Review of The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) by Archibald T — 22 Mar 2011
The great depression prompts a need of escapism. In troubled times we have to cling to something in order to make it through each day. Fantasy helps, so do music, books, but in Cecilia's case it's films. The art of Fantasy making her dream while trying to forget the pains of reality. They were troubled times the great depression.
'The Purple Rose of Cairo' becomes an instant favorite for Cecilia. She's utterly in a trance when she's watching it. Her bleak life of working as a clumsy waitress and to have to go home to a brute of a husband who sleeps around, gambles and smacks her around when he feels like it only adds to her desperation for escapism.
She sees the film five times. On the fifth time, something unexpected happens. One of the characters an archaeologist from Egypt named Tom Baxter literally walks off the screen and into Cecilia's life. The funny thing is that he's been noticing her a LOT. "God, you must really like this picture," he says. She does. She really does.
The other characters on the screen become irate over Tom's departure which puts a complete hault on the film's story. It's so hilarious how they interact with each other and to the audience. However, with the character of Tom out of the picture it screams a scandal for the actor who played Tom, Gil Shepherd. Gil is troubled by this and afraid that Tom might go on a murder spree or rape someone or worst tarnish his image since it was him that played the character a.k.a giving him life.
As Tom hides out with Cecilia, she bumps into Gil and they seem to be hitting it off. Gil and Tom's confrontation is an excellent piece of comic writing. Here you have a character talking to the actor who played the character. Fucking Brilliant!
This is a romance, of course, Cecilia is swooned by these two men who happen to be the same person if you think about it except one's real and the other is fictional. Her choice is an obvious one, but a sad one at best due to the outcome.
Overall, this one of Woody Allen's most inspired and original comedies.
This review of The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) was written by Archibald T on 22 Mar 2011.
The Purple Rose of Cairo has generally received very positive reviews.
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