Do you want to see ‘The Purple Rose of Cairo’?

Add to Netflix

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.8/10
Reviews Counted: 31
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 3

No consensus yet.

No Reviews Yet...

Release Date: Mar 1, 1985 Wide

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 18,232

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

Woody Allen blurs the the boundaries between the real and unreal in this unique comic fantasy. The scene is a small town in the mid-1930s. Trapped in a dead-end job and an abusive marriage, Cecelia (Mia Farrow) regularly seeks refuge in the local movie house. She becomes so enraptured by the latest attraction, an RKO screwball comedy called The Purple Rose of Cairo, that she returns to the theatre day after day. During one of these visits, the film's main character Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels),

PG, 1 hr. 22 min.

Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Woody Allen

Written By: Woody Allen

In Theaters: Mar 1, 1985 Wide

On DVD: Nov 6, 2001

Orion Pictures Corporation

The Purple Rose of Cairo Trailer & Photos

Cast

Mia Farrow
Cecilia
Danny Aiello
Monk
Dianne Wiest
Emma
Van Johnson
Larry
Zoe Caldwell
Countess
John Wood
Jason
Milo O'Shea
Father Donnelly
Deborah Rush
Rita
Irving Metzman
Theatre Manager
John Rothman
Mr. Hirsch's Lawyer
Stephanie Farrow
Cecilia's sister
Alexander H. Cohen
Raoul Hirsch
Camille Saviola
Olga
Karen Akers
Kitty Haynes
Michael Tucker (I)
Gil's Agent
Annie Joe Edwards
Delilah
Peter McRobbie
Communist
Juliana Donald
Usherette
Edward Herrmann
Henry
David Kieserman
Diner boss
Eugene Anthony
Arturo
Ebb Miller
Bandleader
Edwin Bordo
Moviegoer
Maurice Brenner
Diner Patron
Ken Chapin
Reporter
Jeff Daniels
Gil Shepherd, Tom Baxte...
Crystal Field
Movie Audience
Helen Hanft
Movie Audience
Glenne Headly
Hooker
Paul Herman
Penny Pitcher
Lela Ivey
Hooker
Gretchen MacLane
Moviegoer
George J. Manos
Press Agent
George Martin
Movie Audience
Helen Miller
Movie Audience
Rick Petrucelli
Penny Pitcher
Ray Serra
Hollywood Executive
Martha Sherrill
Moviegoer
Jean Shevlin
Moviegoer
Robert Trebor
Reporter
Mark Hammond
Diner Patron
David Weber
Photo Double
Mimi Weddell
Ticket Buyer
Wade Barnes
Diner Patron
Albert S. Bennett
Moviegoer
Sydney Blake
Variety Reporter
Peter Castellotti
Penny Pitcher
Tom Degidon
Ticket Taker
Joseph G. Graham
Diner Patron
Elaine Grollman
Diner Patron
George Hamlin
Movie Audience
Mary Hedahl
Popcorn Seller
Tom Kubiak
Policeman
Drinda La Lumia
Hooker
James Lynch
Maitre D'
Andrew Murphy
Policeman
Leo Postrel
Movie Audience
Don Quigley
Diner Patron
Benjamin Rayson
Moviegoer
Milton Seaman
Ticket Buyer
David Tice
Waiter
Willie Tjan
Hooker
Loretta Tupper
Music Store Owner
Peter von Berg
Drugstore Customer
Victoria Zussin
Diner Patron
Juliet Taylor
Margaret Thompson
Movie Audience

Critic Reviews for The Purple Rose of Cairo

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (3) | DVD (10)

In NJ, anything can happen!

March 22, 2011 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Whimsical Woody Allen love note to '30s films.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

Woody Allen's bittersweet comedy about the magical allure of movies in the Depression era was nominated for Original Screenplay Oscar, but it's premise is smiliar to that of Buster Keaton's 1924 silent.

August 4, 2009 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Weird but wistful.

September 24, 2007 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

sublimely engaging

February 26, 2005 Comment

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

Classic Woody. A great cast and a great story.

December 18, 2004 Comment

Michael A. Smith

Nolan's Pop Culture Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review

Inventive, even romantic Woody Allen.

October 25, 2004 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

The most overlooked of Allen's great films.

October 8, 2004 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star

| Comment

Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

A thoroughly enchanting work of art by one of our finest moviemakers

August 18, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

Awesome Woody Allen

September 26, 2003 Comment

Fred Topel

About.com

Clever Woody Allen comedy-fantasy.

August 24, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Purple Rose of Cairo

View All

Funny, charming and lighter than air, The Purple Rose of Cairo is the quintessential Woody Allen comedy. As per usual, the cast is a delight: a perfectly cast Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels and Danny Aiello. The visuals and the music are enchanting; the ending, perfect. I actually preferred the similar Midnight in Paris but

March 3, 2011

Fernando Rafael Quintero Casta�eda

Super Reviewer

Super cute and bitter sweet.

May 5, 2007

Ken Stachnik

Super Reviewer

The Purple Rose of Cairo Quotes

View All

No quotes approved yet for The Purple Rose of Cairo. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Submit a Quote from 'The Purple Rose of Cairo'

A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.

Example:

Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.