Radio Days

January 30th, 1987







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Radio Days

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Plot
A nostalgic look at radio's golden age focusing on one ordinary family and the various performers in the medium.

Release Year: 1987

Rating: 7.5/10 (13,242 voted)

Director: Woody Allen

Stars: Mia Farrow, Dianne Wiest, Mike Starr

Storyline
Woody Allen's sentimental reminiscence about the golden age of radio. A series of vignettes involving radio personalities is intertwined with the life of a working class family in Rockaway Beach, NY circa 1942.

Cast:
Mike Starr - Burglar
Paul Herman - Burglar
Don Pardo - 'Guess That Tune' Host
Martin Rosenblatt - Mr. Needleman
Helen Miller - Mrs. Needleman
Danielle Ferland - Child Star
Julie Kavner - Mother
Julie Kurnitz - Irene
David Warrilow - Roger
Wallace Shawn - Masked Avenger
Mick Murray - Avenger Crook (as Michael Murray)
William Flanagan - Avenger Announcer
Seth Green - Joe
Michael Tucker - Father
Josh Mostel - Abe



Details

Official Website: MGM |

Release Date: 30 January 1987

Filming Locations: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $1,522,423 (USA) (1 February 1987) (128 Screens)

Gross: $14,792,779 (USA)



Technical Specs

Runtime:



Did You Know?

Trivia:
The scene where Joe sees a German U Boat at the beach has some basis in fact. Some U Boats were sent to America on secret missions, and had to enter New York harbor by entering through the Rockaway inlets to get into Lower New York bay.

Goofs:
Miscellaneous: In the closing sequence, when Helen Miller (Mother) says "I'm worried about the future," she spills champagne on the baby she is holding. She looks down briefly, but the camera ignores it and pans over.

Quotes:
Narrator: [First Lines] Once upon a time, many years ago, two burglars broke into our neighbors house in Rockaway. Mr. and Mrs. Needleman had gone to a movie and the following events occurred.



User Review

A Masterpiece. Amazing.

Rating: 10/10

Radio Days has got to be one of my absolute favorite films of all time. To me, it's a film that balances story, characters and atmosphere better than just about any other. It's truly a great work of art, and a very, very underrated one. The best thing about it is how Allen's love for his subject, the romantic nostalgia he feels, translates so eloquently to the screen. You've also got to hand it to the cast. Diane Weist, Julie Kavner, Mia Farrow, Josh Mostel, a briefly-glimpsed Jeff Daniels, and a young Seth Green all give great performances that are right out of the period, yet instantly recognizable. Allen had Santo Loquasto, his art director, do a bang-up job on creating the world of early-1940s Rockaway, New York, and Jeffrey Kurland's costumes help immensely. Particularly note-worthy is Carlo Di Palma's stunning cinematography. The colours, the smoky nightclubs and soundstages, the dimly-lit nighteries and the dazzling rooftop set come to life like few sets do in films. And then there's the music. That dazzling array of classic music, from one of the best periods for it in American history. Allen's decision to use only music from that time might sound cliche, but he's definatly justified here. And there's always the Radio Show Themes piece by Dick Hyman (I'm always by that name) that accompanies many of the scenes. That piece of music alone is worth seeing the film. As you can probably tell, I love this film simply for the fact that it's such a charming, enchanting, beautiful film. It's one I'd show my children, even the nude dancing scene, had I any children to show it to. Woody Allen's turn in the films he's made lately (as of 2003) are, to me, pretty depressing and perverse, with none of the charm, life and humor that works like Radio Days symbolize, Sweet and Lowdown notwithstanding. Hopefully, more films like this gem are on the horizon.





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