Review of Broadway Danny Rose (1984) by Todd P — 13 Aug 2011

Very good early-80s Woody Allen comedy, where Allen returns to his trademark nebbish character by portraying a down-at-the-heels Broadway talent agent. However, those expecting a return of Allen's fumbling 70s nerdy-clown schtick are in for a (hopefully pleasant) surprise.

Danny Rose may be a "loser" by the standards of his trade -- he lives in a stereotypical (pre-Giuliani era) rundown old-school Manhattan walk-up and almost all of his acts are almost painfully untalented and/or more akin to sideshow geeks than Broadway material.

But, in contrast to Allen's early/mid 70s characters, Danny Rose is a nebbish with some backbone and integrity -- he stands behind all of his acts and treats them as equals (a fact underlined by the very touching Thanksgiving dinner scene with the actors he represents), and he pays the hospital bills of the actor whose rough handling by New Jersey mobsters (pre-Sopranos!) he is responsible for (even though it is quite clear that he probably can't afford such generosity).

Ultimately, the theme of this film is about loyalty -- he is betrayed by his only talented act (a Dean Martin-esque crooner played by Nick Apollo Forte) and Forte's mistress (played by Mia Farrow, who is almost unrecognizable as a one-time gangster moll).

Worthwhile watching for cameos by old-time showbiz types (Milton Berle and Sammy Davis, Jr.), the story's old-school New York charm, and excellent black-and-white photography.