Broadway Danny Rose (1984)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

27 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

In his attempts to reconcile a lounge singer with his mistress, a hapless talent agent is mistaken as her lover by a jealous gangster.

Plot Keywords:

Agent | Helium Inhalation | Mafia | Glass Harp | Remake

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Danny Rose
Mia Farrow	...	Tina Vitale
Nick Apollo Forte	...	Lou Canova
Sandy Baron	...	Himself
Corbett Monica	...	Himself
Jackie Gayle	...	Himself
Morty Gunty	...	Himself
Will Jordan	...	Himself
Howard Storm	...	Himself
Jack Rollins	...	Himself
Milton Berle	...	Himself
Craig Vandenburgh	...	Ray Webb
Herb Reynolds	...	Barney Dunn
Paul Greco	...	Vito Rispoli
Frank Renzulli	...	Joe Rispoli

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Yiddish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Brazil:14 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #20911) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Sweden:7 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Brill Building - 1619 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Orion

Trivia:

Dissatisfied with the original take of the scene, director Woody Allen re-shot the scene in which Danny Rose tries to sell acts to Phil Chomsky, re-casting comedian and singer David I. Kissel in the role of the owner of "Weinstein's Majestic Bungalow Colony". Kissel persistently called it "Mrs. Weinberg's Bungalow Colony" during filming, and Allen, exasperated, asked the actor why he kept saying this. Kissel explained that his wife always bought a brand of kosher chopped liver called "Mrs. Weinberg's Chopped Liver," and he kept thinking of that. Allen, amused, but ever the perfectionist, taped the words "Weinstein's Majestic Bungalow Colony" to the top of a filing cabinet in the office. As you view this scene, early in the film, you will notice that Dave Kissel faces away from the camera as he says those words, and speaks with his back to the camera: he is reading the words "Weinstein's Majestic Bungalow Colony" off that "crib sheet" on the filing cabinet.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Danny arrives to pick up Tina, he tells her he is double-parked. When she then storms across the street with Danny following her, we see the car, and it is not double-parked; but shortly thereafter, when Danny makes a pay-phone call, the car can be seen double-parked in the background.

Quotes:

Barney Dunn: Hey D- D- Danny, who's your fr- fr- fr- fr- guest?

Movie Connections:

References "Toast of the Town" (1948)

Soundtrack:

Funiculi, Funicula

Morality Play Disguised as Comedy

Although a very funny film, Broadway Danny Rose is more of character study and philosophical morality play. This film explores the life and values of Danny Rose (played by Allen)--a theatrical talent manager. Although he appears to be a hapless loser, Rose is smart enough to know how to get ahead in his business (do it to others before they do it to you) but is prevented from acting thusly by his morality and his compassion for his clients--which he treats like family. He pours all his energy into his clients' careers only to be abandoned by them when they finally hit it big. In the course of an "adventure" with the hard-bitten Farrow, his values imperceptibly rub off on her and begin working on her conscious. Her moral conversion is completed when she seeks Rose's forgiveness at the much talked about Thanksgiving dinner--a scene not about pathetic losers but rather a study of fellowship, compassion, redemption, and forgiveness.

Allen and Farrow both give career performances. Nick Apollo Forte is absolutely wonderful. The casting, locations, directing, and performances could not be better. Every aspiring film maker should study this film as the perfect example of a powerful "little" film. Watch the film several times and you'll like it more each time. It is may favorite Woody Allen film (everything else is a distant second) and one of my favorite films of all time. The film's lack of commercial and critical success speaks volumes about the sensibilities and values of our society.