Broadway Danny Rose

Critics Consensus

Woody Allen's hard-working, uphill-climbing Broadway talent agent is rendered memorably with equal parts absurdity and affection.

100%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 27

84%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 9,492
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Movie Info

A smaller, amusing comedy from writer/director Woody Allen, Broadway Danny Rose begins with a bunch of show business vets sitting around a table at New York's Carnegie Deli and reminiscing about the legendary titular character, a loser of an agent who would represent anyone, including blind xylophonists, piano-playing birds, and has-been crooners with drinking problems. Allen plays Rose as a befuddled, warm-hearted schlub who finally has a shot at getting somewhere when he signs washed-up lounge singer Lou Canova (Nick Apollo Forte) and nearly brings his career back to life. Danny gets him a date at the Waldorf, where Milton Berle is in the audience, looking for guests for his TV special. Canova has a complicated love life, juggling both a wife and a girlfriend. so he enlists Danny to take the girlfriend, Tina Vitale (Mia Farrow), to the concert. But Canova and Tina have a fight, she goes back to her Mafioso boyfriend, and Danny winds up getting chased halfway around New York and New Jersey by the Mob. And of course, once Canova gets his big break, he dumps Danny for another agent. Allen, Forte, and especially Farrow all do strong work with characters that could have easily become stereotypes, and the film has a lighter, warmer touch than the Allen films that preceded it (Stardust Memories and Zelig).
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Romance
  • Directed By:
    Woody Allen
  • Written By:
    Woody Allen
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Vestron Video

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Cast

Woody Allen
as Danny Rose
Nick Apollo Forte
as Lou Canova
Mia Farrow
as Tina Vitale
Jackie Gayle
Sandy Baron
as Himself
Corbett Monica
Corbett Monica
as Himself
Craig Vandenburgh
as Ray
Herb Reynolds
as Barney
Paul Greco
as Vito
Frank Renzulli
as Joe
Edwin Bordo
as Johnny Rispoli
Gina DeAngelis
as Johnny's Mother
Peter Castellotti
as Hood at Warehouse
Tony Turco
as Rocco
Sandy Richman
as Teresa
Gerald Schoenfeld
as Sid Bacharach
Olga Barbato
as Angelina
David Kissel
as Phil Chomsky
Gloria Parker
as Water-Glass Virtuoso
Robert Weil
as Herbie Jayson
David Kieserman
as Ralph
Mark Hardwick
as Blind Xylophonist
Alba Ballard
as Bird Lady
Maurice Shrog
as Hypnotist
Belle Berger
as Lady in Trance
Herschel Rosen
as Lady's Husband
Cecilia Amerling
as Fan in Dressing Room
Maggie Ranone
as Lou's Daughter
Charles D'Amodio
as Lou's Son
Joie Gallo
as Angelina's Assistant
Carl Pistilli
as Tommy's Brother
Lucy Iacono
as Tommy's Mother
Julia Barbuto
as Tropical Fish Lady
Anna Sceusa
as Lady at Angelina's
Nicholas Pantano
as Greeters at Party
Rocco Pantano
as Greeters at Party
Tony Turca
as Rocco
Gilda Torterello
as Annie
Danny Aiello
Ronald Maccone
as Vincent
Antoinette Raffone
as Vincent's Wife
Michael Badalucco
as Money Ripper
Richard Lanzano
as Money Ripper
Dom Matteo
as Carmine
Leo Steiner
as Deli Owner
George Axler
as Fan at Waldorf
William Paulson
as Fan at Waldorf
Diane Zolten
as Fan at Waldorf
Sid Winter
Gary Reynolds
as Manager's Friend
John Doumanian
as Waldorf Manager
Betty Rosotti
as Lady at Party
Sheila Bond
as Lady at Party
Camille Saviola
as Lady at Party
Jackie Gayle
as Himself
Morty Gunty
as Himself
Will Jordan
as Himself
Howard Storm
as Himself
Jack Rollins
as Himself
Joe Franklin
as Himself
Howard Cosell
as Himself
Milton Berle
as Himself
Bob Rollins
Etta Rollins
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Critic Reviews for Broadway Danny Rose

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (5)

View All Critic Reviews (27)

Audience Reviews for Broadway Danny Rose

  • Aug 12, 2015
    Again with the show business and that big dirty New York seen through nostalgic lenses (it sells, okay, so if it ain't broke don't fix it, oy vey), and this time with Allen as the worst in the business, the talent manager, and he's really the worst in the business, but played with a heart of gold already. It's got its moments, but hey, they're warm moments. Whaddaya want for nothing? Its a keeper, so keep it already.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Aug 13, 2012
    Danny Rose: I don't wanna badmouth the kid, but he's a horrible, dishonest, immoral louse. And I say that with all due respect.  Broadway Danny Rose is a small, brisk, sometimes funny, and most of the time amusing little comedy from Woody Allen. Allen has done much, much better work, but he's also done much, much worse work. It's a film along the lines of A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy, where the best thing you can really say about it is that it is amusing. It's doesn't have the same appeal as some of his great works like Hannah and Her Sisters or Manhattan, yet because it is Woody Allen; it is still likable in a way that only a Woody Allen film can be. We hear a story told by a comedian to a bunch of other comedians about a man named Danny Rose. Danny is a theatrical agent and most of his clients happen to be talentless hacks. One of his clients, Lou Canova, was big time in the 50's, but is now a has been. When people start getting back into the nostalgia music that Lou sings, he has one last chance to make it big again. In order for him to be able to perform well, he wants his girlfriend to see him at the big show. The only problem is that Lou's wife will also be there. So he gets Danny to escort her and act like she's his date. Things go bad when an ex-boyfriend gangster mistakes Danny for her new lover. What makes this movie go down so much better is Mia Farrow's presence. She's a beautiful girl and a really good actress. She displays a different presence in this film, then were use to seeing from her; especially in Woody Allen films. Allen plays another Allen character, and his jokes remain based on an intellectual level. There's a great scene with some helium though, that displays some dumb humor, and was actually the funny part of the whole film. Broadway Danny Rose is an average film from Allen. If you like him, this is worth a look as are all of his films. If you don't like him, this won't be the film that will change your mind. It's definitely lesser Allen, but still enjoyable Allen. When it comes to his long, long filmography; this one probably falls near the halfway point when it comes to how good it is. Just don't expect a movie worthy of his greatest and you'll be alright with Broadway Danny.
    Melvin W Super Reviewer
  • Apr 01, 2012
    The Woody Allen films starring Woody Allen are always the best ones. "Broadway Danny Rose" is short, humorous, and endearing and benefits from the writing and acting skills of its creator. "I don't wanna badmouth the kid, but he's a horrible, dishonest, immoral louse. And I say that with all due respect."
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
  • Aug 15, 2011
    Black-and-white comedy film written, directed by and starring Woody Allen. It was screened out of competition at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival. A hapless talent manager named Danny Rose, by helping a client, gets dragged into a love triangle involving the mob. His story is told in flashback, an anecdote shared amongst a group of comedians over lunch at New York's Carnegie Deli.Rose's one-man talent agency represents countless incompetent entertainers, including a one-legged tap dancer, and one slightly talented one: washed-up lounge singer Lou Canova (Nick Apollo Forte), whose career is on the rebound.With clever dialogues(Allen's style) this movie is very funny.
    Andre T Super Reviewer
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