. He tells me the meaning of life... But, he tells it to me in Hebrew. I don't understand Hebrew. Then he wants to charge me six hundred dollars for Hebrew lessons.

Connections
Featured in Scene by Scene: Woody Allen (2000)

Soundtracks
Leonard the Lizard
Composed by Dick Hyman
Sung by Bernie Knee, Steve Clayton and Tony Wells

User reviews133

Featured review

8/10

More Relentless Self-Deprecation From The King

This could well be a review of 90% of Woody Allen's oeuvre. The film is a smorgasbord of fabulousness - exquisite concepts, very clever lines and very funny ones. No film maker has ever had such a grasp of irony, sarcasm and the ridiculous, and still imbue it with wit and (occasionally) subtlety. But it is the relentless self-deprecation and extant feelings of worthlessness that eventually become wearing after you have watched as many Allen films as I have. This is the film that most impresses you with his confusion over identity however. I could go on about self-analysis for pages but it's unnecessary...just watch any given Woody Allen film. He mellows it out with a rather forlorn sense of romance that becomes endearing rather than pathetic...a skill that is essential to engage with his films. This is a fine film. Oh yeah...and very funny...if you get the references.