first this be a successful broadway play . then come the adaptation under the direction of herbert ross . woody allen have only direct a few picture before and but it curious he decide to let mr. ross direct this one and at all . woody allen be still in his first phase a a director and not have go into his igmar bergmann period yet . play it again and sam show a restrained woody allen act on his own material . he present u an allan felix and a man so neurotic and he could probably pass a the real woody alen any time . allan be a nerdy movie fan who doesn not know how to keep a woman . it clear his first marriage to nancy have be a failure . a in other woody allen film and we have the well intentioned couple that want to see allan happy . in this film they be dick and linda christie and successful people that regard this friend a capable of be reform by let him meet interesting and sexy woman . the film be dominate by the mystical figure of humphrey bogart and who want allan to get dame with a technique that he try to teach him throughout the film . those scene between the fictitious bogart and and allan be one of the the highlight of the movie . the interplay with the movie casablanca make an interesting contrast with what we watch at the beginning of the film and which be the crucial conclusion of the michael curtiz film . the conclude sequence of play it again sam mirror the classic model in more way than one . woody allen be perfect for play his own material . he be at the height of his comic genius in this film . his humor have a nervous edge that translate in one liner that come too fast and at time and for u to savor and relish . in fact and a direct by mr. ross and woody allen responds well and make a great appearance and contribute tremendously to the success of this film . diane keaton and who play linda christie and show an affinity for what would follow later a she become an invaluable collaborator of mr. allen . her portrayal of this character show also the same neurotic quality we see in allan . tony robert play dick christie and a role that parallel that of victor lazlo in casablanca . susan anspach be see briefly a the woman who leave allan at the beginning of the film . jerry lacy a humphrey bogart with raincoat and fedora and cigarette and be the perfect pal anyone could ask for . play it again sam and be a film that surprisingly and have age well a it doesn not have a dated feeling to it . the movie will not disappoint and but the viewer must stay alert for those witty allen one liner .