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Bullets Over Broadway

  • 19941994
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
39K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Trailer for Bullets Over Broadway
Play trailer1:51
2 Videos
49 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Crime

In New York in 1928, a struggling playwright is forced to cast a mobster's talentless girlfriend in his latest drama in order to get it produced.In New York in 1928, a struggling playwright is forced to cast a mobster's talentless girlfriend in his latest drama in order to get it produced.In New York in 1928, a struggling playwright is forced to cast a mobster's talentless girlfriend in his latest drama in order to get it produced.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
39K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Woody Allen
  • Writers
    • Woody Allen
    • Douglas McGrath
  • Stars
    • John Cusack
    • Dianne Wiest
    • Jennifer Tilly
Top credits
  • Director
    • Woody Allen
  • Writers
    • Woody Allen
    • Douglas McGrath
  • Stars
    • John Cusack
    • Dianne Wiest
    • Jennifer Tilly
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 97User reviews
    • 66Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 22 wins & 30 nominations total

    Videos2

    Bullets Over Broadway
    Trailer 1:51
    Bullets Over Broadway
    Bullets Over Broadway
    Trailer 1:51
    Bullets Over Broadway

    Photos49

    Dianne Wiest in Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
    Jennifer Tilly in Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
    John Cusack, Jim Broadbent, and Tracey Ullman in Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
    John Cusack, Jennifer Tilly, Joe Viterelli, and Jack Warden in Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
    John Cusack in Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
    John Cusack and Dianne Wiest in Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
    David & Helen
    Jennifer Tilly as Olive with director Woody Allen
    Amanda Kloots and Nick Cordero in Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
    Dianne Wiest in her Oscar®-winning role as Helen Sinclair
    Chazz Palminteri stars as Cheech
    John Cusack stars as David Shayne

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • David Shayneas David Shayne
    Dianne Wiest
    Dianne Wiest
    • Helen Sinclairas Helen Sinclair
    Jennifer Tilly
    Jennifer Tilly
    • Olive Nealas Olive Neal
    Chazz Palminteri
    Chazz Palminteri
    • Cheechas Cheech
    Mary-Louise Parker
    Mary-Louise Parker
    • Ellenas Ellen
    Jack Warden
    Jack Warden
    • Julian Marxas Julian Marx
    Joe Viterelli
    Joe Viterelli
    • Nick Valentias Nick Valenti
    Rob Reiner
    Rob Reiner
    • Sheldon Flenderas Sheldon Flender
    Tracey Ullman
    Tracey Ullman
    • Eden Brentas Eden Brent
    Jim Broadbent
    Jim Broadbent
    • Warner Purcellas Warner Purcell
    Harvey Fierstein
    Harvey Fierstein
    • Sid Loomisas Sid Loomis
    Stacey Nelkin
    Stacey Nelkin
    • Ritaas Rita
    Malgorzata Zajaczkowska
    Malgorzata Zajaczkowska
    • Lilias Lili
    • (as Margaret Sophie Stein)
    Charles Cragin
    Charles Cragin
    • Rifkinas Rifkin
    Nina von Arx
    • Josetteas Josette
    • (as Nina Sonya Peterson)
    Edie Falco
    Edie Falco
    • Lornaas Lorna
    Hope W. Sacharoff
    • Hilda Marxas Hilda Marx
    Debi Mazar
    Debi Mazar
    • Violetas Violet
    • Director
      • Woody Allen
    • Writers
      • Woody Allen
      • Douglas McGrath
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    1920s Broadway. Playwright David Shayne considers himself an artist, and surrounds himself with like minded people, most struggling financially as they create art for themselves, not the masses. David, however, believes the failure of his first two plays was because he gave up creative control to other people who didn't understand the material. As such, he wants to direct his just completed third play, "God of Our Fathers", insider scuttlebutt being that it may very well make David the toast of Broadway. With David having no directing history, David's regular producer, Julian Marx, can't find any investors,... until a single investor who will finance the entire production comes onto the scene. He is Nick Valenti, a big time mobster, with the catch being that his dimwitted girlfriend, non-actress Olive Neal, get the lead role. A hesitant David and Julian, who are able to talk Nick into them giving Olive one of the two female supporting roles instead, go along with the scheme hoping that the three other actors hired will be able to make up for any deficiencies posed by Olive. What makes Olive's situation worse for David is that Nick has placed a bodyguard named Cheech - a typical thug who kills if need be - on Olive, he a constant presence at the theater during rehearsals. David is unaware or mindfully ignorant of issues concerning the other actors. Helen Sinclair, who has the lead, is a diva of an actress, who hasn't had a hit in years. Regardless, she is slyly manipulating David to make the role more glamorous befitting her real life persona than the frigid character he has written. Gossip is that Warner Purcell, the only male among the cast, has a roller coaster of a weight problem. Currently on a low, Warner tends to eat and eat and eat when when he gets stressed. And Eden Brent, a happy-go-lucky actress, has a constant companion in her pet chihuahua, Mr. Woofulls, whose presence is a constant thorn in Helen's side. With one problem after another during rehearsals, one event seems to have the potential to turn the production around on a permanent upswing,... that is if David goes along with it, he resisting if only because it would mean that his artistic vision was wrong. Regardless, there is still the potential for something to go violently wrong with Nick solely looking out for Olive's interest, and Cheech a constant presence, he seeing and hearing everything that is happening. —Huggo
    • reference to breast feeding
    • timeframe 1930s
    • actress
    • playwright
    • play
    • 52 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A killer comedy!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for some language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dianne Wiest said she really struggled with Helen Sinclair's signature line. She finally decided to lower her voice when she said "Don't speak!" The lower she said it, the funnier it became.
    • Goofs
      When David stands in the street and argues with Sheldon Flender in the apartment above, a powerful floodlight on a technical-looking stand is reflected in the open window.
    • Quotes

      Rita: For me, love is very deep, sex only has to go a few inches.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Radioland Murders/I Like It Like That/Bullets Over Broadway/Imaginary Crimes/Clerks (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo' Bye!)
      Written by Dan Russo, Ernie Erdman and Gus Kahn

      Performed by Al Jolson with the Vitaphone Orchestra

      Courtesy of Academy Sound and Vision Ltd.

    User reviews97

    Review
    Top review
    Dianne Wiest Is Perfection
    Witty and waspish Broadway story directed by Woody Allen and co-written by Allen and Douglas McGrath is a fond look at a bygone era.

    John Cusack plays a struggling playwright who agrees hire the no-talent Olive (Jennifer Tilly) in order to have a mobster back his new play. The mobster assigned a stooge (Chazz Palminteri) to watch over Olive and make sure she doesn't cheat on him.

    Cusack and his agent (Jack Warden) talk fading Broadway star Helen Sinclair (Dianne Wiest) into starring in the play, but as the play struggles in rehearsals, the stooge (Palminteri) starts to make constructive criticisms that launch the play in a different direction. As the rehearsals catch fire, it become obvious that Olive must go ... and go she does.

    While the main characters are all well played, it's Dianne Wiest who growls and guzzles her way to a sublime performance (and a well-deserved Oscar) as the haughty star who never plays frumps or virgins.

    Others in the cast include Mary-Louise Parker as Cusack's drab girlfriend, Tracey Ullman as the actress with a dog, Harvey Fierstein, Rob Reiner, Jim Broadbent, and Joe Viterelli as the mobster. Edie Falco plays the small role of the assistant director.

    The film is aided by the usual impeccable production design by Santo Loquasto and costumes by Jeffrey Kurland. The music is also spot on.
    helpful•6
    2
    • drednm
    • Apr 24, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 24, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tiếng Súng Trên Sàn Diễn
    • Filming locations
      • Belasco Theater - 111 West 44th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Miramax
      • Sweetland Films
      • Magnolia Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,383,747
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $86,072
      • Oct 23, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,383,747
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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