Broadway Danny Rose Blu-ray Review
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Score: 57
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
"Broadway Danny Rose" is a humorously heartwarming Woody Allen film with standout performances, finely crafted characters, and strong Blu-ray video and audio quality. Highly recommended.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 65
"Broadway Danny Rose" Blu-ray offers an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1, ensuring strong contrast and an organic image. While presenting admirable grain that enhances its distinctive look, minor flicker, occasional chunky grain, and speckling prevent the transfer from reaching perfection. Nonetheless, the commendable rendering of Gordon Willis's cinematography, with good depth and gray scale modulation, will satisfy fans.
Audio: 65
The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track on 'Broadway Danny Rose' is narrow but full-bodied, offering clear and balanced sound with excellent dialogue clarity. Highlights include well-rendered accordion pieces and vocals, though minor midrange distortion is noticeable during musical numbers. An isolated music and effects track is also available.
Extra: 16
The Blu-ray extras for 'Broadway Danny Rose' are sparse, featuring only the original theatrical trailer (480p, 1:07), a celebratory MGM 90th Anniversary Trailer (1080p, 2:06), and an isolated Music and Effects Track in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, which uniquely includes sung elements, showcasing Dick Hyman's masterful orchestration.
Movie: 81
Woody Allen's 'Broadway Danny Rose' on Blu-ray captures the film's charm with excellent 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 sound. This bittersweet farce showcases Allen's knack for balancing comedy and poignant character studies, featuring standout performances by Mia Farrow and Nick Apollo Forte.
Video: 65
Broadway Danny Rose is presented on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. This transfer brings Gordon Willis' esteemed cinematography to the forefront, effectively capturing the juxtaposition of New York City's grit with plush interiors and warm close-ups. The grain is essential, adding texture and a naturalistic quality that complements the narrative perfectly. Some sequences exhibit a gauzy quality, contributing to an effective visual atmosphere, although purists might find that it impacts sharpness. Clarity and contrast are generally well-preserved, offering commendable fine detail, especially in close-ups, like the intricate textures of costumes and lifelike appearance of Tina's blonde wig.
However, there are some minor issues that might be noted by videophiles, such as a flicker noticeable in brightly lit sequences and quite variable grain, ranging from heavy to chunky. These could be indicative of the use of stock footage and possibly an older master. Nonetheless, the black levels are suitably dark with a nicely modulated grayscale, amplifying the detailed shadow delineation which avoids any crush. The transfer also includes intricate background elements such as rain and snow, highlighted crisply against the varied gray scale. Although patterns like plaids and polka dots remain stable without shimmering, a fair amount of white speckling does appear sporadically throughout the film. These are particularly evident during the white-on-black title sequences but aren't sufficiently distracting to overshadow the overall quality of Willis' work. Despite minor detriments like occasional washed-out exterior scenes, this Blu-ray transfer generally succeeds in conveying Willis' celebrated cinematographic style, maintaining an engaging visual experience for fans of the classic Woody Allen film.
Audio: 65
The audio presentation of "Broadway Danny Rose" on Blu-ray features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track that, while narrow sounding, demonstrates remarkable fidelity and balance. Although some listeners might notice minor distortion in the midrange, particularly during Lou’s musical numbers, toggling between the main soundtrack and the isolated effects and music track suggests that these could be attributed to the mixed crowd noises rather than inherent flaws in the audio. The dialogue remains consistently clean and clear throughout, even when the actors employ their high-pitched, humorous voices.
Woody Allen’s disdain for multi-channel audio is evident as the soundtrack adheres strictly to a DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track. Despite this, it manages to balance various audio components effectively, ensuring that the all-important dialogue is easily comprehensible. The soundtrack features delightful accordion music and Nick Apollo Forte’s vocals, which are delivered with excellent fidelity that allows them to resonate beautifully. Additionally, important sound effects such as gunfire and helium gas whistling are distinct and vibrant. While this is not a track designed to showcase advanced sound systems, it nonetheless complements the strong video transfer superbly. For audio enthusiasts, an isolated music and effects track is included, allowing for an enriched listening experience.
Extras: 16
The Blu-ray release of "Broadway Danny Rose" includes a minimalistic but noteworthy set of extras. While the volume of supplemental content may seem modest, the quality isn't compromised. The package features an isolated music and effects track presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono. This track is notable for including sung elements, a rare treat for audiophiles and fans of Dick Hyman, the esteemed music supervisor. Hyman's contributions, often overlooked, are substantial; his work with Enoch Light in the 1960s showcases his exceptional skills as both a pianist and orchestrator. The extras also feature the original theatrical trailer and a celebratory MGM 90th Anniversary trailer, providing a nostalgic context for the film's initial release.
Extras included in this disc:
- Original Theatrical Trailer: Brief but nostalgic snippet.
- MGM 90th Anniversary Trailer: A celebratory piece.
- Isolated Music and Effects Track: Presented in DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, includes sung elements and highlights the work of Dick Hyman.
Movie: 81
"Broadway Danny Rose," Woody Allen's 1984 film, stands as a testament to his ability to weave humor, humanity, and heartfelt moments into a tapestry that showcases the plight of the underdog. The film follows Danny Rose, an endearing theatrical agent portrayed by Allen, who represents an assortment of C-list acts, from a wine glass player to bird pianists. Despite being frequently stepped on and double-crossed, Danny exemplifies a nurturing, if neurotically frazzled, figure whose optimism and dedication to his clients shine through even the darkest situations.
The story is framed as an anecdote shared among comedians in a diner, lending a nostalgic and affectionate tone as they reminisce about Danny. Central to the plot is Danny's latest client, Lou Canova (Nick Apollo Forte), a washed-up lounge singer looking for a comeback. Complications arise when Danny agrees to escort Lou’s mistress, Tina Vitale (Mia Farrow), to a crucial audition, inadvertently getting entangled with mobsters. The ensuing escapades blend slapstick humor with genuine warmth, highlighted by hilarious set pieces like a mishap with a helium-filled warehouse.
Allen's screenplay is peerless in its subtle blend of comedy and melancholy, offering sharp dialogue and meticulously crafted scenarios. Allen imbues Danny with a blend of nervous energy and melancholic charm, reminiscent of Chaplin’s Little Tramp. Farrow delivers a standout performance as Tina, embodying a brash yet vulnerable character that adds depth to the otherwise whimsical narrative. Forte complements them perfectly, producing a character who is both lovable and profoundly flawed. "Broadway Danny Rose" remains one of Allen's most intimate and deceptively simple films, delivering laughter and poignancy in equal measure.
Total: 57
"Broadway Danny Rose" is a film that effortlessly combines humor and heart, exemplifying the unique blend of wit and sentiment that defines Woody Allen's work from this era. The storyline, centered on the comedic yet poignant trials of a struggling theatrical agent, is punctuated by laugh-out-loud moments and has a touching, almost nostalgic schmaltz that makes the film enduringly endearing. Notably, Mia Farrow delivers a standout performance, showcasing a versatility that might surprise viewers familiar with her previous roles.
The Blu-ray release from Twilight Time offers a respectable viewing experience, maintaining the film's understated artistry through solid video and audio transfers. Though there are minor fluctuations in quality, they do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment. The cinematography captures the essence of the narrative beautifully, enhancing the lyrical quality of this underrated gem. However, one downside to this release is the limited supplementary material, which might leave some fans wanting more behind-the-scenes insights or additional content.
In conclusion, "Broadway Danny Rose" is certainly one of the better films from this period of Allen's filmography. It is consistently amusing yet touched with heartfelt moments that elevate it beyond mere comedy. This Blu-ray edition, despite its modest extras, allows both new viewers and longtime fans to appreciate the film in high definition. For its charming story, memorable performances, and solid technical presentation, "Broadway Danny Rose" comes highly recommended.
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 80
Blacks are suitably dark and gray scale is decently modulated, but a lot of Broadway Danny Rose looks rather dark, though frequent Allen collaborator cinematographer Gordon Willis often liked to push the...
Audio: 80
There were a couple of instances during Lou's musical numbers when I thought I heard some very minor distortion in the midrange, but after toggling between the soundtrack and the isolated effects and music...
Extras: 20
Light of course became famous in the annals of recording not just for his "extreme" stereo separation but perhaps more importantly (especially for film fans) for his use of 35mm film as his recording medium,...
Movie: 90
Farrow has been repeatedly mentioned as being the victim of an "Oscar robbery" for her stunning work in Rosemary's Baby (a snub some attribute to her temerity in choosing to work on the film rather than...
Total: 80
While all the performances have the typical Allen patina, Farrow is a real revelation in a role that one would not immediately intuit she was capable of playing so well....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
A marvelous sense of depth - an Allen directorial trademark - distinguishes the picture, and it's augmented by a widely varied gray scale that also helps highlight background elements and define fine details,...
Audio: 80
The all-important dialogue is always clear and easy to comprehend, and the accordion music selections and Nick Apollo Forte's vocals are enhanced by excellent fidelity that allow them to fill the room...
Extras: 0
The movie's original theatrical trailer, which runs just over a minute, and a promotional trailer celebrating MGM's 90 anniversary are the only extras offered....
Movie: 80
Lively, raucous, yet strangely insecure and introspective, Tina is another in a long line of colorful roles Allen has written for his leading ladies, and Farrow embraces the gift, letting go of her inhibitions...
Total: 60
Though this madcap chronicle of a struggling theatrical agent's misadventures with a cheap floozie may seem simple and shallow on the surface, it brims with humanity and features some of Allen's most finely...
Director: Woody Allen
Actors: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Nick Apollo Forte
PlotDanny Rose is a small-time talent agent in New York City, known for his eclectic and often dubious roster of clients, ranging from blind xylophonists to balloon animal specialists. Despite his roster's questionable talents, Danny remains endlessly optimistic and fiercely dedicated to his clients. His latest challenge is Lou Canova, a washed-up lounge singer who gets a sudden shot at a comeback. Lou's chance at rejuvenation comes with complications as he insists on having his mistress Tina at his big performance. Danny reluctantly agrees to help, leading to a series of comedic and chaotic misadventures.
As Danny and Tina navigate through various obstacles, their journey intertwines with mobsters, mistaken identities, and narrow escapes. Through all these challenges, Danny's unwavering commitment to those he represents and his good-hearted nature are tested. The story not only highlights the difficulties of show business but also touches upon themes of loyalty, ambition, and compassion. Danny's efforts to balance professional responsibilities with real-life dilemmas create a poignant but humorous tale set against the backdrop of New York's entertainment scene.
Writers: Woody Allen
Release Date: 27 Jan 1984
Runtime: 84 min
Rating: PG
Country: United States
Language: English, Italian, Yiddish