The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
- Starring:
- Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, (more)
- Director(s):
- Woody Allen
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Category:
- Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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Woody Allen blurs the the boundaries between the real and unreal in this unique comic fantasy. The scene is a small town in the mid-1930s. Trapped in a dead-end job and an abusive marriage, Cecelia (Mia Farrow) regularly seeks refuge in the local movie house. She becomes so enraptured by the latest attraction, an RKO screwball comedy called The Purple Rose of Cairo, that she returns to the theatre day after day. During one of these visits, the film's main character Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels), pauses in his dialogue, turns towards the audience, and says to Cecelia, "My God, how you must love this picture." Then he climbs out of the movie, much to the consternation of the rest of the audience and the other characters on screen. Liberated from his customary black-and-white environs, he accompanies Cecelia on a tour of the town, eventually falling in love with her. Meanwhile, the other Purple Rose characters, unable to proceed with the film, carry on a discussion with themselves. Desperately, the RKO executives seek out Gil Shepherd, the actor who played the hero of Purple Rose. Shepherd (also played by Daniels), is sent to Cecelia's hometown to see if he can repair the damage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 82 mins
Complete Cast:
- Mia Farrow - Cecilia
- Danny Aiello - Monk
- Van Johnson - Larry
- John Wood - Jason
- Deborah Rush - Rita
- John Rothman - Mr. Hirsch's Lawyer
- Alexander H. Cohen - Raoul Hirsch
- Karen Akers - Kitty Haynes
- Annie Joe Edwards - Delilah
- Juliana Donald - Usherette
- David Kieserman - Diner boss
- Ebb Miller - Bandleader
- Andrew Murphy - Policeman
- Jean Shevlin - Moviegoer
- Margaret Thompson - Movie Audience
- Peter Castellotti - Penny Pitcher
- Benjamin Rayson - Moviegoer
- Tom Degidon - Ticket Taker
- Loretta Tupper - Music Store Owner
- Peter Von Berg - Drugstore Customer
- Milton Seaman - Ticket Buyer
- Wade Barnes - Diner Patron
- Ken Chapin - Reporter
- Paul Herman - Penny Pitcher
- Elaine Grollman - Diner Patron
- Ray Serra - Hollywood Executive
- Leo Postrel - Movie Audience
- Mimi Weddell - Ticket Buyer
- Albert S. Bennett - Moviegoer
- Victoria Zussin - Diner Patron
- Martha Sherrill - Moviegoer
- Sydney Blake - Variety Reporter
- Lela Ivey - Hooker
- George J. Manos - Press Agent
- Jeff Daniels - Tom Baxter
- Dianne Wiest - Emma
- Zoe Caldwell - Countess
- Milo O'Shea - Father Donnelly
- Irving Metzman - Theatre Manager
- Stephanie Farrow - Cecilia's sister
- Camille Saviola - Olga
- Michael Tucker - Gil's Agent
- Peter McRobbie - Communist
- Edward Herrmann - Henry
- Eugene Anthony - Arturo
- Robert Trebor - Reporter
- George Martin - Movie Audience
- Crystal Field - Movie Audience
- George Hamlin - Movie Audience
- Drinda La Lumia - Hooker
- Maurice Brenner - Diner Patron
- Joseph G. Graham - Diner Patron
- Mary Hedahl - Popcorn Seller
- Gretchen MacLane - Moviegoer
- David Tice - Waiter
- Helen Miller - Movie Audience
- Don Quigley - Diner Patron
- Jeff Daniels - Gil Shepherd
- Mark Hammond - Diner Patron
- Glenne Headly - Hooker
- Rick Petrucelli - Penny Pitcher
- James Lynch - Maitre D'
- Edwin Bordo - Moviegoer
- Tom Kubiak - Policeman
- Willie Tjan - Hooker
- Helen Hanft - Movie Audience
- David Weber - Photo Double
- Director(s):
- Woody Allen
- Writer(s):
- Woody Allen
- Producer(s):
- Robert Greenhut
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Adult Situations)
- Categories:
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Romance, Comedy
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 1985 - The Purple Rose of Cairo - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Picture
- 1985 - The Purple Rose of Cairo - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Original Screenplay
- 1985 - The Purple Rose of Cairo - French Academy of Cinema - Best Foreign Film
- 1985 - The Purple Rose of Cairo - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Screenplay
- 1985 - The Purple Rose of Cairo - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Screenplay
