From King Kong to Spider-Man, from Taxi Driver to The Godfather, New York City has been the home of some of the most iconic and revolutionary films of all time. Since the beginning of film itself, directors from all over the world have chosen to set their films on the streets of New York. But why? Is it the excitement of the Big Apple? The diverse population? The fascinating cultures? As it turns out, it is not one thing in specific, but rather a combination of many aspects, that gives New York its iconic status that it holds today.
Acting and entertainment have actually been part of New York City since long before the first film was even recorded. Broadway-theater, named for the street Broadway in Manhattan, was popular in New York from as early as the year 1750. Before people would flock to the movie theater to see the latest films, they would go to a Broadway theater, to experience one of New York’s oldest traditions. Even today, 250 years later, people still enjoy going to a good play as opposed to a film, for a more intimate form of entertainment. This history of entertainment is undoubtedly responsible to New York City’s status in film today, Broadway-theater was a major catalyst for what we know and love about the art in New York’s today.
During the years surrounding the great depression, so many of our ancestors, mine included, came through the gates of Ellis Island in New York looking for work in the “land of opportunity.” Italians, Jews, Russians, Poles and immigrants from all corners of the globe, converged on a city of just 300 square miles. New York City had become a “melting pot” of literally hundreds of different cultures. Coincidently, at the same time, filmography was beginning to take off all around the world. Because of this, filmmakers were able to come to New York and get everything that they needed in this one location. This unique aspect is, in part, the reason for the overwhelming success of New York City in film. One example of the extreme diversity of New York that comes to mind is the film Coming to America, starring Eddie Murphy. In the film, Murphy, an African prince, comes to New York in search of a woman to marry. The film illustrates the cultural clashes often seen in everyday life in New York City, due to the numerous immigrants that come to America, knowing nothing about it, and often not even speaking English.
In the film capitol of the world, Hollywood, California, almost everything is forged. Their sets are constructed for each film, their beautiful sceneries are merely projections on a green screen, and, at times, they even resort to building entire cities. But in New York, it’s the complete opposite; the entire city is a stage, where the only limit is the director’s creativity. The iconic landmarks that appear consistently throughout the films are all real. Times Square is real; the Statue of Liberty is real; the Empire State Building, Coney Island, and Central Park are all existent places that any of us can visit, on any day. Walking through Manhattan, it doesn’t take long to spot a film crew working on the next big Hollywood blockbuster; I myself must be in at least handful of films just from strolling past the sets. Equally, any New Yorker can name the exact corner that a scene was filmed in when watching something that is set in New York. It is this sense of consistency and reality that movies set in New York possess, that generates the powerful icons we associate with them.
While many people associate New York City with Manhattan, in reality, it’s much more than that. Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, have all had their own unique impact on the culture and film of New York City. While it is true that some boroughs (namely Manhattan), may have some more of the spotlight than others, it would be an abomination to suggest that New York City would be what it is without all of its five boroughs. The film that perfectly epitomizes this idea is The Godfather. One of the most iconic films of all time, The Godfather is the winner of three Oscar awards, and is ranked number two on The Internet Movie Database’s list of the top movies of all time. What makes this film even more special is that it contains scenes that were filmed in all five of New York City’s boroughs. I can’t think of a better way to illustrate the importance of New York City as a whole, than with this example. The culture and success behind film in New York City is the culmination of all of the unique aspects that each borough has to offer.
New York is home to some of the largest industries in the country, from Wall Street to the Garment District, this city is arguably the center of the entire world. Within all of that lies the film industry, trying to capture all that New York has to offer with the help of the some of the most iconic landmarks and culturally diverse people in the world. When you really think about it, its no wonder that film in New York City has been a tremendous success. With its genuine city ambiance, limitless choice of scenery, and iconic landmarks, New York City is truly a director’s ultimate playground.
Bibliography
Coming to America. Dir. John Landis. Paramount Pictures, 1988. Film.
The Godfather. Dir. Francis Ford Coppola. Paramount Pictures, 1972. Film.
“The Godfather (1972) – IMDb.” The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/>.
