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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Woody Allen (written by)
Release Date:
9 May 1985 (Australia) more
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. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 14 wins & 11 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Top 7 Films Directed by Actors Turned Directors
(From Scorecard Review. 30 October 2009, 4:34 AM, PDT)
Karen Akers Says 'Anything Goes' When Her New Cole Porter Show Comes to The Rrazz Room 10/27-31
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 27 October 2009, 1:30 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Charming romantic fable mixed with surreal humour more (93 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
82 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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 more
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Michael Keaton was originally cast in the lead role, and footage was shot. Director Woody Allen decided it wasn't working, and replaced Keaton with Jeff Daniels. more
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. more
Quotes:
Tom Baxter: You make love without fading out? more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live (1998) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Cheek to Cheek more
FAQ
How does it end?What film is Cecilia watching at the end?
more
more (93 total)
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Cecilia is a New Jersey waitress during the great depression. With a boring job and an abusive husband she longs to escape to the world of her favorite film `The Purple Rose of Cairo'. During a repeat viewing the main character of the film notices her and decides to come down off the screen to meet her and start an unlikely love story. However with the characters onscreen left in a void by Tom's disappearance and reports of other Toms breaking free, Tom's real life actor Gil Shepherd is called in to help reclaim his character.
This is a charming little fantasy piece from Woody Allen using his other leading lady Mia Farrow. The story is excellent and a real credit to Allen's writing. The love story between Cecilia and Tom is slight but touching but my favorite pieces are the incident scenes. The surreal chaos that Tom leaves behind him is really funny as all the characters simply lose motivation and carry on on-screen (to a packed out audience, eager to see what they'll do now!).
Farrow is good as the wide eyed dreamer. Daniels is great in two roles, even if his Tom is a little wet and weak. Aiello is really good in his husband role and the rest of the cast are great in support. Allen weaves a great film out of a story that needed to right touch to just keep it the right side of silly. He blends emotions well and creates a genuinely moving story that still manages to have touches of his trademark surreal humour.
Overall this is a good Woody Allen film. It will appeal to fans because it is a great mix of comedy and romance. It will appeal to those that don't usually like Woody because he's not in it - thus removing his ticks etc! The only criticism is that occasionally it feels like it's moving very slow, but this is a minor problem.