New York, New York
NEW YORK, NEW YORK (PG)
D: Martin Scorsese
United Artists (Irwin Winkler & Robert
Chartoff)
US 1977
155 mins
Musical/Drama/Romance
W: Earl Mac Rauch & Mardik Martin
DP: Laszlo Kovacs
Ed: Irving Lerner, Marcia Lucas, Tom Rolf, Bert Lovitt
& David Ramirez
Mus: Ralph Burns
PD: Boris Leven
Cos: Theodora Van Runkle
Robert DeNiro (Jimmy Doyle), Liza Minnelli (Francine
Evans), Lionel Stander (Tony Harrell), Mary Kay Place (Bernice Bennett), George Memmoli (Nicky)
Martin Scorsese perfectly captures the jazz scene of
1940's New York with this attempt to recapture the magic of the big studio musical.
Robert DeNiro and Liza Minnelli play two aspiring
musicians whose paths initially cross amongst the hubbub of VJ Day at the end of World War II. They subsequently audition for a nightclub spot together and become lovers, but fate conspires
against them and it isn't so happily ever after.
The look of the film is excellent, with meticulous
production design and costumes, and the jazzy score provides the perfect vibe for the visuals. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of the brilliant actors, the story doesn't match the vibrancy
of the surroundings.
It's a noble attempt to revitalise a dying genre, but it
doesn't quite come off. Audiences of 1977 seemed to agree as well, since the film failed to set alight the box office.
7/10
