As television documentaries go, "New York at the Movies" answers the question about why are filmmakers fascinated with the idea of shooting their movies in New York. Well, surprise, surprise, everything really started right there. In spite of the industry moving to the West coast, the mostly Jewish executives in charge of the pioneering studios in Hollywood, did not forget their New York roots. In fact, all the big studios had a New York street in their lots, where the fake image of the city could be filmed in an almost perfect weather.
Distinguished commentators of the stature of Martin Scorsese, Nora Ephron, Paul Mazurski, Ed Burns, Tim Robbins, Lauren Bacall, Spike Lee, James Sanders, Sidney Lumet, and Richard Brown, explain why shooting a movie in New York is a satisfying experience. Meryl Streep is the narrator of this interesting compilation of why New York seems to have it all as a perfect backdrop for any movie shot there.
The documentary is divided in sections citing how different genres play perfectly in the way creators set their movies in the city. From the beginning, it was clear audiences identified New York as a recognizable icon where many of its attractions are prominently featured. The Empire State building, the subway, the lights of Times Square, the fabulous night clubs, and a lot of other points the city offers, are a plus for many of the films that are made in New York.
Two films are mentioned as key to understand the appeal of movie makers to set the action of their features in New York. Jules Dassin's " The Naked City", and Alexander MacKendrick's "Sweet Smell of Success" embody the essential flavor of the New York prior to 1960, while Martin Scorsese's "Mean Street", and "Taxi Driver", Woody Allen's "Manhattan", and Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" are of a more recent vintage.
Nick Davis, the director, and Rose Ganguzza, the writer of "New York at the Movies" did a splendid job in documenting what is a known fact: New York is a wonderful town!
Distinguished commentators of the stature of Martin Scorsese, Nora Ephron, Paul Mazurski, Ed Burns, Tim Robbins, Lauren Bacall, Spike Lee, James Sanders, Sidney Lumet, and Richard Brown, explain why shooting a movie in New York is a satisfying experience. Meryl Streep is the narrator of this interesting compilation of why New York seems to have it all as a perfect backdrop for any movie shot there.
The documentary is divided in sections citing how different genres play perfectly in the way creators set their movies in the city. From the beginning, it was clear audiences identified New York as a recognizable icon where many of its attractions are prominently featured. The Empire State building, the subway, the lights of Times Square, the fabulous night clubs, and a lot of other points the city offers, are a plus for many of the films that are made in New York.
Two films are mentioned as key to understand the appeal of movie makers to set the action of their features in New York. Jules Dassin's " The Naked City", and Alexander MacKendrick's "Sweet Smell of Success" embody the essential flavor of the New York prior to 1960, while Martin Scorsese's "Mean Street", and "Taxi Driver", Woody Allen's "Manhattan", and Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" are of a more recent vintage.
Nick Davis, the director, and Rose Ganguzza, the writer of "New York at the Movies" did a splendid job in documenting what is a known fact: New York is a wonderful town!