The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

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:

Jeff Daniels opened a playhouse in his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan called "The Purple Rose."

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As Cecilia and Gil play and sing in the music store, the camera casts a shadow in the lower left that disappears as it pulls back to a wide angle shot.

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 "Family Guy: Brian Does Hollywood (#3.2)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

One Day at a Time

Another Overlooked Gem from Woody Allen

THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO is a lovely, funny, and heartbreaking entry from Woody Allen that still remains one of my favorites. This romantic fantasy tickles your funny bone and tugs at your heartstrings at the same time and I go through a myriad of emotions whenever I watch it. Mia Farrow stars as Celia, a depression era housewife, trapped in a dead end marriage to a pig (Danny Aiello) whose only escape comes from going to the movies. She goes to see the movie of the title several times and then at one show, the main character in the movie (played by Jeff Daniels)speaks to Celia directly from the screen saying, "You must really love this movie, don't you?" The character then walks off the screen and into Celia's life, claiming that he loves her and wants to be with her forever. Meanwhile, the actors in the movie on the screen are stuck and don't know what to do because they can't finish the movie without Daniels' character and they are seen conversing with each other about what to do and to the audience in the theater, who for some reason, sit and watch the actors on the screen trying to figure out what to do. Further complications arrive when the character starts walking off the screen in other theaters around the country and the actor who played the character (also Daniels) arrives in town to try to convince his character to go back in the movie. Woody doesn't delve into the territory of fantasy too much, but this one totally works with one of his most intelligent screenplays and winning performances from Farrow and Daniels and the ending is a heartbreaker. A must-see.