Bullets Over Broadway (1994)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writers (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by) and
Douglas McGrath (written by)

Release Date:

18 January 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

A killer comedy!

Plot:

In 1920s New York, a struggling playwright is forced to cast a mobster's talentless girlfriend in his latest drama in order to get it produced.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Playwright | Play | Bodyguard | Gangster

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 15 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	David Shayne
Dianne Wiest	...	Helen Sinclair
Jennifer Tilly	...	Olive Neal
Chazz Palminteri	...	Cheech
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Ellen
Jack Warden	...	Julian Marx
Joe Viterelli	...	Nick Valenti
Rob Reiner	...	Sheldon Flender
Tracey Ullman	...	Eden Brent
Jim Broadbent	...	Warner Purcell
Harvey Fierstein	...	Sid Loomis
Stacey Nelkin	...	Rita
Malgorzata Zajaczkowska	...	Lili (as Margaret Sophie Stein)
Charles Cragin	...	Rifkin
Nina Sonja Peterson	...	Josette (as Nina Sonya Peterson)
Edie Falco	...	Lorna
Hope W. Sacharoff	...	Hilda Marx
Debi Mazar	...	Violet
Brian McConnachie	...	Mitch Sabine
Tony Sirico	...	Rocco
Victor Colicchio	...	Waterfront Hood
Louis Eppolito	...	Waterfront Hood (as Lou Eppolito)
Gene Canfield	...	Waterfront Hood
Peter Castellotti	...	Waterfront Hood (as Pete Castellotti)
Tony Conforti	...	Waterfront Hood
John Di Benedetto	...	Waterfront Hood (as John DiBenedetto)
John Ventimiglia	...	Waterfront Hood (as Johnny Ventimiglia)
Lisa Arturo	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line
Rachel Black	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line
Alison Cramer	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line
Kelly Groninger	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line
Jennifer Lamberts	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line
Carol Lee Meadows	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line (as Carol Lee Meadows Mitchell)
Jo Telford	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line
Meghan Strange	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line
Leigh Torlage	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line
Debra Wiseman	...	Three Deuces Chorus Line
Paul Herman	...	Maitre d'
James Reno	...	Sal
Gerald Edward Dolezar	...	Cafe Waiter (as Gerald E. Dolezar)
Shannah Laumeister	...	Movie Theatre Victim
Fran McGee	...	Movie Theatre Victim
Annie Joe Edwards	...	Venus (as Annie-Joe Edwards)
Kernan Bell	...	Speakeasy Waiter
Nick Iacovino	...	Hood
Frank Aquilino	...	Hood
Sohrab Ardeshir	...	Helen's Party Guest (as Sam Ardeshir)
Molly Regan	...	Helen's Party Guest
Phil Stein	...	Stagehand
John Doumanian	...	Backstage Well-Wisher
Dayle Haddon	...	Backstage Well-Wisher
Tony Darrow	...	Aldo
Howard Erskine	...	Theater Well-Wisher
Benay Venuta	...	Theater Well-Wisher
Ken Roberts	...	Theater Well-Wisher
Jennifer Van Dyck	...	Olive's Understudy
Peter McRobbie	...	Man at Theatre
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Hoyt	...	Wiseguy (uncredited)
Jeff Mazzola	...	Movie Theatre Hitman (uncredited)
Rick Washburn	...	Movie Theatre Hitman (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by) and
Douglas McGrath		(written by)

Produced by
Letty Aronson	....	co-executive producer
J.E. Beaucaire	....	executive producer
Jean Doumanian	....	executive producer
Robert Greenhut	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	co-executive producer
Thomas A. Reilly	....	associate producer (as Thomas Reilly)
Helen Robin	....	co-producer
Jack Rollins	....	co-executive producer

Cinematography by
Carlo Di Palma		(as Carlo DiPalma)

Film Editing by
Susan E. Morse

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Tom Warren

Set Decoration by
Susan Bode
Amy Marshall

Costume Design by
Jeffrey Kurland

Makeup Department
Joseph A. Campayno	....	makeup artist (as Joe Campayno)
Romaine Greene	....	hair stylist
Frances A. Kolar	....	makeup artist: Ms. Wiest (as Frances Kolar)
Werner Sherer	....	hair stylist (as Werner Scherer)
Craig Lyman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jonathan Filley	....	production manager
Helen Robin	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. David Brightbill	....	dga trainee
Richard Patrick	....	second assistant director
Thomas A. Reilly	....	first assistant director (as Thomas Reilly)

Art Department
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter
Peter Eastman	....	assistant art director
Vincent Guarriello	....	chief construction grip
Ray Kluga	....	assistant art director
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department coordinator
James Mazzola	....	property master
Wayne Moss	....	stand-by carpenter
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator
Peter Rogness	....	assistant art director
Cosmo Sorice	....	stand-by scenic artist
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist
Dave Weinman	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer: Sound One Corporation
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor (as Bob Hein)
Bradford L. Hohle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Sylvia Menno	....	assistant sound editor
Todd Milner	....	apprentice sound editor
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
James Sabat	....	production sound mixer
Louis Sabat	....	boom operator
Benjamin Cheah	....	apprentice sound editor (uncredited)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David E. Baron	....	camera trainee (as Dave Baron)
Kenny Burke	....	best boy grip (as Kenneth Burke)
Michael Caracciolo	....	second assistant camera
Michael Green	....	first assistant camera
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Tom McKibbin	....	best boy electric (as Tom McKibben)
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator
Ray Quinlan	....	gaffer
Robert Ward	....	key grip (as Bob Ward)
Jack Coffen	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Chris Hammond	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael 'Flash' McDonald	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Judie Fixler	....	additional casting
Aleen Keshishian	....	casting assistant
Laura Rosenthal	....	casting associate
Todd M. Thaler	....	additional casting (as Todd Thaler)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Adkins	....	wardrobe supervisor
Kim Marie Druce	....	assistant costume designer (as Kim Druce)
Patricia Eiben	....	wardrobe supervisor
Suzanne McCabe	....	assistant costume designer
Eric Mendelsohn	....	assistant costume designer
Virginia D. Patton	....	costume assistant
Mark Burchard	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Patrick Chevillot	....	costumer (uncredited)
Elizabeth Feldbauer	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Kent Blocher	....	assistant film editor
William Kruzykowski	....	assistant film editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Dan Barrett	....	musician: "Three Deuces" (as Daniel Barrett)
Raymond Beckenstein	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
Phil Bodner	....	musician: Three Deuces (as Philip Bodner)
Don Butterfield	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
Sid Cooper	....	musician: Three Deuces (as Sidney Cooper)
John Frosk	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
Dick Hyman	....	conductor
Dick Hyman	....	music arranger
Stan Kurtis	....	musician: Three Deuces (as Stanley Kurtis)
Walt Levinsky	....	music recording supervisor (as Walter Levinsky)
Carmel Malin	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
Joe Malin	....	musicians coordinator
George Masso	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
John Mical	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
Randy Sandke	....	musician: Three Deuces (as Randall Sandke)
Cynthia Sayer	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
Derek Smith	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
Ted Sommer	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
Yuval Waldman	....	musician: "Three Deuces"
Roy B. Yokelson	....	music recording engineer

Transportation Department
Harold 'Whitey' McEvoy	....	transportation captain (as Harold McEvoy)
Peter Tavis	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Erika Aronson	....	location assistant
Neil Astrow	....	production assistant
Tracy Bonbrest	....	location assistant
Salvatore Carino	....	assistant production auditor
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
Peggy Craven	....	production assistant
Graciela Daniele	....	choreographer
Tony Fleming	....	production assistant
Jennifer Gerould	....	production assistant (as Jenefer Gerould)
Lauren Gibson	....	assistant: Mr. Allen
Dori Golod	....	assistant production coordinator
David Hummel	....	production assistant (as Dave Hummel)
Sam Hutchins	....	location scout
Eric Kopeloff	....	production assistant
Scott Kordish	....	production coordinator
John A. Machione	....	production auditor
Brian Mannain	....	studio manager
Megan Monaghan	....	location scout
Dana Robin	....	location manager
Melissa Rymer	....	location scout
Samantha Sanders	....	assistant to executive producer
Louise Storelli	....	assistant to executive producer
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Mark Van Holstein	....	location scout (as Mark von Holstein)
Gilbert S. Williams	....	production assistant (as Gilbert S. Williams Jr.)
David Lanphier Jr.	....	production assistant (uncredited)
John Mingalone	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Nicholas Wolfert	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Greg Johnson	....	thanks
Martin Schnell	....	thanks: 20th Century Draperies

Production Companies

• Miramax Films (presents)
• Sweetland Films
• Magnolia Productions

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Bac Films (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• Concorde Film (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (1994) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• PlayArte Filmes (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• CST Entertainment  digital film services
• Cinesite  digital services
• Effects House, The  titles
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  vintage clothing rentals
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording

MPAA:

Rated R for some language.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-11 (cinema release) (1996) | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Netherlands:MG6 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

110th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Benay Venuta's final film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When David stands in the street and argues with Sheldon Flender in the apartment above, the reflection of a powerful floodlight on a technical-looking stand is visible in the open window.

Quotes:

Helen Sinclair: You stand on the brink of greatness. The world will open to you like an oyster. No... not like an oyster. The world will open to you like a magnificent vagina.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Runaway: A Road Adventure (2002) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Nagasaki

Funny and profound

I remember liking this movie a lot when I saw it in the theater. I

recently caught it again on HBO and was struck by the deeper

thematic resonance that you might not pick up on first viewing.

The character of Flender speaks the film's theme for his own

shallow reasons. He says, "True artists create their own moral

universe." Flender uses this mantra to rationalize boinking his

friend's girlfriend. But it is true nonetheless. Artists believe that

great art transcends human life, because it perserveres through

generations and it enriches the lives of countless people. On one

side this is a beautiful notion. But the flip side of the notion is

violent.

The artistic ideal is unforgiving: it demands everything from its

devotees. That's why many a great artist (Picasso, Pollack,

Hemingway) has broken hearts and even killed rather than

compromise.

Most people in the world don't live that way. They follow the golden

rule. This moral integrity allows them to feel at one with humanity,

and it gives them a sense of peace and self-worth.

For artists (like gangsters), civility is a luxury. If they want to

achieve greatness, they have to be willing to push mediocrity, and

mediocre people, aside.

Chazz Palmentieri (not Joe Mantegna, as some have incorrectly

stated) plays Cheech, a gangster who discovers he has a passion

for writing. He's willing to kill and die for his work, and that's what

makes him an artist. John Cusack plays David, a playwright who

has great ambition and even great good fortune, but who realizes,

through his association with Cheech, that he is not willing to

sacrifice his common humanity, and therefor, he is not an artist.

I think this is one of Woody Allen's best films (in the top three or

four). But I have to believe that Douglas McGrath had a great deal

to do with the script, since Woody's other recent efforts are far

inferior to this. So I applaud Doug McGrath, from one artist to

another.