PBS profile of Woody Allen is a must-see

By Jeanne Jakle, Express-News columnist

Before he was a filmmaker and something of a ladies man, Woody Allen wrote jokes and was a regular on talk shows. Photo: Associated Press File Photo / SA Photo: Associated Press File Photo / SA

Before he was a filmmaker and something of a ladies man, Woody Allen wrote jokes and was a regular on talk shows.

A rich and revealing new PBS documentary about Woody Allen doesn't shy away from the scandal surrounding the filmmaker's split with longtime love Mia Farrow.

A good chunk of the second part of the “American Masters” profile, in fact, is devoted to how Allen's affair with Farrow's adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn — who is 34 years Allen's junior and is with him to this day — erupted into an international uproar. Many comment on that “great cosmic rift” of 1992: Allen's sister, Letty Aronson; actress and friend Diane Keaton; and his longtime manager and producer Jack Rollins.

The most entertaining words, however, come from Allen himself. When “things fell apart” with Farrow at the very end of filming “Husbands and Wives,” he was kind of surprised how big a deal it all became.

“Believe it or not, I didn't think I was that famous to warrant that kind of coverage,” he says. “It was a very juicy story. It took a little edge off my natural blandness.”

Despite being characterized as “the antichrist” and enduring an ugly custody battle with Farrow, Allen speaks endearingly of his leading lady in the three hours-plus profile, commenting on her nuanced performances in films such as “The Purple Rose of Cairo” and “Hannah and Her Sisters.”

In fact, some of the doc's most memorable moments involve the talented women of Allen's life and career. “Woody Allen: A Documentary” bows at 8 tonight and continues Monday on PBS.

In Part 1, Allen's second wife, Louise Lasser, who co-starred in early movies “Take the Money and Run” and “Bananas,” recalls an amusing moment when she caught him reading a book on “how to direct” in bed.

Keaton, whom Allen praises as a great comedian and as the woman who taught him how crucial the female point of view was, spoke of her desperate efforts to get him to fall in love with her. He did better than that: He made a movie based on their relationship — “Annie Hall” — that netted Keaton an Oscar.

We also hear Dianne Wiest (“Hannah and Her Sisters,” “Bullets Over Broadway”) and Mira Sorvino (“Mighty Aphrodite”) speak of how Allen's belief in their talents helped them give their all in his films. Both also collected Academy Awards for Allen movie roles.

One of the most moving sections of the doc, however, covers the filming of “Manhattan,” which is widely considered to be Allen's love letter to New York. Allen — believe it or not — detested the end result so much he begged the distributor to pull it. However, Mariel Hemingway, who was barely 18 when she starred as Allen's high-school-age girlfriend, Tracy, in the film, described it as one of the loveliest experiences of her career.

She credits Allen's sensitive tutelage.

“He sort of really groomed my character to come from a total place of innocence and spontaneity,” she told TV critics at a PBS press session. “I think what's wonderful about how he works is that he chooses people that he knows are talented, and he allows their talent to really come forth. It's very natural ... very real. And whatever is their strength, he really just — brings it out.”

He brought it out so well, in fact, that Hemingway's portrayal brings tears to this day and deservedly got an Oscar nod.

Don't get the impression, however, that the documentary — from writer/producer Robert Weide (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) — is just a tribute to Allen's women. It's also a candid, layered and very funny portrait of the evolution of an artist, from his fledgling days as a joke writer in New York to his silly appearances on TV talk shows to his enormous library of incredible movies.

It's a must-see gem — not only for fans of Allen's work but for anyone interested in the history of moviemaking.

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PBS profile of Woody Allen is a must-see