Woody Allen’s Manhattan (1979) is both a love letter and a quiet critique of New York City. Shot in stunning black-and-white by cinematographer Gordon Willis, the film is part romantic comedy, part bittersweet drama, and part existential reflection on love, art, and the chaos of urban life. It’s a film that captures both the glamour and melancholy of being human in a city that never sleeps.
Detailed Summary
The Opening: New York as a Character
The film begins with one of the most iconic openings in cinema history: a montage of New York City set to George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Over this, Isaac Davis (Woody Allen) narrates multiple attempts at the opening line for his novel about the city. His voice oscillates between irony and sincerity — until he finally lands on something that feels true. This sequence sets the tone: Manhattan is as much about Isaac’s inner contradictions as it is about the city itself.
Isaac’s Life and Relationships
Isaac is a 42-year-old TV comedy writer who recently quit his job because he found television shallow. He’s divorced, and his ex-wife Jill (Meryl Streep) is writing a tell-all book about their marriage — and her coming out as a lesbian. Meanwhile, Isaac is dating Tracy (Mariel Hemingway), a 17-year-old high school student who’s remarkably mature for her age but clearly too young for him.
Isaac’s best friend, Yale (Michael Murphy), is married to Emily (Anne Byrne) but is having an affair with journalist Mary Wilke (Diane Keaton). When Isaac meets Mary at a party, he initially dislikes her — he finds her pretentious and overly intellectual. Naturally, he soon falls for her.
The Entanglement
Yale tells Isaac he’s ending things with Mary to stay with his wife, and soon after, Isaac and Mary start dating. They move through New York together — walking through the Museum of Modern Art, watching movies, and having long, neurotic conversations about art, morality, and love.
Isaac, though intellectually compatible with Mary, begins to realize he might have taken Tracy for granted. The film explores the way people rationalize love, often chasing what they think they should want rather than what they truly need.
The Midpoint Crisis
Tensions rise when Yale re-enters Mary’s life, telling her he still loves her. Mary leaves Isaac to return to Yale, breaking Isaac’s heart. Meanwhile, Tracy decides to go to London to study acting, seeing that her relationship with Isaac can’t last.
Isaac’s world starts collapsing — he’s lost his job, his lover, and even the illusion of emotional control he had maintained through humor.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Isaac realizes that Tracy was the most genuine person in his life — honest, kind, and deeply caring. He rushes across Manhattan to stop her before she leaves for London. In one of the film’s most famous scenes, he arrives at her apartment breathless, confessing that he doesn’t want her to go.
Tracy, calm and wise beyond her years, listens but tells him she has to go — she wants to live her life and not put it on hold for him. She says, “You have to have a little faith in people.”
Isaac smiles, half in pain, half in admiration, realizing that she’s right. The movie ends with him standing alone in the hallway, the camera lingering on his face as Rhapsody in Blue swells again. It’s a perfect, bittersweet ending: love fades, but life — and New York — goes on.
There’s no grand reconciliation, just quiet understanding. It’s one of the most haunting and human endings in Woody Allen’s filmography.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Manhattan does not have a post-credits scene. The film ends on Isaac’s contemplative expression, followed only by the rolling credits — a fittingly simple and elegant conclusion to a film about introspection and emotional truth.
Type of Movie
Manhattan is a romantic dramedy infused with elements of philosophical reflection. It combines biting humor, relationship realism, and Allen’s signature neurosis with stunning black-and-white cinematography that romanticizes the city even as it exposes its loneliness.
Cast
- Woody Allen as Isaac Davis
- Diane Keaton as Mary Wilke
- Mariel Hemingway as Tracy
- Michael Murphy as Yale Pollack
- Meryl Streep as Jill Davis
- Anne Byrne as Emily Pollack
Film Music and Composer
The entire soundtrack is based on George Gershwin’s music, including Rhapsody in Blue, Someone to Watch Over Me, and Embraceable You. The sweeping orchestral arrangements elevate the emotional tone of the film, marrying visuals of New York with pure musical romance.
Filming Locations
- New York City, USA — Every frame is a love poem to Manhattan itself.
- Key locations include the Queensboro Bridge, Central Park, Guggenheim Museum, and The Plaza Hotel.
- The city isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a living, breathing character, shaping the moods and relationships of everyone in the film.
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Award Nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Mariel Hemingway), Best Original Screenplay (Woody Allen & Marshall Brickman)
- BAFTA Awards: Won Best Film, Best Screenplay
- Cannes Film Festival: Premiered to critical acclaim
Despite its success, Woody Allen famously refused to attend the Oscars that year.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Woody Allen initially disliked the final cut and wanted the studio not to release it, offering to make another movie for free instead.
- The iconic bridge scene was filmed at 5 AM to capture the perfect dawn lighting.
- Meryl Streep’s character was loosely inspired by Allen’s real-life relationships.
- Gordon Willis, nicknamed “The Prince of Darkness,” used minimal lighting to achieve the moody, naturalistic black-and-white look.
- The film’s use of widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio was unusual for a romantic comedy — more common in epics — emphasizing the grandeur of the city.
Inspirations and References
- Inspired by Allen’s own life and romantic entanglements.
- The tone and aesthetic draw from European cinema, particularly directors like Ingmar Bergman and Federico Fellini.
- The film also pays homage to New York literary culture — characters constantly reference art, philosophy, and literature.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no publicly confirmed alternate endings. However, early drafts of the script included longer sequences exploring Isaac’s career struggles and his relationship with his ex-wife Jill. These were trimmed to tighten the film’s pacing and emotional focus.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Manhattan is an original screenplay, not based on a book. However, its structure and dialogue often feel literary, reflecting Allen’s admiration for novelists like J.D. Salinger and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The opening montage of New York to Rhapsody in Blue
- Isaac and Mary walking through the Hayden Planetarium
- The sunrise scene under the Queensboro Bridge
- Isaac’s desperate run to stop Tracy from leaving
- The final silent close-up of Isaac, lost in thought
Iconic Quotes
- “I think people should mate for life, like pigeons or Catholics.”
- “You have to have a little faith in people.”
- “Why is life worth living? Well, for one thing, there’s Groucho Marx, and Willie Mays, and the second movement of the Jupiter Symphony…”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The shot of the Queensboro Bridge was filmed near Allen’s real-life apartment at the time.
- The character Tracy was inspired by a real young actress Woody Allen once met at a party.
- The film’s black-and-white aesthetic was chosen to evoke 1930s Manhattan photography.
- Every restaurant scene was shot in real New York locations, not studio sets.
Trivia
- The bridge scene bench has become a tourist landmark.
- Mariel Hemingway was only 17 when the film was shot — the same age as her character.
- The film grossed over $39 million worldwide, a huge success for a 1970s indie romantic comedy.
- Ranked #46 on the AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies list.
Why Watch?
Watch Manhattan for its timeless cinematography, its blend of romance and melancholy, and its razor-sharp dialogue. It’s not just a movie about relationships — it’s about the complicated, messy beauty of being human in a city that mirrors our own contradictions.
Director’s Other Movies
- Annie Hall (1977)
- Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
- Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
- Midnight in Paris (2011)
- Blue Jasmine (2013)
