DVD Review: Broadway Bound (1992)

For the third filmed version of his Eugene trilogy (the first two being “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Biloxi Blues”), Neil Simon chose to make a TV movie, directed by Paul Bogart. “Broadway Bound” concludes the character Eugene’s coming-of-age by showing him entering comedy writing.

In “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” Eugene was experiencing adolescence with his family unit and the character was played by Jonathan Silverman. In “Biloxi Blues” he was in army basic training and Eugene was played by Matthew Broderick, who usually played the role on Broadway. Finally, in this TV movie, Eugene is played by Corey Parker, who played the nebbishy Arnold Epstein in "Biloxi Blues," while Silverman is back playing older brother Stanley (a role played by Brian Drillinger in “Brighton Beach Memoirs”).

“Broadway Bound” is more stage-driven cinema than its predecessors because its cinema is truncated to the 1992 TV image, and not in widescreen. It concentrates on few sets, taking place chiefly in the home. It is also more serious in tone. It still has Eugene’s wittily sardonic narration and a lot of snappy dialog typical for Simon’s work, but serious scenes are more frequent. One new narrative element is a grandfather (Hume Cronyn), and his socialistic conflict with his wealthy daughter (Michele Lee). Anne Bancroft as Eugene and Stanley’s long-suffering mother is exactly in her element with weary sarcasm defining her character. Jerry Orbach, as the father, has the same weariness but it is also saddled with guilt due to a transgression that appears to still be going on.

Through all of the various familiar conflicts, Eugene and Stanley manage to write a radio show, get it on the air, and respond to how the actors approach the material, while the family uncomfortably realizes many of the characters are based on them.

Eugene is supposed to represent Neil Simon himself, while Stanley is Neil’s brother Danny Simon. And much of Simon’s work is based on his own experiences and real life characters. “The Odd Couple” was inspired by brother Danny and his roommate. “The Sunshine Boys” is based on traits from actual vaudeville comedy teams. The Eugene trilogy is even closer to Simon’s actual life.

Despite it being a TV movie with serious moments, “Broadway Bound” is often very funny. The way the brothers are able to create humor in their damp cellar while many conflicts are happening upstairs in the living area of the home, is a nice way to show how humor overcomes unhappiness. The boys do have a serious scene when they confront their father about his affair.

KINO has released “Broadway Bound” on DVD and blu ray, and for Neil Simon completists, it is great to finally have the third in the Eugene trilogy. The arc is discernible and concludes nicely with this movie. It is most especially recommended viewing for high school and college theater programs. Notably, the disc includes the original 90 minute version of the movie and a 94 minute extended cut.

The blu ray is available at this link: Broadway Bound