The Purple Rose of Cairo

Name: The Purple Rose of Cairo
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Released: May 2, 1985
Duration: 82 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Jeff Daniels, Mia Farrow

1985

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 74 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 74 Ratings

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The Purple Rose Of Cairo

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Movie Details & Credits

Orion Pictures Corporation | Release Date: May 2, 1985 | PG

Starring: Jeff Daniels, Mia Farrow

Summary: A Depression-era waitress spends every free moment she has at the cinema because the grand stories she finds there distract her from her pitiful life, but when a dashing character from one of the films becomes smitten with her and leaves his celluloid world, she finds herself in the middle of her own fantasy romance.

Director: Woody Allen

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 82 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Vincent Canby

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. Read full review

100

Gene Siskel

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]

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

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. Read full review

Empire David Parkinson

Mia Farrow is note-perfect in this charming little movie. Read full review

Michael Blowen

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]

Staff (Not Credited)

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. Read full review

Dave Kehr

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. Read full review

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User Reviews

A379

Jan 25, 2015

Woody Allen is amazing.
I thing he is free. Free from every thing.
Look at his films, there is no logical things in his films. every thing in his films is possible! He always surprised his audience. There is too different between him and Charlie Chaplin but I want to say that Woody AllenWoody Allen is amazing.
I thing he is free. Free from every thing.
Look at his films, there is no logical things in his films. every thing in his films is possible!
He always surprised his audience.
There is too different between him and Charlie Chaplin but I want to say that Woody Allen is the best comedian after Charlie Chaplin.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

alejandro970

Dec 5, 2020

A tribute to cinema within cinema, to remind us what films are for: to evade reality for a moment, to admire and identify ourselves with the characters. A Woody Allen signature love letter.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

J-Shap

Aug 27, 2011

Allen at his most romantic (in terms of romanticism) about film, TPROC is as sweet as a film could be, without being sugary. It's funny, sad, romantic, and quite zany, and catches Allen at his most Chaplinesque. I feel I'm about using the word 'magical' in a review, but I'll generate aAllen at his most romantic (in terms of romanticism) about film, TPROC is as sweet as a film could be, without being sugary. It's funny, sad, romantic, and quite zany, and catches Allen at his most Chaplinesque. I feel I'm about using the word 'magical' in a review, but I'll generate a substitute for the word, and use that instead.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JayH

Sep 11, 2009

Woody Allen never ceases to amaze me. His imagination and humor are so admirable. This film is so unusual and incredibly creative. Enthralling even. It never fails to fascinate and in many ways it is brilliant. My only gripe is the two leads. I think Mia Farrow and Jeff Daniels are too Woody Allen never ceases to amaze me. His imagination and humor are so admirable. This film is so unusual and incredibly creative. Enthralling even. It never fails to fascinate and in many ways it is brilliant. My only gripe is the two leads. I think Mia Farrow and Jeff Daniels are too bland, better casting would have helped. The rest of the cast is terrific though, especially Zoe Caldwell.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Compi24

Mar 22, 2020

The more and more shades of Woody Allen I find myself being exposed to throughout the years (parody Woody Allen, crime drama Woody Allen, adult dramedy Woody Allen) the more and more I realize that the one I think I appreciate most is his nostalgia-obsessed side. First off, similar to "RadioThe more and more shades of Woody Allen I find myself being exposed to throughout the years (parody Woody Allen, crime drama Woody Allen, adult dramedy Woody Allen) the more and more I realize that the one I think I appreciate most is his nostalgia-obsessed side. First off, similar to "Radio Days," there's a tremendously tender hand assigned to filling this world with as much detail and texture as possible, in order to make it feel totally period accurate. It's evocative and warm, hearkening back to an era that's so far gone, yet so aesthetic. Pile on some trademark Woody Allen magical realism and you're dealt a movie that's just too hard to dislike. Say what we will about the many flaws and intricacies of him as a human being (and there's a hell of a lot to say) I'll be damned if the man can't write a watchable movie at the very least. "The Purple Rose of Cairo," however, is thankfully not only watchable, but a thoroughly delightful and a blast at times to watch, featuring two incredible performances from Jeff Daniels.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

PetitBikini

Oct 29, 2016

If you love watching movies then you have to watch "The Purple Rose of Cairo". It's sweet, funny, nostalgic and it overall it just nails what a good film is about.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Trev29

Dec 18, 2012

It is a unique concept that is filled with light comedy and romance. I really loved the characters in the movie theater. They were the ones that stole the show.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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