Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12001 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-02-11
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Danish, Dutch, English, French, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
• Dubbed in: French, German, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 81 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Broadway Danny Rose is vintage Woody Allen. Danny (Allen) is a down-at-heel theatrical agent whose regular clients include talking bird acts and a man who twists balloons into animal shapes. His faith in these eccentrics never fails, despite the fact that everyone leaves him for another agent in the end. Complications ensue when one of his clients, an overweight crooner, starts a romance with a mafia widow (excellently played by Allen's partner of the time, Mia Farrow). The mob think Danny is her boyfriend, forcing the two of them to take evasive action, at one point dodging bullets among giant floats for a forthcoming Fourth of July parade. The script is witty, the acting superb, the situations inventive. The film is shot in black and white and looks superb for it.

On the DVD: The DVD is widescreen, with extremely clear sound so you won't miss a single wisecrack. Dialogue is available in French, German, Italian and Spanish as well as English. It's a pity, however--since the film is so short (84 minutes)--that there are no extras apart from the theatrical trailer. --Ed Buscombe

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 5
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English
English
Region 2
Mono English French German Italian Spanish
Mono
Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menu
Chapter Selection
Danish\Dutch\English\French\Italian\Norwegian\Spanish\Swedish

Synopsis
In this Woody Allen comedy, a group of Borscht Belt comedians gathers at the Carnegie Deli to reminisce and tell anecdotes about showbiz legend Danny Rose (Allen). Danny is a no-luck Broadway talent agent with a heart of gold who shepherds his flock of dead-end performers with a sense of compassion and loyalty that borders on lunacy. The few sad-sack clients of his who managed to garner some modicum of success ended up dropping Rose like a hot potato. Then along comes full-bodied Lou Canova (Nick Apollo Forte), a throwback crooner with golden tonsils. Danny realizes that Lou has the ability to go somewhere, given the current nostalgia craze, and he coddles the big guy hoping that he'll be his ticket out of palookaville. Rose eventually finagles a gig at the Waldorf; with Milton Berle in the audience scouting talent for his new television special, this could be Canova's big night. But Lou's troubled love life throws a shroud over the entire evening. The married singer has a girlfriend (Mia Farrow) with mob connections, and after an argument with Canova she refuses to go to the show. Lou starts drinking again and in the midst of a mawkish emotional tirade threatens to cancel the performance if she doesn't show up. Danny must somehow infiltrate a mob wedding and get the blonde moll to the Waldorf on time; if he fails, his last, best hope for success will go down the drain.

Customer Reviews

A quiet classic
One of Woody Allen's finest films and a personal favourite of mine, this is a beautifully understated tale of an everyman talent agent and his relationships with his endless line of spectacularly awful theatrical acts. Danny Rose is played with a baffled kind of innocence by Allen in what is probably his most sympathetic role as a bumbling loser. And he is excellent, toning down his usually caustic barbs (fret not, there're still some belters) in order to bring out the sweetness of Rose's nature. Mia Farrow enjoys one of her best Woody-written roles as the sharp-tongued moll of Nick Apollo Forte's alcoholic lounge singer, bringing considerable warmth to a character that may have eluded other actresses. Forte himself brings presence and heart to the film, deserving all he brings on himself and yet somehow never turning you against him.

It has always been a strength of Allen's that his characters can still draw you in, even if they are fundamentally unlikeable or shallow. This fits in well with the bittersweet tone of 'Broadway Danny Rose' that has a ominous message of lost hope and dreams behind the humour. The final scene between Allen and Farrow at Rose's squalid flat is one of the best I have ever seen, with hardly a word passing from their lips and still managing to make you ache with a contrast of feeling. The banter of the coffee shop comedians is also a clever touch, with Rose clearly considered an example of failure, yet is spoken of with warmth and appreciation.

For me, this film is a meditation on ambition and the repercussions of chasing your dreams. No-one gets what they want, in the way that they want it but all are affected in the pursuit of something better.

Class!
This isn't quite up there with Annie Hall and Manhattan. However, its in my top 10 Woody Allen films and that means its better than 95% of the rubbish being churned out by Hollywood.
Woody plays Danny Rose theatrical agent to some frankly weird acts.
His most talented act is Lou Canova (a Tony Bennett like character) who is just starting to make it big again. Theres some dodgy Italian mob involvement via Mia Farrow (Canovas girlfriend) resulting in a funny sequence involing helium.
Needless to say this is brilliantly written and the Barney Dunn story has an element of pathos that will surprise a few people. However, if you have seen Manhattan you will already know that there is more to Woody than meets the eye.

A treat for Woody's fans
Fans of Woody Allen are sure to enjoy the comedy, "Broadway Danny Rose." He plays Danny, a third-rate manager of has-been performers, including Lou, a washed-up singer who may be making a comeback. Lou wants his girlfriend to come to his big show (without his wife knowing), so he asks Danny to bring her. Danny and Tina (Mia Farrow) end up spending a frenetic day together running from hit men.

This movie is basically an eighty-four minute monologue by Allen doing his typical fast-talking-schmoozer routine. The dialogue is fast and funny and Allen is, well, Allen. Mia Farrow is virtually unrecognizable as a cheap bimbo and does a good job playing against type, but the spotlight is on Woody all the way. Filmed in black and white in cinema-verite style on the streets of New York, this is vintage Woody Allen with non-stop one-liners and show-biz jokes.

Kona