Radio Days (1987)

A nostalgic look at radio's golden age focusing on one ordinary family and the various performers in the medium.

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen

Stars:

Mia Farrow, Dianne Wiest, Mike Starr

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Tess, the 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	...	Martin, the father
Josh Mostel	...	Abe

Storyline

Woody Allen's sentimental reminiscence about the golden age of radio. A series of vignettes involving radio personalities is intertwined with the life of a working class family in Rockaway Beach, NY circa 1942.

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Plot Keywords:

1940s | radio city music hall | new york city | radio | extended family | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was ranked at the No. #304 spot on Empire's "500 Greatest Films Ever Made" poll conducted in November 2008.

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Goofs

The opening scene in which burglars are interrupted by a phone call from a radio quiz show is based on the radio series "Stop The Band". On the show, as an orchestra played, phone calls were placed at random to anyone in the country. Listeners who answered their phones and named the familiar song being played won a small prize and the chance to identify a more difficult tune for an ever-increasing jackpot. However, the radio show began in 1948, ten years after the events in this film begin.

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Quotes

Ceil: Don't you wanna hit the hot spots and drink Champagne from my slipper?
Abe: I can't take that much liquid.

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Connections

References The Westerner (1940)

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Soundtracks

Lullaby of Broadway
(1934)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Performed by Richard Himber on radio
Courtesy of RCA Records

User Reviews

Like a Warm Coat on a Chilly Evening

This movie shouts one word: WARMTH. The colors, the plot, the characters, they are all wonderfully warm.

I've watched this movie with senior citizens who were around in the forties. I once watched it with a Jewish guy who grew up on Long Island (albeit in the early 30's, not the 40's). All comments were the same: THIS was life in New York during wartime.

Vietnam was my war, so this era was a mystery to me. However, any time a genius like Woody Allen can create a film that not only makes me and my rowdy friends laugh, but gets guffaws from my dear old Mom as well, it deserves a little fanfare.

I didn't even mention the solid gold music.

See this film at once!

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish Italian

Release Date:

30 January 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Radio Days

Filming Locations:

Radio City Music Hall - 1260 6th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,522,423, 1 February 1987

Gross USA:

$14,792,779

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,792,779

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe Productions, Orion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1