Moving to the Big Apple
by chuckofish
It’s official: daughter #1 is moving from Washington D.C. to NYC in January. Of course this put me in mind of my favorite movies that take place in NYC, especially the ones that make it look beautiful and full of sophisticated, beautiful people.
Here are my top four choices:
1. The World of Henry Orient (1964), directed by George Roy Hill, starring Peter Sellers, Angela Lansbury, Paula Prentiss, and written by the father/daughter team of Nunnally Johnson and Nora Johnson (who went to Smith College!). Two private school misfits run all over NYC following their hero Henry Orient, giving us great glimpses of Central Park, the Plaza, brownstones and Carnegie Hall.
2. Pillow Talk (1959) directed by Michael Gordon, starring Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Thelma Ritter, and Tony Randall, written by Russell Rouse, Clarence Greene, Stanley Shapiro, and Maurice Richlin (Academy Award winners for Best Screenplay). Career gal Doris Day goes to work, various decorating hangouts and numerous cool bistros all over town.
3. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) directed by Blake Edwards, starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Mickey Rooney, written by Truman Capote and George Axelrod. You know this one–starting at Tiffany’s and continuing through Central Park and Rockefeller Center–all over town.
4. Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) directed by Woody Allen, starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Alan Alda, and written by Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman. This one has the usual Woody pre-war apartments and walks through the streets of New York.
What do you think? Any other ideas?
dual personalities 
What about Ghostbusters? I would have to put that on my list. Or you could do a counter-list of films that make the city look sleezy or sinister: Gangs of New York, Escape from New York, Rosmary’s Baby, Midnight Cowboy.. the list could go on and on.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Escape From New York filmed in St Louis?
Parts were, yes. The bomb-zone outside shots.
Was it? I didn’t remember that. And we could also add the new Godzilla, which wasn’t really that bad — not a true Godzilla movie, but a fun monster movie. And then there’s Cloverfield, which frankly, I found unwatchable…
Then WHY would we add it to the list?!
And don’t forget Miracle on 34th Street!!
Thinking positive thoughts here!
Nobody steps on a church in my town. Bill Murray and I are in agreement on that one.
Bistros really were cool in the late 50’s in New York, we’re ‘t they?
At least the way they looked in the movies. The Carosel Club in White Christmas comes to mind – probably because we’ll no doubt see it soon.
Alas, the scenes were shot at Paramount in California.
Carousel Club, dude.
Arrgghhhh Large thumbs + iPhone keyboard . . .
Who is this random Yeoman Farmer who has chanced upon your blog? The internet sure is crazy…