Woody Allen: A selection of films

Audiences had to wait a long time to see Allen's most recent movie. Although the romantic comedy starring Elle Fanning and Timothee Chalamet was originally filmed in 2017, it didn't appear in cinemas until mid-2019, and then only in Europe. Amazon Prime had first planned to release the film on its platform, but then ended its agreement with the director after accusations of abuse came to light.

Following the repeated accusations by Allen's adopted daughter, Timothee Chalamet returned his fee for "A Rainy Day in New York." The stories of abuse, disputed by the director, also overshadowed the already released 2012 film "To Rome with Love." Actress Greta Gerwig, who starred in the film, also later said that she regretted having worked on this project with Woody Allen.

This film came out before the accusations of abuse came to light in 2014. The movie won Woody Allen another Oscar. The script was co-written by the leading star Owen Wilson and saw him travel through time. The romance-turned-fantasy set-up was an homage to the roaring 20s in Paris, with appearances from artistic legends such as Picasso and Salvador Dali.

Rome, Paris, London, and before that Barcelona — the beginning of the millennium saw the US director turn his gaze to Europe. "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" has an all-star cast, including Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, who all portray New Yorkers. According to the Spiegel magazine, Allen is only able to produce "picturesque postcard cliches" of cities that aren't New York.

After a slate of weaker productions which left audiences with the impression that Allen was simply reproducing the same old story, the director amazed the film world in 2005 once again. "Match Point" was neither a comedy, nor New Yorker navel-gazing, but rather a razor-sharp staging of a crime thriller. The young Scarlett Johansson began her rise to global stardom with this film.

Woody Allen exhibited his talent for portraying drama and comedy with the movie "Crimes and Misdemeanors" from 1989. An array of different stories and characters are perpetually interwoven through a series of humorous and romantic moments. As is often the case with Woody Allen productions, the perfectly cast actors made sure that the movie was a joy to watch.

An homage to the bygone days of radio, the 1987 movie "Radio Days" portrays a Jewish family in the New York neighborhood of Queens who regularly gather round the radio during the 1930s and 1940s. Sport broadcasts, news, game shows and music are part of everyday life. An affectionate, slightly romanticized, but always humorous view of a lost era.

In "Hannah and her Sisters" Woody Allen came closest to his goal of giving a film philosophical depths. The piece is also a great example of how Woody Allen portrays women in film. Next to Mia Farrow and her husband (Michael Caine) there are also shining performances from Barbara Hershey, Carrie Fisher, Dianne Wiest and Maureen O'Sullivan. Allen himself appears in the film too.

It was Mia Farrow who made the film with her career-defining performance as the young waitress Cecilia in "The Purple Rose of Cairo." Unhappy with her life, Cecilia seeks an escape through the world of film. She eventually meets her movie hero on one of her many trips to the cinema. The actors that Cecilia sees on the big screen also appear in her life.

Allen amazed audiences with the 1983 production "Zelig," a masterpiece full of cinematographic and narrative surprises. Allen plays the role of Leonard Zelig in 1920s New York, a weak, helpless character who adapts to his surroundings, emotionally, but also physically. It's a sensitive piece about opportunism. Mia Farrow, Allen's then new real-life partner, appears at his side.

Woody Allen used this picture to document his first artistic crisis. A brooding individual in real life, Allen didn't see himself then as a comedian first and foremost. One of his biggest idols was Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. "Stardust Memories" attests to this cinematic identity crisis. There are of course also moments of laughter, as can be seen with Marie-Christine Barrault.

The masterpiece "Manhattan" is, for many, Woody Allen's best movie of all time. The romantic comedy, which is also one of the most beautiful depictions of New York, stars, alongside director and leading man Woody Allen, his then partner Diane Keaton and the young Meryl Streep (photo).

The New Yorker was already known as a comedy genius and a rebellious jokester on the stage and in front of the camera by the time he released his sixth directorial production in 1977. But "Annie Hall" was different. With this film Woody Allen discovered himself again. He gave his characters psychological depth while making sure they remained incredibly funny.