The Purple Rose of Cairo
![Watch film The Purple Rose of Cairo — The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) Original Trailer [HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u9qate1rGAg/sddefault.jpg)
Short description
Set during the Great Depression, The Purple Rose of Cairo follows Cecilia, a New Jersey waitress stuck in a bleak marriage and a dull job. The cinema is her one pleasure, and she returns again and again to a romantic adventure film called The Purple Rose of Cairo. One night its dashing archaeologist hero, Tom Baxter, notices her in the audience and steps off the screen into the real world to meet her. His departure leaves the film's other characters stranded on screen and provokes alarm among the people who made the picture, while Cecilia finds herself drawn into an impossible romance.
Woody Allen directed and wrote the film, the twelfth of the forty-eight features he has directed, following Broadway Danny Rose and preceding Hannah and Her Sisters. Mia Farrow plays Cecilia, Jeff Daniels appears as both Tom Baxter and the actor who portrays him, and Danny Aiello, Dianne Wiest, Milo O'Shea and Van Johnson are among the large credited cast.
Released in 1985 and running 82 minutes, the film earned 11 million dollars worldwide against a budget of 15 million. On IMDb it holds 7.6 out of 10 from around 59,000 votes, and on TMDB 7.4 out of 10 from roughly 1,200 votes. A film critics' rating of 8 out of 10 from 41 reviews places it above both audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- Michael Keaton had already begun filming in the lead role when director Woody Allen decided that the actor was not a good fit and replaced him with Jeff Daniels.
- Woody Allen has repeatedly stated that of all the films he has made, this is his favorite.
- Jeff Daniels opened a theater called "The Purple Rose" in his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan.
- A virtually unknown Viggo Mortensen received one of the roles in the film. The future famous actor was very pleased with the invitation from Woody Allen. However, his joy quickly turned to strong disappointment when he learned that all the scenes with his participation had been cut during final editing. And no one bothered to inform him of this.
- Scenes at the amusement park were filmed at the classic and once very popular Bertrand Island park on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. The amusement park operated from 1929 to 1983, closing shortly before filming began. Some of the rides were real, while others were temporary props set up by the film crew.
- After a preview of the film, Woody Allen was told that if he simply changed the ending, the film could have been a big success. Allen refused, stating that he made the entire film specifically because of that ending.
- In an interview with Esquire magazine, when asked why he didn't give the film a happy ending, Woody Allen replied that “that *was* the happy ending.”
- Although scenes from the fictional namesake film are shot at the Copacabana club in New York, that club did not open until November 1940. This is inconsistent with the actual film, which takes place during the Great Depression.
- When Cecilia and Gil sing and play in the music store, the camera's shadow is visible in the lower left corner.
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