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

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

Woody Allen's own "Amarcord"

Radio Days (1987)- written, directed, and narrated by Allen:

What a beautiful, kind, gentle, ironic, warm, sentimental (in a very good way and yes, I am talking about Woody Allen's movie, that's right) yet perfectly balanced delight. It is a series of sketches about young Joe (young Allen, of course, played by Seth Green - that was a surprise), an adolescent in Brooklyn, NY during 1930s-1940s who was passionately in love with radio which was a king. The film is a tribute to the magical radio days and the myths and legends about radio personalities, the memory of a grown man who never forgot where he came from, the love letter to his always fighting and arguing ("I mean, how many people argue over oceans?") but loving relatives and a very funny comedy (the way only Allen's comedy can be). It is the film where pretty like a doll and painfully naive Sally (Mia Farrow) asks who Pearl Harbor is? Where gorgeous Diane Keaton sings and Diane Wiest, his beloved Aunt Bea never gives up hope of one true love. He never told us if she found it...

"I never forgot that New Year's Eve when Aunt Bea awakened me to watch 1944 come in. I've never forgotten any of those people or any of the voices we would hear on the radio. Though the truth is, with the passing of each New Year's Eve, those voices do seem to grow dimmer and dimmer."

The Radio days are gone but thanks to Allen, the voices of the times passed are still clear and sound and they always will be.

9/10