Favorite Movie Scenes #1: Manhattan (Woody Allen, 1979)

Favorite Movie Scenes: #1

I’m starting a series of my favorite scenes from movies. First entry: Manhattan (1979, Woody Allen).

The inherent problem with this series, though, is that the moments are best viewed in the context of the movie. Seeing it as stand-alone clip doesn’t do it justice unless you understand its relevance within the story.

In this case however, the opening scene of “Manhattan”, a montage of New York set to the gorgeous swells of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, stands on its own as a masterpiece.

[music: the opening of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Voiceover]
“Chapter One. He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion. Eh uh, no, make that he, he romanticized it all out of proportion. Better. To him, no matter what the season was, this was still a town that existed in black and white and pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin. Uh, no, let me start this over.

Chapter One: He was too romantic about Manhattan, as he was about everything else. He thrived on the hustle bustle of the crowds and the traffic. To him, New York meant beautiful women and street smart guys who seemed to know all the angles. Ah, corny, too corny for, you know, my taste. Let me, let me try and make it more profound.

Chapter One: He adored New York City. To him it was a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture. The same lack of individual integrity that caused so many people to take the easy way out was rapidly turning the town of his dreams in - no, it’s gonna be too preachy, I mean, you know, let’s face it, I wanna sell some books here.

Chapter One: He adored New York City. Although to him it was a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture. How hard it was to exist in a society desensitized by drugs, loud music, television, crime, garbage - too angry. I don’t want to be angry.

Chapter One. He was as tough and romantic as the city he loved. Behind his black-rimmed glasses was the coiled sexual power of a jungle cat. Oh, I love this.

New York was his town, and it always would be.”