The Purple Rose Of Cairo (PG)

Screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, author and playwright, with a plethora of awards and more than 40 films to his name, Woody Allen's career spans over half a century. Throughout June we're giving you the chance to revisit four of his classic works that achieved so much critical acclaim, re-mastered in traditional 35mm glory on the big screen, starting with The Purple Rose Of Cairo.

Blurring the boundaries between the real and the unreal, this unique comedic fantasy stars Mia Farrow (Rosemary's Baby) as Cecelia, a woman living in a small town in Depression-era America. Trapped in a dead-end job and an abusive marriage, she regularly seeks refuge in the local picture house. After she becomes enraptured by the latest big screen attraction, an RKO screwball comedy called The Purple Rose Of Cairo, she returns to the cinema day after day. During what seems like a normal visit, the film's main character Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels,Terms Of Endearment) turns towards the audience and says directly to Cecelia "My God, you must love this picture!" only then to climb out of the movie itself and into the theatre, much to the amazement of the audience and the other characters on screen. Freed from his mundane black and white surroundings, he and Cecelia take a tour of the town and they eventually fall for each other. There's only small problem: Tom Baxter isn't real.

Originally released in 1985 at the Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews from the critics, Allen himself regards The Purple Rose Of Cairo as one of only a few of his films that ended up being "fairly close to what I wanted to do" when he set out to write it. Judging from the end result, it's no surprise why this film remains one of his personal favourites. The screenplay is hilariously funny but it also makes way for some truly touching scenes as well. In short, it's the perfect embodiment of the classic Woody Allen formula: a great cast and a great story.

 

Don't miss your chance to see the film critics called (and would no doubt call today):

"A gem"

Newsweek

"Masterpiece"

TIME Magazine

"The funniest, most polished picture in Cannes"

Observer

Check out the trailer below:

The Purple Rose Of Cairo (PG) runs on Friday 1st June at 7:45pm and Wednesday 6th June at 2:00pm (Screen Tea)