Manhattan

Manhattan (1979)

Timing: 1:36 (96 min)

7.719/10
2587

7.786/10
28351

7.8/10
154000

All about film

Video 6

Photo 67

Actors and characters

Release date

1979-04-25

Country

United States

Production

United Artists, Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe Productions

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Budget

$9 000 000

Revenue

$39 949 579

Website

Director

Woody Allen

Actors

Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Mariel Hemingway, Meryl Streep, Anne Byrne Hoffman, Karen Ludwig, Michael O'Donoghue, Gary Weis, Kenny Vance
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman

Producer

Charles H. Joffe, Robert Greenhut, Jack Rollins

Operator

Gordon Willis

Composer

Artist

Audition

Juliet Taylor

Editing

Susan E. Morse
All team (46)

• Woody Allen disliked the finished film so much that he offered the studio bosses to film any movie for them for free on the condition that they shelve “Manhattan.” They refused, and the released film became a hit both at the box office and with audiences and critics. Even though it has gained cult status over the years and consistently ranks among the top films in numerous lists of Woody Allen’s best works, the director considers it his worst: “To this day, when I think about ‘Manhattan,’ I wonder: is that all I was capable of then? I don’t understand how they didn’t stop giving me money for films after that.”
• According to cinematographer Gordon Willis, this film is his best work.
• Meryl Streep filmed all scenes involving her character during breaks in Robert Benton's filming of the drama 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (1979).
• The famous bridge was filmed at 5 a.m. A garden bench had to be brought in, as there were no benches on site. The bridge was illuminated by two rows of lanterns controlled by a timer, the operation of which was the responsibility of the city authorities. The lanterns were switched off at sunrise. Cinematographer Gordon Willis (1931-2014) arranged with the city administration not to turn off the lanterns until filming was completed, and then they could be switched off. Filming of the scene began, and one row of lanterns went out; director Woody Allen was ultimately forced to use this take with only one row of lit lanterns.
• According to Woody Allen, the idea to make this film was born out of his love for the music of George Gershwin (1898-1937), just as he was listening to one of his albums of overtures.
• Meryl Streep filmed all her scenes during breaks from shooting with Robert Benton on the drama 'Kramer vs. Kramer'.
• The famous bridge was filmed at 5 a.m. A garden bench had to be brought in, as there were no benches on location. The bridge was illuminated by two rows of lanterns controlled by a timer, the operation of which was the responsibility of the city authorities. The lanterns were turned off at sunrise. Cinematographer Gordon Willis arranged with the city administration not to turn off the lanterns until filming was complete. Filming of the scene began, and one row of lanterns went out; director Woody Allen was ultimately forced to use that take.
• According to Woody Allen, the idea to make this film came from his love of George Gershwin's music, just as he was listening to one of his albums of overtures.
• Woody Allen disliked the finished film so much that he offered the studio bosses to film any film for them for free, on the condition that they shelve "Manhattan." They refused, and the released film became a hit both at the box office and with audiences and critics. Even though it has gained a cult status over the years and consistently ranks among the top films in numerous lists of Woody Allen's best works, the director considers it his worst: "To this day, when I think about "Manhattan," I wonder: is that all I was capable of then? I don't understand how they didn't stop giving me money for films after that."
• Meryl Streep filmed all her scenes during breaks in Robert Benton's filming of the drama "Kramer vs. Kramer".