Martha Sherrill Movies
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
- Starring:
- Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, (more)
Woody Allen's tenth film as writer/director, Stardust Memories opens with a scene reminiscent of the opening of 8 1/2 and continues to use that film for inspiration. Sandy Bates (Allen) sits in a train at a train station, the car filled with very unhappy looking people. In a train on another set of tracks, Bates sees a wonderful party going on. A beautiful woman blows him a kiss as the happy train pulls out of the station. Bates is a famous film director who has been invited to attend a festival of his work being held at the Stardust hotel. He attends the event, but is ceaselessly harassed by fans who accost him and repel him in equal measure. While consistently hearing the complaints from fans, critics, and even space aliens that his earlier comedies are superior to his dramatic work, Bates juggles a trio of women in his private life. His encounters during the course of the retrospective force Bates to take a long look at himself. Sharon Stone makes one of her first film appearances as the woman who blows Sandy a kiss. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Woody Allen, Charlotte Rampling, (more)
The relationship between Madeleine Ross (Susan Sarandon), a journalist, and Harris Sloane (David Steinberg), an art theater owner is the focus of this standard love story. Neither protagonist is shown being very active in their respective careers, especially considering how active they are in thinking about and connecting to, or disconnecting from each other. Their relationship is anything but steady, so when Madeleine meets the famous French star Jean-Fidel Mileau (played by the famous French star Jean-Pierre Aumont), he is a potent diversion and catalyst for true love at the same time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Sarandon, David Steinberg, (more)
- 1979
- R
Alan Alda wrote and starred in this tale about a big-time politician's struggles with his own morality and the corruption he finds surrounding him. He plays a U.S. Senator, Joe Tynan, who falls for a lovely lady attorney and has an affair that jeopardizes his marriage, and possibly, his career. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Alda, Barbara Harris, (more)
- 1949
In this youthful adventure, a young boy and a wild stallion, Black Diamond, form an unbreakable bond. It is the boy's father who captured and gentled the remarkable horse. Later, when the father's life is threatened by wicked claim jumpers after his mine, the boy and the courageous horse rush to his aid. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
