Broadway Danny Rose movie storyline. At the Carnegie Deli in New York City, a group of comics are kvetching about their common professional lives. One of the more interesting topics of conversation centers on theatrical manager (aka talent agent) Danny Rose, who represents those who can’t get better agents but who has always been committed to his clients.
They talk most specifically about a rumored incident that took place approximately ten years ago, when Danny’s most famous client was washed-up lounge singer Lou Canova, who had some minor fame in the 1950s and who was trying to make a comeback during an era when lounge singers were mostly seen as being hack performers.
Despite being married with children, Lou was having an affair with brash blonde Tina Vitale, who Lou wanted at one of his performances. As such, Danny agreed to be a beard in being Tina’s date. What Danny did not know was that Tina had casual mob ties, including her ex-husband being entrenched within the organization. Through no fault of Danny’s own besides protecting his client Lou, Danny became the target of the mob.
Broadway Danny Rose is a 1984 American black-and-white comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It follows a hapless theatrical agent who, by helping a client, gets dragged into a love triangle involving the mob. The film stars Allen as the titular character, as well as Mia Farrow and Nick Apollo Forte.
Broadway Danny Rose was screened out of competition at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival and received positive reviews from critics. It is considered one of Allen’s stronger efforts, being praised particularly for Farrow’s performance.
About the Story
The story of Danny Rose (Woody Allen) is told in flashback, an anecdote shared amongst a group of comedians over lunch at New York’s Carnegie Deli. Rose’s one-man talent agency represents countless unorthodox, unsuccessful entertainers, including washed-up lounge lizard Lou Canova (Nick Apollo Forte), whose career is on the rebound. On those rare occasions any of Danny’s acts do succeed, they invariably leave him for better representation.
Lou, who has a wife and three kids, is having an affair with a woman, Tina (Mia Farrow), who had previously dated a gangster. Lou wants her to accompany him to a big gig Danny has landed for him at the Waldorf Astoria, where he will perform in front of Milton Berle, who could potentially hire him for even bigger things.
At the singer’s insistence, Danny acts as a “beard,” masquerading as Tina’s boyfriend to divert attention from the affair. Tina’s ex-boyfriend is extremely jealous, and believing Tina’s relationship with Danny to be real, he orders a hit on Danny, who finds himself in danger of losing both his client and his life.
Danny and Tina narrowly escape, as Danny at gunpoint says Tina’s real boyfriend is one of Danny’s clients who Danny believes is on a cruise for a few weeks. Danny and Tina escape and show up at the Waldorf to find Lou drunk and unprepared to perform. Danny sobers Lou with a unique concoction that he has come up with over the years; Lou sobers up, and gives a command performance.
With a new prestigious talent manager in attendance at the performance, Lou, in front of Tina (and with her encouragement), fires Danny and hires the new manager. Danny, feeling cheated, goes to the Carnegie Deli where he hears that the client he ratted on to save himself was beaten up by the hit men and is now in the hospital. Danny goes to the hospital to console his client and pays his hospital bills.
Broadway Danny Rose (1984)
Directed by: Woody Allen
Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Tina Vitale, Nick Apollo Forte, Sandy Baron, Corbett Monica, Jackie Gayle, Morty Gunty, Will Jordan, Howard Storm, Gloria Parker, Jack Rollins
Screenplay by: Woody Allen
Production Design by: Mel Bourne
Cinematography by: Gordon Willis
Film Editing by: Susan E. Morse
Costume Design by: Jeffrey Kurland
Set Decoration by: Leslie Bloom
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Orion Pictures
Release Date: January 27, 1984
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