Radio Days (1987)

First and foremost, Radio Days is an unconventional film. Instead of focusing on a cohesive plot, Woody Allen chose to eschew conventional narrative techniques in favor of vignettes, character riffs, and some truly wonderful music. And it works like a charm.

It's interesting, when speaking of the music in the film, to note the genesis of Radio Days. Originally, Allen came up with a concept for a film that would focus on and around some of his favorite songs, recreating and embellishing events in his life that he associated with each piece of music. And though it moved slightly away from the original concept by the time it was finished, the idea behind the film is essentially still the same. Of course, there are some completely fictional stories - like the hilarious opening scenes in which a burglar breaks into a house, answers the phone while robbing the place, and finds himself the contestant in a radio trivia contest - but for the most part, Allen focuses his stories around a single extended family, and the various things that happen to them in the 1940's, during the golden age of radio (hence the title).

Thus, Radio Days emerges as one of Allen's most autobiographical films, a notion further enhanced by the fact that, while not appearing in the film, he does serve as its narrator. His narration is a definite character in and of itself throughout the film, and at times seemingly the only connecting element between the stories. The film is Allen's only true episodic film, and it's a real gem at times. Seth Green, who has since gone on to become a popular actor (Austin Powers, Can't Hardly Wait, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), plays the role of Allen (or the narrator anyhow) as a young child. Allen auditioned many children for the crucial role, and the fact that he picked a red head is a further hint at the autobiographical nature of the film.

Allen has admitted in several interviews that many of the stories within the film were culled from his actual childhood, events that took place in his life, or events he heard about growing up. Each story has one of Allen's favorite songs at its center, adding an extra layer of nostalgia to an already highly nostalgic and wonderfully charming film. The songs, the inspiration for the film itself, are excellent across the board. Featuring hits of the 1940s like "White Cliffs of Dover", "In the Mood", "Lullabye of Broadway", and "That Old Feeling", this is quite possibly the most amazing compilation of music in any Allen film - and that's saying a lot as he has continually, throughout his career, pieced together some amazing soundtracks.

Radio Days is also perhaps one of Allen's most light-hearted films. This is not to say that it's not an important, or even brilliant film; it most definitely is. But the tone captured and the mood evoked in Radio Days is decidedly charming and nostalgic. At times it feels a bit like The Purple Rose of Cairo, with its recreation of a long lost era, though Radio Days has almost none of the earlier film's depressingly pessimistic undertones.

Just face it, you basically have no excuse not to see this film, especially since it was released on a nice widescreen DVD format a couple of years ago, and looks better than it ever has. The film, while episodic in nature, manages to feel like an often cohesive whole. Watching Radio Days is at times like reading some of Allen's earlier works (Without Feathers, Side Effects), full of humorous wit and delightful storytelling. The film is highly effective, and always entertaining...and be sure to watch for Diane Keaton - singing Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" - making her first appearance in a Woody Allen film since Manhattan back in 1979.

Release Date: January 30, 1987

Domestic Total Gross: $14,792,779

Distributor: Orion

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