Broadway Danny Rose (1984)

Broadway Danny Rose is probably the best Woody Allen film that nobody has seen. In terms of Allen's overlooked work, this ranks right up there with (the brilliant) The Purple Rose of Cairo - both charming, witty, intelligent, humorous films which are consistently overlooked by audiences that would enjoy such a movie, for some reason I doubt I will ever understand. Perhaps all the better then, that it might be one of those films that Woody's fans are able to find for themselves; very few things in life can top the feeling of discovering a 'forgotten gem' at the local video store...

Broadway Danny Rose is a very nostalgic film. With the possible exception of Radio Days, Allen has never recaptured a lost era with such authenticity and charm. The film begins with a scene set in a diner, as old comedians gather around a table, have some dinner, and tell their long-winded tales. It's a wonderful introduction to the story of Danny Rose (with many of the comedians actually playing themselves - some never having appeared before in a feature film). They go around the table telling stories - trying to outdo each another - until eventually one comedian begins to tell the tale of "Broadway" Danny Rose, a one-time stand up comedian who has since moved into the business side of showbiz, becoming an agent. However, Danny's clientele is second-rate, to say the least, and those who do make it big under him, soon move on to 'bigger' managers, leaving Danny once again with his rag-tag band of clients. (It is one of the many charms of this film that Danny believes so whole-heartedly, so blindly, in these often untalented "stars"; he supports them at every possible opportunity.) Since the acts he works for are very rarely blessed with actual, marketable talent, Danny has never been able to make much of a name for himself as a big time agent - though he obviously aspires to it.

After the character of Danny Rose has been established, the film introduces us to Lou Canova. Canova is a small time nightclub singer whom Rose believes has big time potential. At one time Canova (played by first time actor Nick Apollo Forte) had a minor hit and a minor career on his hands, but by the time he encounters Danny, he's out of shape and out of the public eye. He is also having an affair with a mobster's wife, Tina Vitale (Mia Farrow), despite the obvious dangers inherent in such a relationship. As Danny begins to work with Lou, Lou begins to regain his confidence, and eventually manages to gain a slightly higher profile. Finally, Danny manages to get a record executive to agree to come and hear Lou's set at a local Jersey club. Danny and Lou are excited, but also quite nervous. Lou soon tells Danny that in order for him to perform effectively, Tina must be there in the audience, and his family musn't know who she is. This sets off a chain of events that leads to Danny's day long struggle to collect Tina, keep Lou sober, and ensure the success of the show.

The scenes between Danny and Tina - which make up most of the film's second half - are joyously funny. Allen and Farrow have never played characters anything like this before. If you think you've seen Allen and Farrow together enough, you need to be sure and catch this film. Farrow's half-crazy, would-be interior decorator, mafia woman is one of the best and most diverse performances in her entire filmography. Gone is the quiet, innocent Farrow stereotype, replaced by a loud, abrasive, obnoxious woman. Allen has said that he actually wrote Broadway Danny Rose in part to give Farrow the chance to play a type of role she had never played before. And she nearly steals the movie. For his part, Allen, as Danny Rose, also takes drastic steps away from his typical onscreen persona. The jokes are still there, and the mannerisms, but they're different in smaller ways. Danny has more confidence and aim then any other character Allen has ever played, and it's a lot of fun to watch. Forte also shines, though he'd never appeared in any film before, let alone a Woody Allen film. He is able to deliver just the right amount of naivety to the role, allowing us to see him as a true underdog, rather than just a man playing one. The performances are great all around, the black and white cinematography is top notch, and the film exudes a certain charm that many films are never able to attain. Do yourself a favor and rent this film, you'll be amazed that you'd never heard much about it before.

Release Date: January 27, 1984

Domestic Total Gross: $10,600,497

Distributor: Orion

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