The Purple Rose of Cairo

Movie / Show Details

Woody Allen directed this 1985 romantic comedy-fantasy about a Depression-era waitress named Cecilia who escapes her difficult life through movies. When she becomes obsessed with a film called The Purple Rose of Cairo, the charming explorer character Tom Baxter steps off the screen and into reality, falling in love with her. Chaos ensues as the studio panics and sends the actor who plays Baxter to convince the character to return to the film, while the other actors remain trapped in an unfinished scene. Danny Aiello plays Cecilia’s brutish husband, and Jeff Daniels takes on the dual role of both the character and the actor.

This is a single-disc DVD release from Orion Pictures with a runtime of 82 minutes and a PG rating. Allen has called this one of his personal favorite films he directed, and the script balances sharp comedy with an underlying melancholy that gives the story unexpected emotional depth. Grab this used copy and experience one of the high points of Allen’s career.