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Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story

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Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story
Directed byWoody Allen
Written byWoody Allen
Produced byJack Kuney
StarringWoody Allen
Diane Keaton
Jean De Baer
Narrated byReed Hadley
Edited byEric Albertson
Release date
  • 1971 (1971)
Running time
25 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Men of Crisis: The Harvey Wallinger Story is a short film directed by Woody Allen in 1971. It is a satirization of the Richard Nixon administration[1] made in mockumentary style.[2][3]

Allen plays Harvey Wallinger, a thinly disguised version of Henry Kissinger.[3] The short was produced as a television special for PBS and was scheduled to air in February 1972, but it was pulled from the schedule shortly before its airdate, as PBS officials reportedly feared it would affect their government funding support.[1][2] Allen, who had previously sworn off television work, cited it as an example of why he should "stick to movies".[2] The special never aired, but it can now be viewed in The Paley Center for Media,[4] and is often found on YouTube.

Two of Allen's regular leading ladies, Louise Lasser and Diane Keaton, make appearances, as does Richard Nixon-lookalike Richard M. Dixon. Actor Reed Hadley narrates.[5] The fictional characters are interspersed with newsreel footage of Hubert Humphrey, Spiro Agnew and Nixon in embarrassing public moments. Allen later explored this style in his 1983 film Zelig.[1][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Stewart, Barbara (1997-12-04). "Showering Shtick On the White House: The Untold Story; Woody Allen Spoofed Nixon in 1971, But the TV Film Was Never Shown". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  2. ^ a b c Zaloudek, Mark (2007-11-16). "TV producer Kuney earned many honors". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  3. ^ a b c James, Caryn (1997-12-04). "Pointing The Way to 'Annie Hall' And Beyond". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  4. ^ Delaney, Pete. "The Best of Woody Allen's 'Early/Funny' TV: Part Three". TVparty!. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  5. ^ Roberts, Jerry (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors p. 318. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6378-1.
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