What takes us from the tragic tale of King Kong to the whip-smart When Harry Met Sally through the dark nights of Taxi Driver and the hollow morality of Serpico? Apart from being critically acclaimed they were all filmed in The Big Apple – New York City.
You can’t have Breakfast anywhere but Tiffany’s; no last minute dash to the airport would be complete without the honking yellow taxi cabs causing tense queues of backed-up traffic. And would the idea of a colossal gorilla running riot be as scary if it was tearing down The London Eye instead of the Empire State Building?
The introduction to Woody Allen’s Manhattan is a tribute to the city he loves with all of his heart, you can hear it in his words, see it in these images. It shakes your bones with its lovestruck soul.
Here we take a look at a few of New York’s finest films:
Ghostbusters
If you see a ghost taking over the Empire State Building – who you gonna call? Dan Aykroyd and co. are your best bet. Although we’re guessing that line up may change in a year or two…
The climax of the 1984-hit movie shot in the iconic New York skyscraper is a memorable one for film buffs and this cult classic was a great example of how science fiction met comedy in the 1980s, with New York playing host to the paranormal. Nobody steps on a Church in my town!
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Another comedic hit set in New York in the 1980s but this time starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. Set all over the city from Parkside Towers to Harrison Street and East Union Square, the city is used for much of the background as the crazy twosome cause chaos on every block corner.
It’s always a pleasure to see these two comedy geniuses on screen.
Sleepless in Seattle
Moving forward to 1993 and to a movie with an entirely different city in its name. Sleepless in Seattle was perhaps best remembered for its love scene on top of the Empire State Building. The climatic meeting between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan was actually filmed on a replica version of the deck of the building, but it looks every inch the real thing. You’ve Got Mail didn’t exactly capture the same magic…
Leon
Just one year later another iconic movie was made and while Leon features numerous memorable scenes such as Gary Oldman’s blitzkrieg, one of the most compelling clips is when Leon and 12-year-old Mathilda are seen walking down a completely empty 7th Avenue.
The city is a dangerous place but nowhere near as dangerous as the people who in habit it. The scene below is the perfect example of how Leon and Mathilde live above the city, almost out of its reach.
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Also known as Wall Street 2, this 2010 movie was largely shot in New York from the lobby of the Millennium Hotel through scenes featuring the construction site of Ground Zero in the background.
So, what makes New York the place to film a hit movie? The iconic buildings make for dramatic backdrops during tense car pursuits, while the city’s notorious landmarks are perfect for filming scenes of cat-and-mouse games.
And the future..?
Carol starring Rooney Mara and Louder than Bombs with Jesse Eisenberg will be released in 2015 and look set to follow in the footsteps of other New York-set blockbusters, and Ghostbusters 3 will no doubt return to the big apple.
