"Documentary" about a man who can look and act like whoever he's around, and meets various famous people."Documentary" about a man who can look and act like whoever he's around, and meets various famous people."Documentary" about a man who can look and act like whoever he's around, and meets various famous people.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 7 wins & 19 nominations total
Patrick Horgan
- The Narrator
- (voice)
Will Hussung
- Other Doctor
- (as Will Hussong)
Michael Jeter
- Freshman #2
- (as Michael Jeeter)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTo create authenticity, the production used actual lenses, cameras, and sound equipment from the 1920s and used the same lighting that would have been done. In addition, Gordon Willis took the exposed negatives to the shower and stomped on them. As a result, even having shot and being acclaimed for The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974) before, Willis was greeted with his first Academy Award nomination.
- GoofsThe speaking person in his 60s in one of the modern interviews is subtitled as "Former SS-Obergruppenführer Oswald Pohl". If the interviews were conducted in the early 1980s, the person is evidently too young; the real Pohl was born in June 1892, so he would have been in his late 80s/early 90s at the time... if he had not been hanged for war crimes in 1951.
- Quotes
Leonard Zelig: I'm 12 years old. I run into a Synagogue. I ask the Rabbi the meaning of life. He tells me the meaning of life... But, he tells it to me in Hebrew. I don't understand Hebrew. Then he wants to charge me six hundred dollars for Hebrew lessons.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Scene by Scene: Woody Allen (2000)
Featured review
Zenith Zelig.
ZELIG is simply a jaw-dropping sight and sound as a film; hilarious.... out loud. The funny premise is polished to some astonishing level of trickery with editing and matte effects seamlessly blending real 20s with recreated 20s adding Allen and Farrow and dialog and interviews that will have you recalling and roaring with laughter for days. I had not seen it since 1983 and now in 2008 to be reminded how stunning and hilarious this creation is, well, I am just delighted to be back on the wavelength of this genuinely brilliant hoax documentary. Now I can see how FORREST GUMP came about, given that it is a similar 'historic' premise using real footage of events and eras mixed with the lead character. But ZELIG is another perfection altogether; if you know your 20s, silent films, the imagery, the early sound newsreels and all those silly songs, then ZELIG is a superlative treat. It even features Mae Questrel singing a new Betty Boop song and for that alone I cheer this almost perfect film. What a delight. If you also get to see the early Peter Jackson hoax documentary FORGOTTEN SILVER or Stanley Donen's MOVIE MOVIE you will be equally rewarded.
- How long is Zelig?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Identity Crisis and Its Relationship to Personality Disorder
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $11,798,616
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $60,119
- Jul 17, 1983
- Gross worldwide
- $11,798,616
- Runtime1 hour 19 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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