--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think 'Paper Moon' is a comedy-drama…" description: "\"I think 'Paper Moon' is a comedy-drama. 'What's Up, Doc?' was the most severe comedy, but my favorite film of my own is 'They All Laughed,' which is a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/peter-bogdanovich-17576_bittersweet_i-think-paper-moon-is-a-comedy-drama-wha_3051642.jpg" --- # I think 'Paper Moon' is a comedy-drama. 'What's Up, Doc?'… ![“I think 'Paper Moon' is a comedy-drama. 'What's Up, Doc?' was the most severe comedy, but my favorite film of my own is 'They All Laughed,' which is a kind of bittersweet comedy.” quote by Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/peter-bogdanovich-17576_bittersweet_i-think-paper-moon-is-a-comedy-drama-wha_3051642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/peter-bogdanovich-17576_bittersweet_i-think-paper-moon-is-a-comedy-drama-wha_3051642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/peter-bogdanovich-17576_bittersweet_i-think-paper-moon-is-a-comedy-drama-wha_3051642.jpg) > “I think 'Paper Moon' is a comedy-drama. 'What's Up, Doc?' was the most severe comedy, but my favorite film of my own is 'They All Laughed,' which is a kind of bittersweet comedy.” [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He categorizes films by emotional tone, noting bittersweet comedy as his favorite. **In simple terms:** He prefers bittersweet comedy. Key Takeaway Explore nuanced humor. Themes film criticism genre emotional tone Mood analytical contemplative Type critical artistic When to use this quote - movie reviews - film festivals - personal taste Key Concepts cinema studies artistic preference narrative balance Questions to Reflect On - What makes a comedy bittersweet for you? - How does tone shape your film experience? A Different Perspective May undervalue other genres. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bittersweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bittersweet/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) ## Related quotes > [I came through the ranks of the BBC documentary department. I was lucky working during this drama doc era, where they did reconstructions, basically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-edwards/i-came-through-the-ranks-of-the-bbc-documentary-department-i-was/) [Gareth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-edwards/) > [I remember on 'Jug Face' working with Chad Crawford Kinkle, who is as sweet as they come. He told me someone had given him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ashley-carter/i-remember-on-jug-face-working-with-chad-crawford-kinkle-who-is-as/) [Lauren Ashley Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ashley-carter/) > [Origami Striptease reads like William S. Burroughs and Djuna Barnes howling at a brutal paper moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stinson/origami-striptease-reads-like-william-s-burroughs-and-djuna-barnes/) Susan Stinson > [“She quietly stretched out a hand, and Tengo took it. The two of them stood there, side by side, as one, wordlessly watching the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/she-quietly-stretched-out-a-hand-and-tengo-took-it-the-two-of-them/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Ryan finally came to my rescue. He'd thought working together in Paper Moon would help us bond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/ryan-finally-came-to-my-rescue-he-d-thought-working-together-in-paper/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [Say, it's only a paper moon, Sailing over a cardboard sea, But it wouldn't be make believe, If you believed in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-rose/say-it-s-only-a-paper-moon-sailing-over-a-cardboard-sea-but-it-wouldn/) [Billy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-rose/) > [As Peter Bogdanovich would say of Paper Moon: Ryan's wonderful in it, and he sat there and watched the kid steal the picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/as-peter-bogdanovich-would-say-of-paper-moon-ryan-s-wonderful-in-it/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [Say, it's only a paper moon, / Sailing over a cardboard sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yip-harburg/say-it-s-only-a-paper-moon-sailing-over-a-cardboard-sea/) [Yip Harburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yip-harburg/) > [One of my favorite movies is 'Paper Moon.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/one-of-my-favorite-movies-is-paper-moon/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Money makes the world go 'round, it's only a paper moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efiosiugbore/money-makes-the-world-go-round-it-s-only-a-paper-moon/) @efiosiugbore > [I have a restaurant in Milan, and Paper Moon is five minutes away from my hotel, so I always go there for lunch. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nobu-matsuhisa/i-have-a-restaurant-in-milan-and-paper-moon-is-five-minutes-away-from/) [Nobu Matsuhisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nobu-matsuhisa/) > [I enjoy films where two characters are coming of age, just different ages. That's why I love 'Paper Moon' so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/i-enjoy-films-where-two-characters-are-coming-of-age-just-different/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [Paper Moon didn't bring me love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/paper-moon-didn-t-bring-me-love/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [I've always thought that comedy was just another dramatic expression. I try to measure the amount of truth in a work rather than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-ve-always-thought-that-comedy-was-just-another-dramatic-expression/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [I never like to be the same, whether it be comedy or drama, funny or serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-prince/i-never-like-to-be-the-same-whether-it-be-comedy-or-drama-funny-or/) [Faith Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-prince/) ## More by Peter Bogdanovich > [I had been an abject fan of Martin and Lewis when I was a kid. I just thought they were terribly funny. None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-had-been-an-abject-fan-of-martin-and-lewis-when-i-was-a-kid-i-just/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I loved Keaton. In fact, when I made the chase sequence in 'What's Up, Doc,' I said, 'This is a Buster Keaton chase.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-loved-keaton-in-fact-when-i-made-the-chase-sequence-in-what-s-up/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [There are no “old” movies-only movies you have already seen and ones you haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/there-are-no-old-movies-only-movies-you-have-already-seen-and-ones/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [During the Hollywood studio system, they looked for people who were unusual. The stars had peculiarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/during-the-hollywood-studio-system-they-looked-for-people-who-were/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I think one of the reasons younger people don't like older films, films made say before the '60s, is that they've never seen them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-think-one-of-the-reasons-younger-people-don-t-like-older-films/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [If filmmakers are ignorant of the past, they laborto re-invent the wheel in every picture. You sit and think, 'Well,we're back to 1903 here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/if-filmmakers-are-ignorant-of-the-past-they-laborto-re-invent-the/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [Drama is easy. Comedy's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/drama-is-easy-comedy-s-hard/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [Love is a lot more complicated than people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/love-is-a-lot-more-complicated-than-people-think/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I started acting in 'The Sopranos' around 1999 and 2000. I did that for six years. That was quite a job, and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-started-acting-in-the-sopranos-around-1999-and-2000-i-did-that-for/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [Comedy is the hardest thing to get right. I remember a joke we did in 'What's Up, Doc?' that didn't get a single laugh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/comedy-is-the-hardest-thing-to-get-right-i-remember-a-joke-we-did-in/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > ['Jaws' was the first A-list picture that was released like an exploitation picture. They made a lot of money with that picture because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/jaws-was-the-first-a-list-picture-that-was-released-like-an/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [The actors are in control, getting outrageous amounts of money. The reason they're getting this kind of money is because the studios don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/the-actors-are-in-control-getting-outrageous-amounts-of-money-the/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [For a while, all the studios had their art-house divisions, but that went by the by pretty quickly. Now, they're really focusing on these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/for-a-while-all-the-studios-had-their-art-house-divisions-but-that/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [There's good directors and bad directors. Some of the critics are really conscientious and really try to do what they can popularize the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/there-s-good-directors-and-bad-directors-some-of-the-critics-are/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I certainly had an arrogant streak. And I certainly was defensive in certain cases. Maybe I'm still arrogant, but I try not to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-certainly-had-an-arrogant-streak-and-i-certainly-was-defensive-in/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) [Explore all 36 Peter Bogdanovich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) ## More Bittersweet quotes > [And the flavor of Pippa's kiss--bittersweet and strange--stayed with me all the way back uptown, swaying and sleepy as I sailed home on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/and-the-flavor-of-pippa-s-kiss-bittersweet-and-strange-stayed-with-me/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“The bittersweet side of appreciating life's most precious moments is the unbearable awareness that those moments are passing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-parent/the-bittersweet-side-of-appreciating-life-s-most-precious-moments-is/) [Marc Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-parent/) > [Having more exposure is kind of a bittersweet thing for me, honestly, because it's nice to have a little more job security in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/having-more-exposure-is-kind-of-a-bittersweet-thing-for-me-honestly/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [There is cruelty in divorce. There is cruelty in forced or unfortunate marriage. We will continue to cry at weddings because we know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-roiphe/there-is-cruelty-in-divorce-there-is-cruelty-in-forced-or-unfortunate/) [Anne Roiphe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-roiphe/) > [Throw in the intensity of emotions that come with that bittersweet summer sandwiched between high school graduation and the rest of your life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/throw-in-the-intensity-of-emotions-that-come-with-that-bittersweet/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“And the pomegranates,/ like memories, are bittersweet/ as we huddle together,/ remembering just how good/ life used to be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guadalupe-garcia-mccall/and-the-pomegranates-like-memories-are-bittersweet-as-we-huddle/) [Guadalupe Garcia McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guadalupe-garcia-mccall/) > [ \[I\]f the gentleness of your spirit needs a dash of vinegar, borrow a little from Our Lord's spirit. O Mademoiselle, how well He knew… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-f-the-gentleness-of-your-spirit-needs-a-dash-of-vinegar-borrow-a/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [Falling in love is rather bittersweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/falling-in-love-is-rather-bittersweet/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [The bird Gamayun was related to Alkonost and Sirin in some vague fashion-even the most casual observer would've noticed that all three of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ekaterina-sedia/the-bird-gamayun-was-related-to-alkonost-and-sirin-in-some-vague/) [Ekaterina Sedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ekaterina-sedia/) > [“I ain’t scared to lend a hand I ain’t scared to clench it either”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mie-hansson/i-ain-t-scared-to-lend-a-hand-i-ain-t-scared-to-clench-it-either/) Mie Hansson > [“We share a bittersweet past and a roller-coaster present, but I have a good feeling that the future is going to be a smoother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/codi-gary/we-share-a-bittersweet-past-and-a-roller-coaster-present-but-i-have-a/) [Codi Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/codi-gary/) > [As a child, I remember my dad would sometimes drive me into town with him to play pinball machines together. It's a bittersweet memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/as-a-child-i-remember-my-dad-would-sometimes-drive-me-into-town-with/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [“Reaching the summit of K2 was an incredible experience, but I would trade it in a heartbeat to have Dan back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-oakey-baker/reaching-the-summit-of-k2-was-an-incredible-experience-but-i-would/) [Susan Oakey-Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-oakey-baker/) > [“But my loyalties were elsewhere. And the flavor of Pippa’s kiss—bittersweet and strange—stayed with me all the way back uptown, swaying and sleepy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/but-my-loyalties-were-elsewhere-and-the-flavor-of-pippa-s-kiss/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“You'ld think I'ld be used to saying good bye to you by now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/you-ld-think-i-ld-be-used-to-saying-good-bye-to-you-by-now/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 224 Bittersweet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bittersweet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think 'Paper Moon' is a comedy-drama. 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