Synopsis

In 1928 New York, idealistic playwright David Shayne finally secures financing for his Broadway play, but only after agreeing to cast the talentless girlfriend of a mobster. As rehearsals unravel under the pressure of demanding actors, romantic entanglements, and a watchful bodyguard, David discovers that unexpected creative talent may come from the least likely source.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was shot in New York City from September 27 through December 7, 1993. Locations included the Belasco Theater, the Edison Hotel, Prospect Park, Central Park, and the former Claremont Riding Academy.

• The production received seven Academy Award nominations at the 67th Academy Awards, including recognition for its screenplay, direction, costume design, art direction, and supporting performances. It won the award for Best Supporting Actress.

• Dianne Wiest won her second Academy Award for a performance in a Woody Allen film. Her interpretation of Helen Sinclair included a deliberately lowered delivery of the character's signature "Don't speak!" line.

• The film marked the final screen appearance of actress, singer, and dancer Benay Venuta, who appears in a cameo as a wealthy theater patron. She died in September 1995.

• A stage musical adaptation, also titled Bullets Over Broadway, opened on Broadway in 2014. It used the film's story with a new score by Marvin Hamlisch and a book by Woody Allen.