MovieChat Forums > The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) Discussion > main actor tidbit & locations

main actor tidbit & locations

posted 21 years ago by sludgehound
2 replies | jump to latest

In case guy didn't get the Piermont, NY link - it and a NYC one are below.

Tidbit is first choice before Jeff Daniels according to Ken Branagh:
http://www.branaghcompendium.com/artic-pf99.htm
You know, Woody has a reputation for firing actors he is not satisfied with. In The Purple Rose of Cairo Michael Keaton was supposed to play the main male role. He filmed for two weeks and it ended there. In the end, it was Jeff Daniels who made the film. So my first desire was to survive.

This woman pitching her Upper West Side apt has a PRC tidbit.
http://www.adventureforum.net/message.php?ms=53

Piermont NY connection where I saw the theater with PRC on it in I think 1984.
http://www.bartleby.com/69/34/P04534.html
Piermont, residential village (1 sq mi/2.6 sq km; 1990 pop. 2,163), Rockland co., SE N.Y., on W bank of the Hudson R., and 3 mi/4.8 km S of Nyack; 41°02'N 73°55'W. Until the 1980s, mfg. (paperboard, silk ribbons). Site of Camp Shanks, which was operational during World Wars I and II. Pier (1 mi/1.6 km long) from which village takes its name was used for embarkation of troops. Site where 1983 Woody Allen movie The Purple Rose of Cairo was filmed. Tallman Mt. State Park nearby. Inc. 1847.

[–] sadie_beth_1124 20 years ago

I read that about Michael Keaton in a book about Woody Allen movies. Keaton didn't work out as Tom/Gil, because Allen deemed his looks "too contemporary". Can you imagine him in that role? No way....
Woody Allen was devastated & nearly rewrote the film so that he could be the star. That would have been a disaster. Thank heavens for Jeff Daniels!

"There's no such thing as an original sin."

[–] thatsweetbird 19 years ago

This shows some traits it seems Woody has as a director.

He seems to always get great actors(Michael Keaton).

But he isn't afraid to turn down(or replace) even a star if they are not right for a part.

Indeed, as good as Keaton can be, it is difficult to imagine him as better suited than Jeff Daniels for this role.

My wonder is more to how they could cast Keaton in the first place. Perhaps they were just overwhelmed too much by his acknowledged talent.

I agree, this would have to be a very different film if Woody had played the lead himself.

Again, while Woody is a talented actor, he would seem ill-suited to the role in this film.