Woody Allen was at his prime, from his Oscar-winning film “Annie Hall” in 1977 to “Hannah and Her Sisters,” which was nominated for the 1986 Best Picture and won Original Screenplay Oscar. During that era, Allen was the most famous and most acclaimed American filmmaker, boasting a strong cycle of serio comedies.
Narrative Structure (Detailed Synopsis)
Joe, the narrator, relates how two burglars got involved in a radio game after picking up the phone. He goes on to explain that he associates old radio songs with childhood memories.
During the late 1930s and early 1940s young Joe lives with his Jewish-American family in Rockaway Beach. His mother always listens to Breakfast with Irene and Roger. His father, who beats him regularly, keeps his occupation secret; Joe later finds out that he was ashamed of being a taxi driver.
Other family members were Uncle Abe and Aunt Ceil, grandpa and grandma, and Aunt Bea (Wiest), always on the lookout for a potential husband.
Joe’s favorite radio show is The Masked Avenger, which makes him dream of buying a secret decoder ring. In Joe’s fantasy the Masked Avenger looks like a hero, but in reality the voice actor is short and bald.
Other radio memories concern sporting heroes, news bulletins about World War II, a report of an extraterrestrial invasion, and a live report of the search for a little girl who fell into a well.
Joe searches with his friends for a German aircraft, but instead they see a woman undressing in her bedroom. She later turned out to be their substitute teacher. Alone on the coast Joe sees a German U-boat, but he decides not to tell anyone because they wouldn’t believe him.
Joe is fascinated by the glitz and glamour of Manhattan, where the radio broadcasts were made. He visits the Radio City Music Hall, which he describes as the most beautiful thing he ever saw.
Joe collects stories of radio stars, including that of Sally White (Farrow), whose dreams of becoming famous were hampered by bad voice and accent. As a cigar salesgirl she got stuck on the roof of the radio building with Roger, who was cheating on Irene. After witnessing a crime, the gangster Rocco wanted to kill her, but following his mother’s advice he ended up using his connections to further her career. She finally became a reporter of celebrity gossip.
On New Year’s Eve. Joe is brought down to celebrate the transition to 1944, while the radio stars gather on their building’s roof.
The narrator concludes that he will never forget those radio voices, although with passing of time, they grow dimmer and dimmer.
As noted, music plays a crucial role in the text. The rich wall-to-wall score includes “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller, “I Double Dare You” by Larry Clinton, “Opus No. 1 by Tommy Dorsey, “Frenesi” by Artie Shaw, “The Donkey Serenade”by Allan Jones, “Body and Soul” by Benny Goodman, “You and I” by Tommy Dorsey, “Remember Pearl Harbor” by Sammy Kaye, “That Old Feeling”
by Guy Lombardo, “(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover”
Glenn Miller, “Goodbye” by Benny Goodman, “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You” by Tommy Dorsey, “Lullaby of Broadway” by Richard Himber, “American Patrol” by Glenn Miller, “Take the “A” Train” by Duke Ellington, “One, Two, Three, Kick” by Xavier Cugat.
Oscar Nominations: 2
Hy Anzell as Mr. Waldbaum
Seth Green as Young Joe
Danny Aiello as Rocco
Sydney Blake as Mrs. Gordon
Leah Carrey as Grandma
Jeff Daniels as Biff Baxter
Larry David as Communist Neighbor
Gina DeAngelis as Rocco’s mother
Denise Dumont as Latin singer
Mia Farrow as Sally White
Todd Field as Crooner
Kitty Carlisle Hart as Maxwell House Coffee Radio Jingle Singer
Paul Herman as Burglar
Julie Kavner as Mother
Diane Keaton as New Year’s Singer
Julie Kurnitz as Irene Draper
Renée Lippin as Aunt Ceil
William Magerman as Grandpa
Judith Malina as Mrs. Waldbaum
Brian Mannain as Kirby Kyle
Kenneth Mars as Rabbi Baumel
Helen Miller as Mrs. Needleman
Josh Mostel as Uncle Abe
Don Pardo as “Guess That Tune” Host
Tony Roberts as “Silver Dollar” Emcee
Martin Rosenblatt as Mr. Needleman
Rebecca Schaeffer as Communists’ Daughter
Wallace Shawn as Masked Avenger
Martin Sherman as Radio Actor
Mike Starr as Burglar
Michael Tucker as Father
David Warrilow as Roger Daley
Kenneth Welsh as Radio Voice
Dianne Wiest as Aunt Bea
Credits:
