Great Scene: “Annie Hall”

The movie Annie Hall (1977) has a scene that is perhaps the best pedagogical tool to convey what subtext is.

Alvy Singer is having a drink with Annie Hall. This is basically their first time alone together and there are definitely some undercurrents going on in with what they’re saying and Allen literally posts that subtext so viewers can read it — to great comedic effect. Here is the script version of the scene:

Here is the scene in the movie:

Good touchstone when thinking about subtext.

For more articles in the Great Scene series, go here.