Broadway Danny Rose (1984)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

27 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

In his attempts to reconcile a lounge singer with his mistress, a hapless talent agent is mistaken as her lover by a jealous gangster.

Plot Keywords:

Agent | Mafia | Helium Inhalation | Remake | Thanksgiving Day

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Danny Rose
Mia Farrow	...	Tina Vitale
Nick Apollo Forte	...	Lou Canova
Sandy Baron	...	Himself
Corbett Monica	...	Himself
Jackie Gayle	...	Himself
Morty Gunty	...	Himself
Will Jordan	...	Himself
Howard Storm	...	Himself
Jack Rollins	...	Himself
Milton Berle	...	Himself
Craig Vandenburgh	...	Ray Webb
Herb Reynolds	...	Barney Dunn
Paul Greco	...	Vito Rispoli
Frank Renzulli	...	Joe Rispoli

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Yiddish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Brazil:14 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #20911) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Sweden:7 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Brill Building - 1619 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Orion

Trivia:

Dissatisfied with the original take of the scene, director Woody Allen re-shot the scene in which Danny Rose tries to sell acts to Phil Chomsky, re-casting comedian and singer David I. Kissel in the role of the owner of "Weinstein's Majestic Bungalow Colony". Kissel persistently called it "Mrs. Weinberg's Bungalow Colony" during filming, and Allen, exasperated, asked the actor why he kept saying this. Kissel explained that his wife always bought a brand of kosher chopped liver called "Mrs. Weinberg's Chopped Liver," and he kept thinking of that. Allen, amused, but ever the perfectionist, taped the words "Weinstein's Majestic Bungalow Colony" to the top of a filing cabinet in the office. As you view this scene, early in the film, you will notice that Dave Kissel faces away from the camera as he says those words, and speaks with his back to the camera: he is reading the words "Weinstein's Majestic Bungalow Colony" off that "crib sheet" on the filing cabinet.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one scene, Danny can be seen walking past a movie theater, that lists _Haloween III (1982)_ on the marquee, when the film is supposed to take place in the 1970s.

Quotes:

Danny Rose: [doing stand-up comedy] I drove up here today. I love driving. You run across so many interesting people.

Movie Connections:

References Q (1982)

Soundtrack:

Agita

Charm to spare

If there's one thing that almost all of Woody Allen's comedies have in common, it's charm. Few have more of it than Broadway Danny Rose. Not Allen's best, not his funniest, but this warm and sentimental film grabs the viewer immediately and never lets up.

This is accomplished, initially, by the extremely naturalistic dialogue between the comics whose reminiscences form the bulk of the film. Notice how they all talk at once, they cut each other off, and they trample all over each other's lines. We really feel like we're listening in on a diner conversation, rather than watching a theatrical performance of a diner conversation. This gives the film an initial boost of accessibility.

This "charm factor" is cemented once we meet Danny Rose. Now, many people criticize Allen as an actor, claiming that he only ever plays one character... himself. This is absolute rubbish, and "Broadway Danny Rose" proves it. I have never seen Allen play a character so kind, warm, and accepting as Danny Rose. It was quite a pleasant surprise. Danny has to be that good, though, in order for us to accept that Tina is haunted by her betrayal of him.

That denouement, by the way, was really touching. The Thanksgiving scene took a good, funny, enjoyable movie and made it something a little more special. Compare this to the gross-out comedies of today... how many modern comedies can be as funny as "Broadway Danny Rose," and yet still create characters so real and so sympathetic that moments like the Thanksgiving scene can work?

I try not to harp on about how funny Allen's comedies are, because you either like his humor or you don't. If you like it, you don't need me to tell you it's funny, and if you don't, you won't believe me anyway. So why bother? I don't know, but I will say that this film had a good six or eight laugh out loud moments, at least, and it kept me smiling throughout.

Also, after a good debut in "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy" and a reduced, subdued role in "Zelig", this is the film where Mia Farrow really comes into her own as Allen's leading lady. For the first time, I don't miss Diana Keaton.