The Purple Rose of Cairo

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The Purple Rose of Cairo

PG

Released Mar 1, 1985

1h 22m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

93%

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41 Reviews

88%

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10,000+ Ratings

Unhappily married Depression-era waitress Cecilia (Mia Farrow) earns the money while her inattentive husband, Monk (Danny Aiello), blows their meager income on getting drunk and gambling. To assuage her loneliness, Cecilia escapes to the picture show and becomes transfixed with the movie The Purple Rose of Cairo, and especially with its lead character, archeologist Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels). When Tom literally steps off of the screen and into her life, both realities are thrown into chaos.

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Critics Consensus

Lighthearted and sweet, The Purple Rose of Cairo stands as one of Woody Allen's more inventive -- and enchantingly whimsical -- pictures.

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Terrence Rafferty

Sight & Sound

Everything in this movie makes heavenly sense.

Mar 24, 2020

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Delightful from beginning to end, not only because of the clarity and charm with which Daniels and Farrow explore the problems of their characters, but also because the movie is so intelligent.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 21, 2018

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

It's a sweet, lyrically funny, multi- layered work that again demonstrates that Woody Allen is our premier film maker who, standing something over 5 feet tall in his sneakers, towers above all others.

May 20, 2003

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

One of the director’s breeziest, most consistently delightful efforts. Until the final scenes sneak up on you.

Jun 3, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

When discussing Woody Allen classics, titles like Annie Hall and Hannah and Her Sisters are frequently cited (and rightly so), but where’s the love for The Purple Rose of Cairo, a movie that even Woody himself considers among his top two or three?

Rated: 4/4

Feb 15, 2023

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Zita Short

InSession Film

Mia Farrow delivers one of her most deeply affecting performances in this bittersweet romantic comedy about a Depression-era housewife.

Feb 1, 2023

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 22 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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jacob c

An enchantingly lovely film about an enchantingly lovely film. It also works as a love letter to film in general, as well as having clever insight on the boundaries between reality and fiction.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

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Audience Member

A lovely film about cinema and being a dreamer. Just a wonderful cinematic experience any film lover would relish.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/25

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Leaburn O

A clever, quirky, sweet piece of film about the joy and romance of cinema. One of Woody Allen’s very best. Watched on DVD.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

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Rare T

The Woody Allen movie revolves about filmmaking, making sure to join the few successful attempts at such movies; that success has proven to end up rendering them as classics. The Purple Rose of Cairo is not merely a tribute to cinephiles, but also a reminder to all of us that no matter the hurdles lifes puts our way, we will always have cinema at the end of the day.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

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Rafael M

Ao mesmo tempo que aparenta inocência, é um filme que aperta o coração.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/22/24

Full Review

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Woody Allen

Director

Mia Farrow

Cecilia

Jeff Daniels

Tom Baxter

Danny Aiello

Monk

Dianne Wiest

Emma

Van Johnson

Larry

The Purple Rose of Cairo: The Advantage of Being Imaginary

2:43

The Purple Rose of Cairo: What Kind of a Club is This?

2:55

The Purple Rose of Cairo: Cheek to Cheek

2:56

The Purple Rose of Cairo: Free After 2,000 Performances

2:53

The Purple Rose of Cairo: Don't Turn the Projector Off

1:58

The Purple Rose of Cairo: Real Life Lessons

2:46

The Purple Rose of Cairo: Damage Control

2:59

The Purple Rose of Cairo: Plagued By His Own Creation

2:59

The Purple Rose of Cairo: Back Into the Story

3:07

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Synopsis

Unhappily married Depression-era waitress Cecilia (Mia Farrow) earns the money while her inattentive husband, Monk (Danny Aiello), blows their meager income on getting drunk and gambling. To assuage her loneliness, Cecilia escapes to the picture show and becomes transfixed with the movie The Purple Rose of Cairo, and especially with its lead character, archeologist Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels). When Tom literally steps off of the screen and into her life, both realities are thrown into chaos.

Director: Woody Allen
Producer: Robert Greenhut
Screenwriter: Woody Allen
Distributor: Orion Pictures
Production Co: Orion Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 1, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 25, 2012
Runtime: 1h 22m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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