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From Amazon.co.uk
Broadway Danny Rose is vintage Woody Allen. Danny (Allen) is a down-at-heel theatrical agent whose regular clients include talking bird acts and a man who twists balloons into animal shapes. His faith in these eccentrics never fails, despite the fact that everyone leaves him for another agent in the end. Complications ensue when one of his clients, an overweight crooner, starts a romance with a mafia widow (excellently played by Allen's partner of the time, Mia Farrow). The mob think Danny is her boyfriend, forcing the two of them to take evasive action, at one point dodging bullets among giant floats for a forthcoming Fourth of July parade. The script is witty, the acting superb, the situations inventive. The film is shot in black and white and looks superb for it.
On the DVD: The DVD is widescreen, with extremely clear sound so you won't miss a single wisecrack. Dialogue is available in French, German, Italian and Spanish as well as English. It's a pity, however--since the film is so short (84 minutes)--that there are no extras apart from the theatrical trailer. --Ed Buscombe
Product Description
A hopeless theatrical agent (Woody Allen) tries to revive the career of one of his singers, who is involved with the Mafia. Suddenly the agent finds himself at the centre of a gangland war. With Mia Farrow and Nick Apollo Forte.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. D. Woods
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
One of Woody Allen's finest films and a personal favourite of mine, this is a beautifully understated tale of an everyman talent agent and his relationships with his endless line of spectacularly awful theatrical acts. Danny Rose is played with a baffled kind of innocence by Allen in what is probably his most sympathetic role as a bumbling loser. And he is excellent, toning down his usually caustic barbs (fret not, there're still some belters) in order to bring out the sweetness of Rose's nature. Mia Farrow enjoys one of her best Woody-written roles as the sharp-tongued moll of Nick Apollo Forte's alcoholic lounge singer, bringing considerable warmth to a character that may have eluded other actresses. Forte himself brings presence and heart to the film, deserving all he brings on himself and yet somehow never turning you against him.
It has always been a strength of Allen's that his characters can still draw you in, even if they are fundamentally unlikeable or shallow. This fits in well with the bittersweet tone of 'Broadway Danny Rose' that has a ominous message of lost hope and dreams behind the humour. The final scene between Allen and Farrow at Rose's squalid flat is one of the best I have ever seen, with hardly a word passing from their lips and still managing to make you ache with a contrast of feeling. The banter of the coffee shop comedians is also a clever touch, with Rose clearly considered an example of failure, yet is spoken of with warmth and appreciation.
For me, this film is a meditation on ambition and the repercussions of chasing your dreams. No-one gets what they want, in the way that they want it but all are affected in the pursuit of something better.
It has always been a strength of Allen's that his characters can still draw you in, even if they are fundamentally unlikeable or shallow. This fits in well with the bittersweet tone of 'Broadway Danny Rose' that has a ominous message of lost hope and dreams behind the humour. The final scene between Allen and Farrow at Rose's squalid flat is one of the best I have ever seen, with hardly a word passing from their lips and still managing to make you ache with a contrast of feeling. The banter of the coffee shop comedians is also a clever touch, with Rose clearly considered an example of failure, yet is spoken of with warmth and appreciation.
For me, this film is a meditation on ambition and the repercussions of chasing your dreams. No-one gets what they want, in the way that they want it but all are affected in the pursuit of something better.
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Less visually overhelming than the previous "Zelig" or apparently not as deep as "Another Woman",this disguised new version of "Manhattan" places itself alongside Woody's finest work, although is not amongst the best known ones.
The film is structured as a christian metaphor: some comedians gather together to eat while they remeber the times and works of the most extravagant manager ever. To round this religious meaning, even a sandwich in that eating place is called Danny Rose.
What makes this film so charming is its lack of pretensions. Woody slightly departs from his usual persona while Mia Farrow delivers one of her finest performances so far, in a role that had practically nothing to do with her. The story, too, is one of the warmest ones written by Woody, totally full of love for all the lesser comedians Danny Rose manages, and even comprehension for those who betray him when they achieve success. If you mix this with even a mafia subplot, what you get is one of the most complete Woody Allen's movies: wise jokes, tons of laughter, a moving ending, and all superbly photographed in glorious black and white by a Gordon Willis at the peak of his career.
A deceiving film. A masterpiece. Probably Woody's most intimate, delicate and beautiful picture. A must have
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Fans of Woody Allen are sure to enjoy the comedy, "Broadway Danny Rose." He plays Danny, a third-rate manager of has-been performers, including Lou, a washed-up singer who may be making a comeback. Lou wants his girlfriend to come to his big show (without his wife knowing), so he asks Danny to bring her. Danny and Tina (Mia Farrow) end up spending a frenetic day together running from hit men.
This movie is basically an eighty-four minute monologue by Allen doing his typical fast-talking-schmoozer routine. The dialogue is fast and funny and Allen is, well, Allen. Mia Farrow is virtually unrecognizable as a cheap bimbo and does a good job playing against type, but the spotlight is on Woody all the way. Filmed in black and white in cinema-verite style on the streets of New York, this is vintage Woody Allen with non-stop one-liners and show-biz jokes.
Kona
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By schumann_bg
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Each time I see a new Woody Allen I keep thinking the bubble will burst, but each time it turns out to be an amazing experience. I think I saw too many of the 90s films before the 70s and 80s, perhaps, but the earlier decades seem to have brought forth his best work. Even then I find the most famous of all, perhaps, Manhattan, is less satisfying than this one, which I believe is much less well-known. I wonder whether it isn't the presence of Mia Farrow that raises them into a special category - they seem to work so well together onscreen. Here the story is close to perfection, with Allen in a less middle-class milieu than we usually find him, but finding an equally rich vein of humour as a theatrical agent. His clients are all doing eccentric, quite lovable acts like bending balloons into shapes, with little success, but he never stops encouraging them. The ones who do better also tend to leave him. Out of this situation he ends up on the run from the Mob with a moll who is dating a singer on his books, and mayhem ensues. The invention is terrific and Farrow is almost unrecognisable as the blonde with the big shades, full of prima-donnishness, yet giving a suspicion that maybe she would be different if she could just get rid of the glasses ... all the brilliance lies in this suggestion! And in Allen himself, of course, who is a kind of genius. How many people in the history of film have been able to write and act with such humour and vision? It is a fantastic film - and I normally dislike anything to do with gangsters - and I'd be amazed if anyone didn't like it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Great Woody Allen film
It's a woody Allen film, and that should film so that should be enough info really.
it's warm, funny and makes the world a better place. Read more
it's warm, funny and makes the world a better place. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Ianfatbudgie
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Woody's Best
This is one of my favourite Woody Allen films (along with Manhattan, The Purple Rose of Cairo and Crimes and Misdemeanors), and I think is one of his funniest straight comedies... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Keith M
4.0 out of 5 stars
A lovely, gentle modern fable
A sweet, fun, well-told, Damon Runionesque fable of a well meaning if pathetic theatrical manager getting caught up with the mob. Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2010 by K. Gordon
3.0 out of 5 stars
Usual Woody
Not Woody's best but amusing. It does have it moments and I like the way the film is shot as a bunch of broadway people looking back affectionately at the life of Danny Rose. Read more
Published on 28 May 2010 by C Discerning
5.0 out of 5 stars
Broadway Danny Rose
One of Woody Allens most funny films with eccentric characters and characterisations of the mafia,ridiculously hopeless broadway entertainers and agents. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by J. Thubron
4.0 out of 5 stars
Class!
This isn't quite up there with Annie Hall and Manhattan. However, its in my top 10 Woody Allen films and that means its better than 95% of the rubbish being churned out by... Read more
Published on 5 April 2006 by S J Buck
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