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BULLETS OVER BROADWAY isn’t one of Woody Allen’s biggest hits, but over the last 30 years it’s become one of his best known pictures.

What likely boosted awareness of the crime comedy is the musical version of BULLETS that opened in March 2014 at Broadway’s St. James Theatre. It ran for 156 performances plus 33 previews, closing that August and returning in October 2015 as a touring production.

BULLETS, the movie, opened via Miramax Oct. 21, 1994 with two exclusive runs to spread word of mouth before its wide release the following Feb. 24. It was Allen’s first indie film after many years of working with studios like United Artists, Orion Pictures & TriStar. The critics loved it with a 95% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Directed by Allen, who wrote it with Douglas McGrath, its ensemble cast featured John Cusack, Dianne Wiest, Chazz Palminteri & Jennifer Tilly. BULLETS also was notable for who wasn’t in it. Allen didn’t appear nor did any of his usual actress stars — Mia Farrow (HANNAH AND HER SISTERS + 12 more), Diane Keaton (ANNIE HALL + 6 more) or Louise Lasser (BANANAS + 4 more). 

BULLETS was embraced by Academy members, who gave it seven nominations — including directing, original screenplay, supporting actor (Palminteri), art direction, costume design and supporting actress for both Tilly & Wiest. Tilly played a talentless young actress who gets a small part in a Broadway play only because her gangster boyfriend’s backing it. Wiest was cast as the aging alcoholic actress who’s the show’s star.

Wiest was BULLETS’ only Oscar winner, beating Tilly, who made no secret about how unhappy she’d been to learn that Miramax was only going to promote Wiest for supporting actress. Tilly responded by launching her own campaign and managed to get a nom — but Miramax chiefs Harvey & Bob Weinstein reportedly weren’t big Tilly fans afterwards.

None of the movie’s big stars were in the 2014 stage musical, directed & choreographed by Susan Stroman, whose many Broadway credits include Mel Brooks’ 2001 hit musical THE PRODUCERS. Zach Braff & Marin Mazie played the leads Cusack & Wiest had in the film.

Allen has confided that he had no interest in turning his 1928 set movie into a contemporary stage musical. It was his sister, Letty Aronson, who co-executive produced BULLETS, who changed his mind by saying the movie would work well as a period piece musical. Work on the stage BULLETS began in 2000 with Allen writing the book and Marvin Hamlisch & Craig Carnelia writing the music.

When Allen decided the new songs weren’t what he had in mind for the stage show, Aronson suggested using actual 1920s music instead. And that, according to Allen, is what finally brought the Broadway show to life.