writing and directing throughout the 1990’s.
His work of the decade elicited comparisons with
the classic films of his acknowledged European
hero, Ingmar Bergman, and was often experimen-
tal. Alice(1990) was a provocative fantasy, while
Shadows and Fog(1992) paid homage to German ex-
pressionism and the music of Kurt Weill.Husbands
and Wives(1992) continued the examination of a
favorite Allen theme, the difficulty of maintaining
intimate relationships. Manhattan Murder Myster y
(1993) was an entertainment that celebrated the so-
phisticated Hollywood mystery-comedies Allen had
enjoyed in his youth. InBullets over Broadway(1994),
he explored the mysteries of creativity, whileMighty
Aphrodite(1995) contained satire of Greek tragedy.
InEver yone Says I Love You(1996), Allen tried his
hand at musical comedy.Deconstructing Harr y(1997)
andCelebrity(1998) were further journeys into the
psychology of creativity and celebrity.
The 1990’s was also the decade in which a sex
scandal erupted that seriously threatened Allen’s ca-
reer and status as a cinematic moralist. The women
in his life, particularly actresses Louise Lasser, his
second wife, and Diane Keaton, had always figured
prominently in his work. In 1982, Allen had begun a
twelve-year personal and professional relationship
with Mia Farrow, who would perform in his films
during the period and give birth to his son, Satchel.
However, when Farrow discovered in early 1992 that
Allen had seduced her teenage adopted daughter,
Soon-Yi Previn, her outrage landed him in the
courts. Their legal battles, with mutual accusations
of wrongdoing and poor parenting, were followed
for months by an avid public. European admirers ac-
cepted events more calmly, and audiences did not
desert him. In 1997, he finally married Soon-Yi, who
never performed in his films but remained the dom-
inant influence on his private life.
Impact Allen is still expanding his substantial body
of work, expressing a highly personal vision that cel-
ebrates his native New York City and, at the same
time, reflects contemporary mores, perplexities,
and aspirations of thoughtful people everywhere.
Further Reading
Hirsch, Foster.Love, Sex, Death, and the Meaning of
Life: The Films of Woody Allen.3d ed. Cambridge,
Mass.: Da Capo Press, 2001.
Schickel, Richard.Woody Allen: A Life in Film.Chi-
cago: Ivan R. Dee, 2003.
Allene Phy-OlsenSee also Academy Awards; Comedians; Film in the
United States; Jewish Americans. Ally McBeal
Identification Dramatic comedy television series
Creator David E. Kelley (1956- )
Date Aired from September 8, 1997, to May 20,
2002
This ensemble comedy-drama caught the attention of a pro-
fessional, age thirty-plus audience. With its eccentric char-
acters, mix of fantasy and reality, romance, courtroom
drama, and office silliness, the show became part of viewers’
Monday night schedules.
Ally McBealwas the creation of David E. Kelley, writer
of hit showsChicago Hope,Picket Fences, andThe Prac-
tice. Like these other shows, this hour-long mix of
drama and comedy (dubbed a “dramedy”) had an
ensemble cast. Set in the Boston law office of Cage
and Fish, the story lines focus on the lawyers and
their relationships as well as issues common to the
contemporary workplace. Courtroom scenes show
the principals in action. The title character, a Gener-
ation X attorney, played by Calista Flockhart, be-The Nineties in America Ally McBeal 27
Woody Allen at a news conference in September, 1993.(AP/
Wide World Photos)