An unhappy woman in a Depression-era small town seeks solace from her lot in life by repeatedly watching her favourite movie. During one screening, the dashing hero steps off the screen and into the real world to romance her, leaving the audience, the other characters and the studio executives bewildered. Woody Allen's comic fantasy, starring Mia Farrow and Jeff Daniels.

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.