Radio Days (1987)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

30 January 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

A nostalgic look at radio's golden age focusing on one ordinary family and the various performers in the medium.

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Beach | Working Class | Cigarette Girl | Conga

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Mike Starr	...	Burglar
Paul Herman	...	Burglar
Don Pardo	...	'Guess That Tune' Host
Martin Rosenblatt	...	Mr. Needleman
Helen Miller	...	Mrs. Needleman
Danielle Ferland	...	Child Star
Julie Kavner	...	Mother
Julie Kurnitz	...	Irene
David Warrilow	...	Roger
Wallace Shawn	...	Masked Avenger
Mick Murray	...	Avenger Crook (as Michael Murray)
William Flanagan	...	Avenger Announcer
Seth Green	...	Joe
Michael Tucker	...	Father
Josh Mostel	...	Abe
Renée Lippin	...	Ceil (as Renee Lippin)
William Magerman	...	Grandpa
Leah Carrey	...	Grandma
Joy Newman	...	Ruthie
Hy Anzell	...	Mr. Waldbaum
Judith Malina	...	Mrs. Waldbaum
Dianne Wiest	...	Bea
Fletcher Farrow Previn	...	Andrew
Oliver Block	...	Nick
Maurice Toueg	...	Dave
Sal Tuminello	...	Burt
Rebecca Nickels	...	Evelyn Goorwitz
Mindy Morgenstern	...	'Show & Tell' Teacher
David Mosberg	...	Arnold
Ross Morgenstern	...	Ross
Kenneth Mars	...	Rabbi Baumel
Andrew B. Clark	...	Sidney Manulis (as Andrew Clark)
Mia Farrow	...	Sally White
Lee Erwin	...	Roller Rink Organist
Roger Hammer	...	Richard
Terry Lee Swarts	...	Nightclub Customer
Margaret Thomson	...	Nightclub Customer
Tito Puente	...	Latin Bandleader
Denise Dumont	...	Latin singer 'Tico-Tico no Fubá' (as Denise Dummont)
Dimitri Vassilopoulos	...	Perfirio
Larry David	...	Communist Neighbor
Rebecca Schaeffer	...	Communists's Daughter
Belle Berger	...	Mrs. Silverman
Guy Le Bow	...	Bill Kern
Brian Mannain	...	Kirby Kyle
Stanley Burns	...	Ventriloquist (as Stan Burns)
Todd Field	...	Crooner
Peter Lombard	...	Abercrombie Host
Martin Sharman	...	Mr. Abercrombie (as Martin Sherman)
Crystal Field	...	Abercrombie Couple
Maurice Shrog	...	Abercrombie Couple
Marc Colner	...	Whiz Kid
Roberta Bennett	...	Teacher with Carrot
Joel Eidelsberg	...	Mr. Zipsky
Danny Aiello	...	Rocco
Peter Castellotti	...	Mr. Davis
Gina DeAngeles	...	Rocco's Mother (as Gina DeAngelis)
Shelley Delaney	...	Chekhov Actress
Dwight Weist	...	Pearl Harbor Announcer
Ken Levinsky	...	USO Musician
Ray Marchica	...	USO Musician
Jeff Daniels	...	Biff Baxter
J.R. Horne	...	Biff Announcer
Kuno Sponholz	...	German
Henry Yuk	...	Japanese
Sydney A. Blake	...	Miss Gordon
Kitty Carlisle	...	Radio Singer (as Kitty Carlisle Hart)
Robert Joy	...	Fred
Henry Cowen	...	Principal
Philip Shultz	...	Whistler
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Ad Men
Bruce Jarchow	...	Ad Men
Greg Gerard	...	Songwriter
David Cale	...	Director
Ira Wheeler	...	Sponsor
Hannah Rabinowitz	...	Sponsor's Wife
Edward S. Kotkin	...	Diction Teacher
Ruby Payne	...	Diction Student
J.E. Beaucaire	...	Diction Student (as Jaqui Safra)
Paul Berman	...	'Gay White Way' Announcer
Richard Portnow	...	Sy
Tony Roberts	...	'Silver Dollar' Emcee
Barbara Gallo	...	Dance Palace Musician
Jane Jarvis	...	Dance Palace Musician
Liz Vochecowizc	...	Dance Palace Musician
Ivan Kronenfeld	...	On-the-Spot Newsman
Frank O'Brien	...	Fireman
Yolanda Childress	...	Polly's Mother
Artie Butler	...	New Year's Bandleader
Diane Keaton	...	New Year's Singer
Gregg Almquist	...	Radio Voice (voice)
Jackson Beck	...	Reporter In Disaster Sequence (voice)
Wendell Craig	...	Radio Voice (voice)
William H. Macy	...	Radio actor (as W.H. Macy)
Ken Roberts	...	Radio Voice (voice)
Norman Rose	...	Radio Voice (voice)
Kenneth Welsh	...	Radio Voice (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stan Burns	...	Ventriloquist
Mark Patterson	...	Nightclub Orchestra Trombonist
Woody Allen	...	The Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Bonnie Lee Bakley	...	(uncredited)
David Bickford	...	Silver Dollar Assistant (uncredited)
Ron Leir	...	Radio Actor (uncredited)
Fred Melamed	...	Bradley (uncredited)
Ilana Rapp	...	Counter Girl (uncredited)
Tommy Roeder	...	Gym Trainer (uncredited)
Ruth Rugoff	...	Rita the Soda Jerk (uncredited)
Christine Scheier	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Greenhut	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	executive producer
Jack Rollins	....	executive producer
Gail Sicilia	....	associate producer
Ezra Swerdlow	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Carlo Di Palma

Film Editing by
Susan E. Morse

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Speed Hopkins

Set Decoration by
Leslie Bloom		(as Les Bloom)
Carol Joffe
George DeTitta Jr.		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Jeffrey Kurland

Makeup Department
Fern Buchner	....	make-up designer
Romaine Greene	....	hair designer

Production Management
Timothy M. Bourne	....	assistant production manager
Thomas A. Reilly	....	production manager (as Thomas Reilly)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Judy Ferguson	....	dga trainee
Ken Ornstein	....	second assistant director
Ezra Swerdlow	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Dan Davis	....	assistant art director
Randall Drake	....	assistant art director
W. Steven Graham	....	assistant art director
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department research
James Mazzola	....	property master
Arne Olsen	....	chief construction grip
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator
Steve Saklad	....	assistant art director
Cliff Schorr	....	standby scenic artist
Michael Smith	....	assistant art director
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist
Tom Warren	....	assistant art director
Dave Weinman	....	set dresser
Joseph Alfieri	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Amy Briamonte	....	apprentice sound editor
Lee Dichter	....	re-recording mixer: Sound One Corp.
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor (as Bob Hein)
Frank Kern	....	assistant sound editor
Barbara Minor	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Moyse	....	sound editor
James Sabat	....	production sound mixer
Louis Sabat	....	boom operator
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ronald Burke	....	dolly grip
Liz Dubelman	....	camera trainee
Michael Green	....	assistant cameraperson
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Jay Levy	....	second assistant cameraperson
Jim Manzione	....	best boy
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator
Ray Quinlan	....	gaffer
Robert Ward	....	key grip (as Bob Ward)

Casting Department
Ellen Lewis	....	casting associate
Todd M. Thaler	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Christians	....	wardrobe supervisor: men's
Patricia Eiben	....	wardrobe supervisor: women's
Jessica Fasman	....	costume assistant
Lauren Gibson	....	costume assistant
Deborah Lancaster	....	costume assistant
Judianna Makovsky	....	assistant costume designer (as Judiana Makovsky)
Alvin Perry	....	costume assistant
Mark Burchard	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Marty Levenstein	....	assistant film editor (as Martin Levenstein)
Jon Neuburger	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Diane Andolsek	....	assistant engineer
Janet Frank	....	vocal coach: Ms. Farrow & Ms. Keaton
Dick Hyman	....	music supervision
Walt Levinsky	....	music recording supervisor
Joe Malin	....	musicians coordinator
Sam Parkins	....	music recording supervisor
Roy B. Yokelson	....	music recording engineer

Transportation Department
Harold 'Whitey' McEvoy	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Richard Baratta	....	location scout
Nicholas Bernstein	....	location scout
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
James A. Davis	....	location scout (as James Davis)
Claudette Didul	....	production staff
Judie Fixler	....	production staff
Barbara Green	....	production staff
Joseph Hartwick	....	production associate
Barbara Heller	....	location scout
Amy Herman	....	assistant production coordinator
Peter Lombardi	....	production auditor
Jane Read Martin	....	assistant: Mr. Allen
Douglas S. Ornstein	....	production staff (as Doug Ornstein)
Tom Paolucci	....	location scout
Richard Patrick	....	production staff
Helen Robin	....	production coordinator
Tracy Robin	....	production staff
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	production staff (as Drew Rosenberg)
Steve Rose	....	studio manager
Larry Rudolph	....	production staff
Angela Salgado	....	production staff
Scott Schaffer	....	production staff
Jay Scherick	....	production staff
Jordan Thaler	....	production staff
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Gilbert S. Williams	....	location scout
Ed Montalvo	....	location assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Donald Saddler	....	the producers wish to thank: for their assistance

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1987) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1998) (Sweden) (VHS)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as Albert G. Ruben Insurance Co., Inc.)
• Antique Wireless Association  the producers wish to thank for their assistance
• General Camera Corporation  the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as General Camera Corp.)
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  special thanks: vintage clothing rentals (uncredited)
• J.G. Films  negative matching
• Lee Lighting America  the producers wish to thank for their assistance
• Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting, The  the producers wish to thank for their assistance
• On Location Education  the producers wish to thank for their assistance
• Optical House, The  titles
• Pepsi-Cola Company  the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as Pepsi Cola Company)
• R/Greenberg Associates  optical effects
• Sessums & Slagle  the producers wish to thank for their assistance
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording mixer (as Sound One Corp.)
• St. Regis Sheraton Hotel  the producers wish to thank for their assistance

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PA (Ontario) | Netherlands:6 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The story of Kirby Kyle, the ill fated baseball player, is a parody of former Chicago White Sox pitcher Monty Stratton, whose promising career was derailed after he lost part of his leg due to a hunting accident. Stratton attempted a comeback, and then retired. His life was made into a movie: The Stratton Story (1949).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The song "Mairzy Doats" was played and commented on by the film's narrator prior to the point in the movie where the announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor is made on the radio. "Mairzy Doats" was not written until nearly two years later in 1943, therefore, the song could not have been heard on the radio before December 7, 1941.

Quotes:

Diction Student: Hark! I hear the cannons roar! Is it the King approaching?
Diction Student: Hark! I hear the cannons roar! Is it the King approaching?
Sally: [in a very thick New York accent] Hahk! I hear the cannon's raw! Is it the King approaching?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Beverly Hills, 90210: Radio Daze (#4.5)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Begin the Beguine

A Masterpiece. Amazing.

Radio Days has got to be one of my absolute favorite films of all time. To me, it's a film that balances story, characters and atmosphere better than just about any other. It's truly a great work of art, and a very, very underrated one. The best thing about it is how Allen's love for his subject, the romantic nostalgia he feels, translates so eloquently to the screen. You've also got to hand it to the cast. Diane Weist, Julie Kavner, Mia Farrow, Josh Mostel, a briefly-glimpsed Jeff Daniels, and a young Seth Green all give great performances that are right out of the period, yet instantly recognizable. Allen had Santo Loquasto, his art director, do a bang-up job on creating the world of early-1940s Rockaway, New York, and Jeffrey Kurland's costumes help immensely. Particularly note-worthy is Carlo Di Palma's stunning cinematography. The colours, the smoky nightclubs and soundstages, the dimly-lit nighteries and the dazzling rooftop set come to life like few sets do in films. And then there's the music. That dazzling array of classic music, from one of the best periods for it in American history. Allen's decision to use only music from that time might sound cliche, but he's definatly justified here. And there's always the Radio Show Themes piece by Dick Hyman (I'm always by that name) that accompanies many of the scenes. That piece of music alone is worth seeing the film. As you can probably tell, I love this film simply for the fact that it's such a charming, enchanting, beautiful film. It's one I'd show my children, even the nude dancing scene, had I any children to show it to. Woody Allen's turn in the films he's made lately (as of 2003) are, to me, pretty depressing and perverse, with none of the charm, life and humor that works like Radio Days symbolize, Sweet and Lowdown notwithstanding. Hopefully, more films like this gem are on the horizon.