Synopsis
Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey, living a dreary life during the Great Depression. Her only escape from her mundane reality is the movie theatre. After losing her job, Cecilia goes to see 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' in hopes of raising her spirits, where she watches dashing archaeologist Tom Baxter time and again.
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Cast
- Mia FarrowCecilia
- Jeff DanielsTom Baxter / Gil Shepherd
- Danny AielloMonk
- Irving MetzmanTheater Manager
- Stephanie FarrowCecilia's Sister
- Edward HerrmannHenry
- John WoodJason
- Deborah RushRita
- Van JohnsonLarry
- Zoe CaldwellThe Countess
Recommendations
- 100
The New York Times
I'll go out on a limb: I can't believe the year will bring forth anything to equal The Purple Rose of Cairo. At 84 minutes, it's short but nearly every one of those minutes is blissful. - 100
Chicago Tribune
A cornball adventure film about a dashing young explorer mixing with New York cafe society types. What a delightfully complicated fantasy film this is. What Woody Allen has done with The Purple Rose of Cairo is create a classic film about our love affair with fantasy. [28 Jun 1985, p.1] - 88
TV Guide Magazine
Allen has done better than this, but The Purple Rose of Cairo is a sweet little film and an interesting diversion for his legion of followers. - 80
Empire
Mia Farrow is note-perfect in this charming little movie. - 75
Boston Globe
The Purple Rose of Cairo, Woody Allen's tender Valentine to the movies, features poignant performances by Jeff Daniels and Mia Farrow. In the critical rush to canonize Allen, it's easy to forget how far Farrow has come as an actress. [31 May 1985, p.27] - 50
Variety
Tale is a light, almost frivolous treatment of a serious theme, as Woody Allen here confronts the unalterable fact that life just doesn't turn out the way it does (or did) in Hollywood films. For all its situational goofiness, pic is a tragedy, and it's too bad Allen didn't build up the characters and drama sufficiently to give some weight to his concerns. - 30
Chicago Reader
Woody Allen's naive notions of art--he thinks it means a story with a moral--might have some primitive charm if he didn't put them forward so self-importantly.
