Bullets Over Broadway (1994)

As the jazz era thrums through 1920s Broadway, playwright David Shayne, a self-proclaimed artiste, finds himself amidst a crucible of creativity and compromise. Following the failure of his first two plays, David is determined to take the reins of his new work, the potentially career-defining "God of Our Fathers". Yet, when investors shy away from his untested directorial prowess, David's dreams hang by a thread. Enter Nick Valenti, a mobster with deep pockets and a shallow girlfriend, Olive Neal. Valenti is willing to finance the entire production, but with a catch - Olive, a woman more adept at turning heads than lines, must get the lead role. David and his producer, Julian Marx, manage to relegate Olive to a supporting role, hoping the play's other seasoned actors might eclipse her lackluster performance. However, the mobster's influence is felt in the form of a menacing bodyguard, Cheech, assigned to watch over Olive. His ominous presence becomes a constant, disturbing backdrop to the rehearsals. While David grapples with Olive's ineptitude, the rest of the cast brings their own share of eccentricities to the stage. Helen Sinclair, the diva with the lead role, is determined to transform her frigid character into a glamorous version of herself, while Warner Purcell, the lone male actor, battles his stress-induced eating disorder. Add to this mix the cheerful Eden Brent and her annoying chihuahua, Mr. Woofulls, and David's play seems headed for disaster. However, a surprising turn of events promises to rescue the production, if David can swallow his artistic pride. As the play edges closer to its debut, the threat of violence looms in the wings with Nick's single-minded focus on Olive's success and Cheech's constant, watchful presence. In this tempest of art and ambition, ego and compromise, David Shayne's Broadway dreams hang in a delicate balance. Will the curtain rise on a masterpiece, or will the bullets of Broadway shatter his artistic vision?

Bullets Over Broadway is a comedy movie featuring Jack Warden and directed by Woody Allen.

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