The Woody Allen Show Takes the Stand

By Stephen M. Silverman

Tuesday June 04, 2002 12:00 PM EDT

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Abbott and Costello, move over. The funniest duo in New York Monday was none other than Woody Allen and Judge Ira Gammerman, who is hearing the filmmaker's State Supreme Court case against his former best friend and onetime movie producer, Jean Doumanian. Only Allen, 66, was reduced to being the straight man. Beginning a half-hour of examination conducted by his own attorney, Alyson Weiss, before a packed courtroom (that included PEOPLE.com), Allen, wearing an open-collared shirt, was asked to describe how he creates a movie. Explaining that he's working on a new one now, Allen got too detailed for the judge's liking. "Stop talking," the jurist told Allen. "Stop talking?" an astonished Allen answered. "Yes," said Judge Gammerman, who added good-naturedly (and to a big laugh in the room), "I'm the director here." A bit later, one of Woody's responses to lawyer Weiss also apparently grew too long. "'Yes' is the answer," Gammerman instructed him. Shot back Allen: "She should ask you the questions!" Replied Gammerman calmly, "If I know the answers, I'll answer them." Not that Allen's testimony enthralled everybody. Two of the 10 jurors looked bored, and one buried his faced in his hands, looking to be asleep. Allen is suing Doumanian's production company for $12 million, plus interest, for monies he claims he is owed from the box-office take. Her side not only says that his movies lose money, but that their evidence will show that he owes them. Allen is scheduled to resume his seat on the witness stand Tuesday morning at 9:30. Meanwhile, Judge Gammerman instructed the jury not to read any press reports about the case.