The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) – Filming Locations
Fantasy / Comedy / Romance · Directed by Woody Allen · Starring Jeff Daniels, Mia Farrow
Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey, living a dreary life during the Great Depression. Her only escape from her mundane reality is the movie theatre. After losing her job, Cecilia goes to see 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' in hopes of raising her spirits, where she watches dashing archaeologist Tom Baxter time and again.
Where was The Purple Rose of Cairo filmed?
- New York, United States, New York – Cecilia's neighborhood and daily life as a Depression-era waitress. The working-class Queens neighborhood was chosen to authentically represent 1930s America during the Great Depression, with period-appropriate storefronts and residential streets
- New Jersey, United States, New Jersey – The movie palace where Cecilia watches 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' and where Tom Baxter emerges from the screen. A 1930s-era theater was used as the central location where the magical realism unfolds, establishing the sanctuary cinema provides to Depression audiences
- New York, United States, New York – Tom Baxter and Cecilia's romantic sequences through the city after he leaves the film. Manhattan's streets and landmarks provide the backdrop for the fantastical romance between the fictional character and the real woman navigating Depression-era New York