Bullets Over Broadway

An idealistic young playwright who travels from Pittsburgh to Broadway, David must navigate financing, talent, and the temptations of success. He agrees to cast Olive to please a financer, then finds himself tangled in Helen’s and Ellen’s affections, while Cheech’s notes push him toward a riskier, more profitable script. His struggle is between artistic integrity and the compromises required to mount a hit.

A vain, fame-seeking actress who is the girlfriend of gangster Nick Valenti. Olive’s presence inflames the production’s tensions and she becomes a pawn in the power plays behind the scenes. Her talent is questioned, and she falls victim to the mob-driven chaos that surrounds the show.

A faded star who still commands the stage with presence and experience. Helen’s presence sharpens the contrast between old Hollywood glamour and the new Broadway hustle. Her relationship with David complicates his personal life as the production spirals toward consequence.

An alcoholic, aging actor who still commands attention, Warner is drawn into an affair with Olive and struggles with overeating and self-doubt. He becomes entangled in Cheech’s schemes as the production careens toward danger and crisis. His presence epitomizes the decadence and fragility of fame.

A mob henchman with a surprising talent for writing who prefers to stay behind the scenes. Cheech pushes his own ideas as he mentors the script, then murders Olive to protect his growing influence over the production. He wields fear and wit to force the plot’s direction, ultimately becoming the catalyst for the play’s fate.

A seasoned Broadway producer who persuades David to cast Olive and pushes the project toward commercial viability. He embodies the merger of art and commerce on the Broadway stage and guides the production through its most perilous moments.

David’s partner, who feels the strain of his hedonism and infidelity. She ultimately reconciles with Flender and decides to leave for Pittsburgh, signaling a personal and artistic turning point for David.

David’s hedonistic Marxist friend who embodies a lifestyle of excess and intellect. His presence complicates Ellen’s life and provides a counterpoint to the Broadway world’s glamour.