Older woman, younger man? A 'valid comic idea' to Woody Allen

May 11, 2016

After unveiling his latest film, "Cafe Society", in Cannes, featuring a love story between a young woman and powerful older man, Allen was asked if he would ever consider switching the roles -- something still somewhat taboo on the big screen.


Woody Allen, who famously married someone half his age, said Wednesday he wouldn't rule out a movie on the love between an older woman and a young man if he "had a good story."

After unveiling his latest film, "Cafe Society", in Cannes, featuring a love story between a young woman and powerful older man, Allen was asked if he would ever consider switching the roles -- something still somewhat taboo on the big screen.

"I wouldn't hesitate to do that if I had a good idea for a story with a 50-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man. It's a perfectly valid comic idea," said the 80-year-old, drawing a few awkward laughs.

"I just don't have any material on it, anything really to draw on. I wouldn't hesitate if I had a good story," added Allen.

However despite claiming he had "no experience" in the matter, Allen, who is known proceeded to tell what some might argue was a good story, based on his own experience.

"When I was 30 years old I had a big crush on a 50-year-old who was great looking and beautiful, but she was married and wouldn't go near me with a 10-foot pole. These things happen all the time."

Allen has had a turbulent personal life clouded by scandal after entering a relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his former partner Mia Farrow, when Previn was only 21.

Without overtly addressing his personal life, journalists harped on issues of love and age differences after a press preview of "Cafe Society" opened the world's top film festival.

- 'A romantic fool' -

Allen managed to dodge a question asked by a reporter with heavily accented English on why he always returns to the storyline of a younger woman and older man, or affairs ruining a marriage.

"What did she say? You know I have hearing aids and I put the microphone over my hearing aids to give me a double shot and it's still not working," said Allen.

Actor Jesse Eisenberg, who stars in "Cafe Society", repeated a watered-down version of the query: "How do you decide on your romantic motifs?"

"I have always thought of myself as a romantic -- this is not necessarily shared by the women in my life," said Allen.

He said they think of him less of a Clark Gable or Cary Grant type, and more of a "romantic fool".

"They think I romanticise New York City, that I romanticise the past, that I romanticise love relationships: I probably do and it probably is foolish, but I was brought up on Hollywood movies and this is what I tend to do."

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