The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

9 May 1985 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

She's finally met the man of her dreams. He's not real but you can't have everything. [Video]

Plot:

In 1930s New Jersey, a movie character walks off the screen and into the real world.

Plot Keywords:

New Jersey | Waitress | Hollywood | 1930s | Roller Coaster

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 14 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Mia Farrow	...	Cecilia
Jeff Daniels	...	Tom Baxter / Gil Shepherd
Danny Aiello	...	Monk
Irving Metzman	...	Theater Manager
Stephanie Farrow	...	Cecilia's Sister
David Kieserman	...	Diner Boss
Elaine Grollman	...	Diner Patron
Victoria Zussin	...	Diner Patron
Mark Hammond	...	Diner Patron
Wade Barnes	...	Diner Patron
Joseph G. Graham	...	Diner Patron
Don Quigley	...	Diner Patron
Maurice Brenner	...	Diner Patron
Paul Herman	...	Penny Pitcher
Rick Petrucelli	...	Penny Pitcher
Peter Castellotti	...	Penny Pitcher
Milton Seaman	...	Ticket Buyer
Mimi Weddell	...	Ticket Buyer
Tom Degidon	...	Ticket Taker
Mary Hedahl	...	Popcorn Seller
Edward Herrmann	...	Henry
John Wood	...	Jason
Deborah Rush	...	Rita
Van Johnson	...	Larry
Zoe Caldwell	...	The Countess
Eugene J. Anthony	...	Arturo (as Eugene Anthony)
Ebb Miller	...	Bandleader
Karen Akers	...	Kitty Haynes
Annie Joe Edwards	...	Delilah
Milo O'Shea	...	Father Donnelly
Peter McRobbie	...	The Communist
Camille Saviola	...	Olga
Juliana Donald	...	Usherette
Dianne Wiest	...	Emma
Margaret Thompson	...	Movie Audience
George Hamlin	...	Movie Audience
Helen Hanft	...	Movie Audience
Leo Postrel	...	Movie Audience
Helen Miller	...	Movie Audience
George Martin	...	Movie Audience
Crystal Field	...	Movie Audience
Ken Chapin	...	Reporter
Robert Trebor	...	Reporter
Benjamin Rayson	...	Movie Goer
Jean Shevlin	...	Movie Goer
Albert S. Bennett	...	Movie Goer
Martha Sherill	...	Movie Goer
Gretchen MacLane	...	Movie Goer
Edwin Bordo	...	Movie Goer
Andrew Murphy	...	Policeman #1
Tom Kubiak	...	Policeman #2 (as Thomas Kubiak)
Alexander Cohen	...	Raoul Hirsch
John Rothman	...	Mr. Hirsch's Lawyer
Raymond Serra	...	Hollywood Executive
George J. Manos	...	Press Agent
David Tice	...	Waiter
James Lynch	...	Maitre D'
Sydney A. Blake	...	Variety Reporter (as Sydney Blake)
Michael Tucker	...	Gil's Agent
Peter von Berg	...	Drugstore Customer (as Peter Von Berg)
David Weber	...	Photo Double
Glenne Headly	...	Hooker (as Glenne Headley)
Willie Tjan	...	Hooker
Lela Ivey	...	Hooker
Drinda Lalumia	...	Hooker (as Drinda La Lumia)
Loretta Tupper	...	Music Store Owner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marty Appel	...	Restaurant patron (uncredited)
Murray Bandel	...	Extra - Movie Theater (uncredited)
Sharon Porter-Phillips	...	(uncredited)
James Prendergast	...	Waiter (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Greenhut	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	executive producer
Michael Peyser	....	associate producer
Jack Rollins	....	executive producer (as A Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe Production)
Gail Sicilia	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Dick Hyman

Cinematography by
Gordon Willis

Film Editing by
Susan E. Morse

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Stuart Wurtzel

Art Direction by
Edward Pisoni

Set Decoration by
Carol Joffe

Costume Design by
Jeffrey Kurland

Makeup Department
Fern Buchner	....	make-up designer
Romaine Greene	....	hair designer
Craig Lyman	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Michael Peyser	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Chory	....	second assistant director
Thomas A. Reilly	....	first assistant director (as Thomas Reilly)
Liz Ryan	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Prudence Farrow	....	art department coordinator
James V. Gartland	....	construction grip (as James Gartland Jr.)
W. Steven Graham	....	assistant art director
Dan Leigh	....	assistant: Mr. Wurtzel
James Mazzola	....	property master
Kevin McCarthy	....	set dresser
Ron Petagna	....	chief carpenter
Justin Scoppa Jr.	....	additional set decorator (as Justin Scoppa)
Cosmo Sorice	....	stand-by scenic artist
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist
Kenneth Vogt	....	property man
Dave Weinman	....	chief set dresser
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter (uncredited)
John Kasarda	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Christopher Nelson	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Dior	....	re-recording mixer: Trans/Audio Inc. (as Richard Dior)
Kathleen Earle Killeen	....	apprentice sound editor
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist
Marty Levenstein	....	assistant sound editor (as Martin Levenstein)
Stuart Lieberman	....	assistant sound editor
Dan Lieberstein	....	sound editor
James Sabat	....	production sound mixer
Louis Sabat	....	boom man
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Andrew Hansard	....	process projectionist
Don Hansard	....	process coordinator
Mitch Wilson	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ronald Burke	....	grip
James Fitzpatrick	....	best boy
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Douglas C. Hart	....	assistant cameraman
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator
Robert Paone	....	second assistant cameraman (as Bob Paone)
Ray Quinlan	....	gaffer
Robert Ward	....	key grip (as Bob Ward)
David J. Schweitzer	....	special photography effects (uncredited)

Casting Department
Ellen Lewis	....	casting assistant
Todd M. Thaler	....	additional casting (as Todd Michael Thaler)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Christians	....	wardrobe supervisor: men's
Patricia Eiben	....	wardrobe supervisor: women's
Isis Mussenden	....	costume assistant
John Michael Reefer	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Kris Cole	....	apprentice film editor
Richard Nord	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Walt Levinsky	....	music recording supervisor (as Walter Levinsky)
Joe Malin	....	music coordinator
Roy B. Yokelson	....	music recording engineer: National Recording Studios, Inc.
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer (uncredited)
Vince Giordano	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Harry J. Leavey	....	transportation captain (as Harry Leavey)

Other crew
Tony Adler	....	production staff
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
James A. Davis	....	production staff (as James Davis)
Jonathan Filley	....	location manager
James Greenhut	....	production staff
Joseph Hartwick	....	production auditor
John Healy	....	location scout
Amy Herman	....	production staff
Mary Kane	....	location scout
Peter Lombardi	....	assistant production auditor
Jane Read Martin	....	assistant: Mr. Allen
Tom McKinley	....	associate: Mr. Kurland
Joseph Pierson	....	production staff
Dana Robin	....	location scout
Helen Robin	....	production coordinator
Steve Rose	....	studio manager
Barry Strugatz	....	location scout
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Michael Wild	....	production staff

Thanks
Fred Astaire	....	the producers also thank
Bob Lefcovich	....	the producers also thank: Modern Telecommunications, Inc.
Jack Richards	....	the producers also thank: Bertrand Island Park

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Globo Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Orion Pictures Corporation

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  the producers also thank (as Albert G. Ruben Insurance Co., Inc.)
• Bertand Island Park  the producers also thank
• Conrail  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Deluxe  the producers also thank: prints by (as DeLuxe)
• Donna Motors  the producers also thank: Period cars
• Dyansen Galleries of New York City  the producers also thank: sculptures from the Encore Collection courtesy of
• General Camera Corporation  the producers also thank (as General Camera Corp.)
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  vintage clothing rentals (uncredited)
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• Kennedy Galleries, The  the producers also thank: Paintings courtesy of
• Mars Talent Agency  the producers also thank (as Mars, Inc.)
• Mayor's Office for Film, Theater and Broadcasting  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as The Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting)
• Miles Laboratories  the producers also thank
• Modern Telecommunications  the producers also thank
• National Recording Studios  music recorded at
• New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• New York City Department of Parks and Recreation  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Parks and Recreation Department of New York City)
• New York State Office for Motion Picture and Television Development  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as The New York State Office of Motion Picture and Television Development)
• Optical House, The  opticals (as The Optical House, N.Y.)
• Panavision  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance: lenses and Panaflex® cameras
• Publisher Fine Art Acquisitions  the producers also thank: Erte Sculpture Collection courtesy of the
• R/Greenberg Associates  opticals
• RKO General  the producers also thank: The R.K.O. Radio Pictures Service Mark and Logo furnished courtesy of
• Trans / Audio  sound re-recording
• Village of Piermont, New York, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Brazil:12 | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Israel:PG | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #27334) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Bertrand Island Amusement Park, Mount Arlington, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

For the amusement park scenes, filming was brought to the classic and now closed amusement park Bertrand Island which was located in Mount Arlington at Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. The park was quite a famous one in its heyday, and had closed shortly before filming commenced on the site. Some rides seen were the originals from the park, but others were props brought in by the film crew.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The music store owner is clearly not able to play his instrument.

Quotes:

Tom Baxter: It's so impulsive, but... I'll come. Why not? What's life without a little risk taking? Who knows?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Alabamy Bound

Enchanting bittersweet fantasy...surreal and very original...

THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO has got to be one of the most original and inventive of all the films Woody Allen has done--and all the more enjoyable because we're not subjected to the Allen character in the film itself. Instead, we get MIA FARROW (one of her very best performances) and JEFF DANIELS in what has to be the most original role of his career, as the man who walks off the movie screen and into Farrow's humdrum life.

Farrow is the Depression-era movie fan whose film idol walks right off the screen and interjects himself into her life--brightening it, at least for awhile, until the rather downbeat ending. DANNY AIELLO, as Mia's abusive husband and DIANNE WIEST have good supporting roles, but the story really depends on the wonderful chemistry between Farrow and Daniels--and they truly bring the bittersweet comedy and fantasy to credible life.

Furthermore, the script is not only very clever, but the film is technically brilliant in the way it has the film within a film characters on the screen interacting with the movie audience.

Summing up: Stylish mixture of comedy and fantasy, fully deserving the many nominations and awards it won that year.