The Purple Rose of Cairo
Many messages can be derived from Woody Allen's 1984 success, "Purple Rose of Cairo". It is easy to see that this is one of Allen's more subdued films, and for good reason. He is truly keeping with the 1930's code of moral decency by using overly tame ideas and actions throughout the movie. An example is when Tom challenges Gil to a fight and gets beaten up because he expects Gil to 'play fair'. This moral statement, although somewhat of a parody, shows us that it is possible to be brought into a totally different era (the 1930's) and genre (fantasy) and still have something to think about after having watched the movie. The ending of the film is one that has come as a surprise and disappointment to many viewers. Cecilia is left abandoned by both Tom and Gil. It seems like a disappointment, but it leaves a very strong statement. Allen is saying that the setting of his constant cliches is just a movie as well. He is taking us out of not just the romantic illusions he is deflating in the film within the film, but also this movie's romantic illusion to us. It's his moral reminder to us that no matter what expectations we might have of characters on a screen that happy endings don't always work out in real
"The Purple Rose of Cairo" is quite balanced with its messages. Allen deftly creates multiple themes and thoughts on film and its relation to reality without ever harming the story, but also makes the two work hand-in-hand. By having a reason for Tom to walk off the screen, he creates a fantastically leveled fable on life, and how film can truly affect it. Allen is also very responsible about it. If taken out of hand, film can cause people to blur reality with the fictitious, which is made notable through Cecilia's relationships with Tom and Gil. Through this conflict, Allen shows that people often want to be just like the people in the movie, while at the same time, the characters in the movie want to be people in reality. life. Although it is disappointing, it needs to be said. If "Purple Rose of Cairo" had been set in the present, the entire foundation of the film would have been lost. The bleak reality of America during the depression was so far detached from the mainstream cinematic representation of life that a movie character would be lost in the real world. In that time, sexual behavior in film was generally limited to screen kisses, sudden embraces and knowing looks. The techniques of doors closing and scenes fading out were used to intimate sexual activity. Sound effects, silhouettes and shadows were often employed to indicate violence. A whole range of human behaviors
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 938
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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