THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (1985) (****)
When Woody Allen is on, he is simply brilliant. This is a statement I find myself saying every time I discover another one of his older classics. He is one of — if not — the best comedy director of all time.
Cecilia (Mia Farrow, ROSEMARY’S BABY) is a waitress trying to support her philandering husband Monk (Danny Aiello, DO THE RIGHT THING) during the Depression. She finds great joy, comfort and peace from her hard life at the movies, which she goes to almost every night. A new film called, THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO, has come to town and she just loves it, especially the pith hat wearing, young explorer Tom Baxter, played by Gil Shepherd (Jeff Daniels, THE HOURS). One day when things are at their worst for Cecilia, Tom Baxter walks out of the movie screen and declares his love for her. For once in Cecilia’s life, the magic of the movies has entered her drab existence.