Radio Days (1987)

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Awesome Movie

A different way of telling a story

Blistering performances.

This is one of the greatest movies I have ever experienced. Every thing about this movie works, the players, the music, the scenery. New York has never appeared lovelier, just beautiful shots of Times Square supposedly in the 1940's. There isn't much of a plot, just loosely joined vignettes, but that is enough. When the end of the movie comes, it makes you wish it would go on and on. Do yourself a favor and catch this movie if it ever comes on TV.

Although all of the songs in this movie were way before my time, they were such classics I recognized every one of them. And even though the film focused on a world that predates me, I was completely wrapped up in its sentimental beauty.The appropriately titled 'Radio Days' depicted the innocent era that predated video games, computers, even TV. How lovely it was to see children gather around to listen to their heroes come to life on the radio, or a mother and father dancing in the kitchen after dinner to their favorite song, or tragically seeing the entire world stop at once to listen that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor.'Radio Days' was probably not an accurate depiction of what life was really like in 1940's Brooklyn, but it WAS Woody Allen's recollection of those nostalgic days. And probably the most poignant moment for me was the final line of the movie ~ 'I've never forgotten the voices of that New Year's Eve...but with each passing year, the voices do seem to become dimmer and dimmer'.Beautiful movie.

Yes It Is A Very Funny Movie, But More Importantly It Is Most Likely Woody Allen's Most Important Work ... While My Memories Are Not Made Up Of The "Radio Days" The Message Is Not Lost On Me ... A Message That Our Most Valuable Possessions Are Our Memories, Be They Radio, TV, School, Family Get Together's, Your First Love Etc ... A Wonderful Tribute To The Era Of Radio (Media That Managed To Bring The Country Together, Instead Of Separating It The Way Media Does Today) ... As Always The Story Is Littered With The Most Incredible Characters (A Trade Mark Of His Movies) And Wonderful Stories ... The Cast Is Stella In It's Performances And Woody Allen's Voice Narrating The Story Brings A Genuine Feel To The Movie ... Filled With Laughter, Fun And Some Touching Memories Both Personal And World Wide This Is A Movie Worthy Of Being A National Archive Film ... The Sets Are Magnificent, Even If You Don't Remember Those Days There Is No Doubt In Your Mind That The Set And Costumes Are Authentic ... I Remember Clearly As A Kid Standing In Line For 2 Hours In Front Of Radio City Music Hall, Whining And Complaining About Being Tired And Cold ... Then The Overwhelming Feeling Of Awe As I Stepped Into The Hall For The Very First Time ... Radio Days Is A Brilliant Movie About Days Gone By And Easily (In My Opinion) Woody Allen's Best Work ... Ty For Such A Marvelous Movie

1987's Radio Days is Woody Allen's nostalgic look at an era gone by, when families used to gather in front of the radio instead of the television.Woody's imaginative, Oscar-nominated screenplay recalls his childhood in Brooklyn, weaving family stories with radio programs that ignite certain memories for him.Seth Green had one of his first major film roles as Joe, a fictionalized Woody, whose loopy behavior with his family generates big laughs and connections with radio shows of the period and certain fictional and non-fictional radio personalities.Michael Tucker and Julie Kavner are wonderful as Joe's parents...his dad spends the story trying to hide what he does for a living and Mom loves to listen to a morning radio program hosted by glamorous Irene and Roger, a glamorous couple who it is revealed has an open relationship, resulting in Roger's affair with a cigarette girl named Sally (Mia Farrow), a character who becomes central to multiple story lines.Josh Mostel and Renee Lippin are funny as Joe's aunt and uncle. Aunt Ceil drives her hubby crazy because her favorite radio program stars a ventriloquist. Dianne Wiest plays Joe's other aunt, who loves to listen to music on the radio and wants nothing more than a husband. Since the story is centered around radio, music is a key element of the story and Woody's wonderful taste in music is utilized to great effect here and if you don't blink, you will catch a musical cameo by Woody's favorite leading lady, Diane Keaton.Woody scores big here with a winning comedy that produces equal doses of laughter and warmth.