The Narrator tells us how the radio influenced his childhood in the days before TV. In the New York City of the late 1930s to the New Year's Eve 1944, this coming-of-age tale mixes the narrator's experiences with contemporary anecdotes and urban legends of the radio stars.
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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.
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
A man reminisces about his youth, growing up in the 1930s and 40s in New York. We see and hear stories of himself, his parents, neighbours and friends and local celebrities. The common denominator in all the stories and in the overarching plot is the presence of the radio - it brought music, news, stories, escape and comfort, made stars of everyday people and was often the glue in families and relationships.A wonderfully sentimental, nostalgic and funny homage to radio from Woody Allen. Though the story in the movie doesn't fit his life story exactly you can see how it could be very close to it. It's also a history lesson, as many of radio's seminal moments from the 30s and 40s are covered (eg Orson Welles's War of the Worlds). Moreover, the broad feeling of nostalgia for a time and experience that cannot be relived and retrieved is very palpable and emotional.It's not all sentimentality though. The movie largely consists of episodes and vignettes from the narrator's memory. Many of these scenes are absurdly funny (Mia Farrow with the gangster takes the cake, but the prize-winning burglars aren't far behind). Allen allows his imagination to go wild, and it takes him to some wonderfully offbeat places.Performances are great too. No Woody Allen himself (except as narrator), but we have a young Seth Green effectively playing Woody Allen as a child, and doing a solid job. Good work too from Julie Kavner and Michael Tucker as his parents. The supporting cast is huge, due to the many mini-stories within the movie, and includes many Woody Allen favorites: Mia Farrow, Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest, Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello, Tony Roberts. Some only have one or two lines (or, in Diane Keaton's case, one song). Nobody puts a foot wrong. William H Macy and Larry David, unknowns at the time, have minor, non-speaking parts.
Slightly Overrated Woody Allen Movie that is not as Funny or Sharply Witted Woodster as some of His others. The Film couldn't Look better and the Soundtrack has Over 40 Songs interspersed among the Nostalgic Narrative. There are some Drop on the Floor Laughs, like the Bill Stern Sports Parody. The rest of the Jokes are Labored at times (the fat uncles fixation on fish) and are Hit and Miss. What Allen Hits Out of the Park is the Period Flavor and, as usual, a Wonderful Cast of Actors.The Short Running Time is a Blessing because if You are not fully Invested in the Time Period, it tends to Run On and On with its Dysfunctional but Loving Family Affairs. But the Film is so Beautiful to Watch that it is Joy for the Eyes with its Warm, Soft Color and Attention to Detail.It's a Woody Allen Movie that by Definition has a Narrow Audience, but Woody does His Best to bring Everyone along on His Trip Down Memory Lane. It's Far from His Best, but a Glorious Picture Nonetheless. That's Genius when a Lesser Effort in a Creator's Canon can be this Good.
