New York Stories (1989)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Directors:

Woody Allen
Francis Ford Coppola
(more)

Writers (WGA):

Richard Price (written by) (segment)
Woody Allen (written by) (segment)
(more)

Release Date:

10 March 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

One City. Three Stories Tall.

Plot:

A middle-aged artist obsessed with his pretty young assistant, a precocious 12 year old living in a hotel, and a neurotic lawyer with a possessive mother make up three stories.

Plot Keywords:

New York | Painter | Stylized | Aria | Italian American

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Sheldon
Marvin Chatinover	...	Psychiatrist
Mae Questel	...	Mother
Mia Farrow	...	Lisa
Molly Regan	...	Sheldon's Secretary
Ira Wheeler	...	Mr. Bates
Joan Bud	...	Board Member
Jessie Keosian	...	Aunt Ceil
Michael Rizzo	...	Waiter
George Schindler	...	Shandu, The Magician
Bridgit Ryan	...	Rita
Larry David	...	Theater Manager
Paul Herman	...	Detective Flynn / Clifford, The Doorman / Cop
Herschel Rosen	...	Store Clerk
Lola André	...	Citizen
Martin Rosenblatt	...	Citizen
Helen Hanft	...	Citizen
Annie Joe Edwards	...	Citizen (as Annie-Joe)
Ernst Muller	...	Citizen
Adele French	...	Citizen
Selma Hirsch	...	Citizen
Briz	...	Citizen
Lou Ruggiero	...	Citizen
Elana Cooper	...	Citizen
Andrew MacMillan	...	Newscaster
Jodi Long	...	T.V. Interviewer
Nancy Giles	...	T.V. Interviewer
Edward I. Koch	...	Himself (as Mayor Edward I. Koch)
Mike Starr	...	Hardhat
Richard Grund	...	Hardhat
Julie Kavner	...	Treva
Heather McComb	...	Zoe
Talia Shire	...	Charlotte
Gia Coppola	...	Baby Zoe
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Claudio
James Keane	...	Jimmy
Don Novello	...	Hector
Bill Moor	...	Mr. Lilly
Tom Mardirosian	...	Hasid
Jenny Nichols	...	Lundy
Gina Scianni	...	Devo
Diane Lin Cosman	...	Margit
Selim Tlili	...	Abu
Robin Wood-Chappelle	...	Gel
Celia Nestell	...	Hillary
Alexandra Becker	...	Andrea
Adrien Brody	...	Mel
Michael Higgins	...	Robber
Chris Elliott	...	Robber
Thelma Carpenter	...	Maid
Carmine Coppola	...	Street Musician
Carole Bouquet	...	Princess Soroya
Jo Jo Starbuck	...	Ice Skater
Nick Nolte	...	Lionel Dobie
Patrick O'Neal	...	Phillip Fowler
Rosanna Arquette	...	Paulette
Phil Harper	...	Businessman
Kenneth McGregor	...	Suit (as Kenneth J. McGregor)
David Cryer	...	Suit
Paul Geier	...	Suit
Jesse Borrego	...	Reuben Toro
Gregorij von Leitis	...	Kurt Bloom
Steve Buscemi	...	Gregory Stark
LoNardo	...	Woman at Blind Alley
Peter Gabriel	...	Himself
Mark Boone Junior	...	Hank (as Mark Boone Jr.)
Illeana Douglas	...	Paulette's Friend
Paul Mougey	...	Guy at Blind Alley
Deborah Harry	...	Girl at Blind Alley
Victor Argo	...	Cop
Victor Trull	...	Maitre d'
Richard Price	...	Artist at Opening
Brigitte Bako	...	Young Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Amber Barretto	...	Girl (uncredited)
Holly Marie Combs	...	Costume Party Guest (Section 'Life Without Zoe') (uncredited)
Kirsten Dunst	...	Lisa's Daughter (uncredited)
Jackie Enfield	...	Costume Party Guest (Section 'Life Without Zoe') (uncredited)
Matthew T. Gitkin	...	Private First Class (uncredited)
Lynda Lenet	...	News Reporter (uncredited)
Rawleigh Moreland	...	News Reporter (uncredited)
Dylan O'Sullivan Farrow	...	(uncredited)
Michael Powell	...	Himself - at party (segment "Life Lessons") (uncredited)
George Rafferty	...	Squiggy (uncredited)
Martin Scorsese	...	Man Having Picture taken with Lionel Dobie (uncredited)
F.X. Vitolo	...	O'Hare (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen		(segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Francis Ford Coppola		(segment "Life without Zoe") (as Francis Coppola)
Martin Scorsese		(segment "Life Lessons")

Writing credits (WGA)
Richard Price		(written by) (segment "Life Lessons")
Woody Allen		(written by) (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Francis Ford Coppola		(written by) (segment "Life without Zoe") (as Francis Coppola) &
Sofia Coppola		(written by) (segment "Life without Zoe")

Produced by
Barbara De Fina	....	producer (segment "Life Lessons") (as Barbara DeFina)
Fred Fuchs	....	producer (segment "Life without Zoe")
Robert Greenhut	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	executive producer (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Jack Rollins	....	executive producer (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Fred Roos	....	producer (segment "Life without Zoe")

Original Music by
Carmine Coppola		(segment "Life without Zoe")

Cinematography by
Néstor Almendros		(segment "Life Lessons")
Sven Nykvist		(segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Vittorio Storaro		(segment "Life without Zoe")

Film Editing by
Barry Malkin		(segment "Life without Zoe")
Susan E. Morse		(segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Thelma Schoonmaker		(segment "Life Lessons")

Casting by
Aleta Chappelle		(segment "Life without Zoe")
Ellen Lewis		(segment "Life Lessons")
Juliet Taylor		(segment "Oedipus Wrecks")

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto		(segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Dean Tavoularis		(segment "Life Without Zoe")
Kristi Zea		(segment "Life Lessons")

Art Direction by
W. Steven Graham		(segment "Life Lessons") (as Wray Steven Graham)
Speed Hopkins		(segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")

Set Decoration by
Susan Bode		(segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
George DeTitta Jr.		(segment "Life Without Zoe")
Nina Ramsey		(segment "Life Lessons") (as Nina F. Ramsey)

Makeup Department
Fern Buchner	....	makeup artist (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Milton Buras	....	hair stylist (segment "Life Lessons")
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist (segment "Life without Zoe")
Richard Dean	....	makeup artist (segment "Life without Zoe")
Romaine Greene	....	hair stylist (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist (segment "Life Lessons")
Craig Lyman	....	assistant makeup artist (segment "Life Without Zoe") (uncredited) (segment "Oedipus Wrecks") (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph Hartwick	....	production manager (segment "Life without Zoe") (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Bruce S. Pustin	....	production manager (segment "Life Lessons")

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vebe Borge	....	second assistant director (segments "Life Lessons" and "Life without Zoe")
Michael Dister	....	dga trainee (segment "Life Lessons")
Sue Fellows	....	dga trainee (segment "Life without Zoe") (as Susan Fellows)
Matt Fenton	....	dga trainee (segment "Oedipus Wrecks") (as Matthew Fenton)
Judy Ferguson	....	second assistant director (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Joseph P. Reidy	....	first assistant director (segments "Life Lessons" and "Life without Zoe") (as Joseph Reidy)
Thomas A. Reilly	....	first assistant director (segment "Oedipus Wrecks") (as Thomas Reilly)

Art Department
Joseph Alfieri	....	stand-by carpenter (segments "Life Lessons" and "Life without Zoe")
Chuck Connelly	....	artist: principal painting (segment "Life Lessons")
Susan Hambleton	....	artist: Paulette's artwork (segment "Life Lessons")
Phillis Lehmer	....	art department assistant (segment "Life without Zoe")
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department assistant (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Caryl Loeb	....	master scenic artist (segment "Life Lessons")
James Mazzola	....	property master
Arne Olsen	....	chief construction grip
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator
Miguel Romero	....	stand-by scenic artist (Segment "Life Lessons")
Cosmo Sorice	....	stand-by scenic artist (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Dave Weinman	....	set dresser
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter (uncredited)
Lauren Doner	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer (segment "Life without Zoe")
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer (segments "Life Lessons" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist
David Grossack	....	sound transfer technician (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Brian Johnson	....	assistant sound editor (segment "Life Lessons")
Michael Kirchberger	....	sound editor (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor (segment "Life Lessons")
Tony Martinez	....	sound editor (segment "Life Lessons")
Jane McCulley	....	adr editor (segment "Life without Zoe")
Barbara Minor	....	assistant sound editor (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Bruce Pross	....	sound editor (segment "Life Lessons")
Nic Ratner	....	assistant sound editor (segment "Life Lessons")
James Sabat	....	production sound mixer
Louis Sabat	....	boom operator
Dan Sable	....	sound editor (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Lynn Sable	....	assistant sound editor (segment "Life without Zoe")
Jeffrey Stern	....	dialogue editor (segment "Life Lessons")
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Nancy Bernstein	....	special visual effects (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Joel Hynek	....	special visual effects supervisor (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Patrick McDonough	....	special visual effects (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Bruce Morosohk	....	special visual effects (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Stuart Robertson	....	special visual effects supervisor (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Joseph Yanuzzi	....	special visual effects (segment "Oedipus Wrecks") (as Joseph V. Iannuzzi)

Stunts
Danny Aiello III	....	stunt coordinator (segment "Life Lessons")
Bill Anagnos	....	stunt diner (segment "Life Lessons") (as Billy Anagnos)
Deborah Watkins	....	stunt diner (segment "Life Lessons")

Camera and Electrical Department
Giuseppe Alberti	....	assistant camera (segment "Life without Zoe")
Ronald Burke	....	dolly grip (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Michael Caracciolo	....	second assistant camera (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
John Cipoletti	....	video assist operator (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Jerry DeBlau	....	best boy (segments "Life Lessons" and "Life without Zoe")
John W. DeBlau	....	gaffer (segments "Life Lessons" and "Life without Zoe") (as John DeBlau)
Craig DiBona	....	camera operator (segment "Life without Zoe")
Raymond Fortune	....	electrician
Michael Green	....	assistant camera (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Tony C. Jannelli	....	camera operator (segment "Life Lessons") (as Tony Jannelli)
Chaim Kantor	....	second assistant camera (segments "Life Lessons" and "Life without Zoe")
Dave Lowry	....	dolly grip (segments "Life Lessons" and "Life without Zoe") (as Dave Lowry Jr.)
Bruce MacCallum	....	assistant camera (segments "Life Lessons" and "Life without Zoe")
Jim Manzione	....	best boy (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Tom O'Halloran	....	second assistant camera (segment "Life without Zoe")
Tom Prate	....	key grip (segments "Life Lessons" and "Life without Zoe") (as Thomas Prate Jr.)
Ray Quinlan	....	gaffer (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Kyle Rudolph	....	Steadicam operator (segment "Life Lessons") (as Kyle C. Rudolph)
Robert Shepherd	....	electrician
Enrico Umetelli	....	camera operator (segment "Life without Zoe")
Robert Ward	....	key grip (segment "Oedipus Wrecks") (as Bob Ward)
Howard Weiner	....	video assist operator (segment "Life without Zoe")
Massimo Zeri	....	assistant camera (segment "Life without Zoe")
Stefano Marino	....	best boy: Greece (uncredited)

Casting Department
Judie Fixler	....	additional casting (segment "Life Lessons" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Ellen Lewis	....	casting associate (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Hajna O. Moss	....	casting assistant (segment "Life without Zoe") (as Hajna Moss)
Davia Nelson	....	casting assistant (segment "Life without Zoe")

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Christians	....	wardrobe supervisor: men (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Sofia Coppola	....	costume designer: segment "Life without Zoe"
Lucy W. Corrigan	....	costume assistant (segment "Life without Zoe") (as Lucy Corrigan)
John A. Dunn	....	costume designer: segment "Life Lessons" (as John Dunn)
Patricia Eiben	....	wardrobe supervisor: women (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Lauren Gibson	....	costume assistant (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Robert Dean Jackson	....	wardrobe supervisor: men (segment "Life Lessons")
Jeffrey Kurland	....	costume designer: segment "Oedipus Wrecks"
Susan O'Donnell	....	assistant costume designer (segment "Life Lessons")
Judy L. Ruskin	....	assistant costume designer (segment "Oedipus Wrecks") (as Judy Ruskin Wong)
Ursula Schrader	....	wardrobe supervisor: women (segment "Life Lessons")
Elizabeth Shelton	....	associate costume designer (segment "Life Without Zoe") (as Elizabeth Kate Shelton)
Libby Titus	....	costume assistant (segment "Life without Zoe")
Donna Zakowska	....	costume assistant (segment "Life without Zoe")
Kathy Oberlin	....	costume constructor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Megan B. Agosto	....	apprentice film editor (segment "Life Lessons")
Claire Bush	....	apprentice film editor (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Peter B. Ellis	....	assistant film editor (segment "Life without Zoe")
Mark Ginsberg	....	color timer
William Lattanzi	....	assistant film editor (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
David Leonard	....	second assistant editor (segment "Life Lessons")
Alisa Lepselter	....	apprentice film editor (segment "Life without Zoe")
Jon Neuburger	....	associate film editor (segment "Oedipus Wrecks") (as Jon Neuberger)
Geraldine Peroni	....	first assistant editor (segment "Life Lessons")
Tom San Martin	....	negative matcher (uncredited)
Arnold Shuster	....	negative matcher (uncredited)

Music Department
Thomas S. Drescher	....	music editor (segment "Life without Zoe") (as Thomas Drescher)
Bernie Leighton	....	musician: piano (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Michael Sauvage	....	music recording engineer (segment "Life Without Zoe")
John C. Volaitis	....	music recording engineer (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Roy B. Yokelson	....	music recording engineer (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")

Transportation Department
Francis Connolly Jr.	....	transportation co-captain (segment "Life Lessons") (as Frank Connolly Jr.)
Harold 'Whitey' McEvoy	....	transportation captain (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Peter Tavis	....	transportation co-captain (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
James Patrick Whalen Jr.	....	transportation captain (segment "Life Lessons") (as James P. Whalen)

Other crew
Jack Angelo	....	production assistant (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Amy Baker	....	production assistant (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Julius Baker	....	flute instructor (segment "Life without Zoe")
Michel Barette	....	crew member: Le Cirque du Soleil
Marion Billings	....	publicist (segment "Life Lessons")
Steve Buscemi	....	writer: performance piece (segment "Life Lessons")
Fabio Cafolla	....	console operator (segment "Life without Zoe")
Juliette Carrillo	....	production assistant (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Jacob F. Conrad	....	location manager (segment "Life Lessons") (as Jacob Conrad)
Sofia Coppola	....	title designer: main titles (segment "Life without Zoe")
Alesandra M. Cuomo	....	production coordinator (segment "Life Lessons") (as Alesandra Cuomo)
James A. Davis	....	location scout (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks") (as James Davis)
Michael DeCasper	....	production assistant
Anthony D'Esposito	....	production assistant (segment "Life without Zoe")
Jonathan Filley	....	location manager (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Susan Landau Finch	....	assistant to producers (segment "Life without Zoe") (as Susan Landau)
John Fischer	....	production assistant (segment "Life Lessons")
Lisa Fisher	....	production secretary (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Kelly Forsyth	....	production assistant (segment "Life Lessons")
Tom Fox	....	electronic video operator (segment "Life without Zoe")
Mark Friedberg	....	production assistant (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Jenny Gersten	....	dialogue coach (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Michele Giordano	....	production office associate (segment "Life Lessons")
Michael Gruber	....	production assistant (segment "Life Lessons")
Amy Herman	....	location scout (segment "Life Lessons")
Mildred Iatrou	....	assistant: Mr. Coppola (segment "Life without Zoe")
Rainer Judd	....	production assistant (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Julia Judge	....	assistant: Mr. Scorsese (segment "Life Lessons")
Diane L. Langone	....	assistant production auditor (segment "Life Lessons")
Deborah Lewis	....	production assistant (segment "Life Lessons")
Peter Lombardi	....	production auditor (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Deborah Lupard	....	production assistant (segment "Life Lessons")
John A. Machione	....	assistant production auditor (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
John A. Machione	....	production auditor (segment "Life Lessons")
Brian Mannain	....	studio manager
Jane Read Martin	....	assistant: Mr. Allen (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Ruth Mullen	....	production assistant (segment "Life without Zoe")
Heather Norton	....	production assistant (segment "Life Lessons")
Ted Nugent	....	production assistant (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Alice Anne Oates	....	choreographer (segment "Life Without Zoe") (as Alice Ann Oakes)
Agathe Olivier	....	crew member: Le Cirque du Soleil
Douglas S. Ornstein	....	production assistant (segment "Oedipus Wrecks") (as Doug Ornstein)
Robert Peterson	....	location scout (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Martha Pinson	....	script supervisor (segment "Life Lessons")
Antoine Rigot	....	crew member: Le Cirque du Soleil
Dana Robin	....	location scout (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Helen Robin	....	production coordinator (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Lee Sachs	....	location scout (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Scott Schaffer	....	craft service
Frank Serrano	....	production assistant (segment "Life without Zoe")
Doug Shannon	....	production assistant (segments "Life without Zoe" and "Oedipus Wrecks")
Jon Sperry	....	dialect coach (segment "Life without Zoe")
Robin Standefer	....	fine arts curator (segment "Life Lessons") (as Robin Lynn Standefer)
Daniel R. Suhart	....	rehearsal consultant (segment "Life without Zoe") (as Daniel Suhart)
Louis Tancredi	....	location scout (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Luc Tremblay	....	crew member: Le Cirque du Soleil
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor (segment "Life without Zoe")
Howard Weiner	....	video production supervisor (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Gilbert S. Williams	....	production assistant (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Kyle Cooper	....	title designer: main titles (segment "Life Lessons") (uncredited)
Michael Jackman	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Lucille Smith	....	studio representative (uncredited)
Nicholas Wolfert	....	production assistant (uncredited) (uncredited)

Thanks
Gilles Dufour	....	special thanks: Chanel Paris (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Abigail Kende	....	thanks: MTV Networks
Karl Lagerfeld	....	special thanks: Chanel Paris (segment "Life Without Zoe")
Melina Mercouri	....	special thanks: Greek Ministry of Culture (segment "Life without Zoe")
Thomas G. Smith	....	thanks
Louis Ventresca	....	special thanks: The Sherry Netherland Hotel (segment "Life Without Zoe")

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Touchstone Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Touchstone Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Pictures

Special Effects

• EFX Unlimited (optical effects)
• R/Greenberg Associates (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  thanks (as Albert G. Ruben Insurance Co., Inc.)
• Camera Mart  thanks
• Cartier  thanks
• Chanel  special thanks (segment "Life Without Zoe") (as Chanel Paris)
• Colossal Pictures  titles (segment "Life Without Zoe")
• David Sharp's Totally Looped Group  thanks
• Elektra Records  original soundtrack available on (as Elektra/Musician Records, Cassettes and Compact Discs)
• Ferco  thanks
• General Camera Corporation  thanks (as General Camera Corp.)
• Giorgio Armani  special thanks (as Giorgio Armani Boutique)
• Greek Ministry of Culture  special thanks (segment "Life Without Zoe")
• Hastings Sound Editorial  sound editing
• Holly Solomon Gallery  special thanks (segment "Life Lessons")
• J.G. Films  negative matching
• Kathy Oberlin Studio  masquerade costumes (segment "Life Without Zoe")
• Lee Lighting America  thanks
• Lennon/Weinberg Gallery  courtesy of (Chuck Connelly's artwork) (segment "Life Lessons")
• Lincoln Center Theater  special thanks (segment "Life Without Zoe")
• MTV Networks  thanks
• Metrocolor  prints by (as Metrocolor®)
• New York City Department of Parks and Recreation  thanks (as City of New York Parks & Recreation)
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks
• New York Police Department Motion Picture Unit  thanks (as New York Police Department's Movie and T.V. Unit)
• New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development  thanks
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex® Camera by (as Panavision®)
• R/Greenberg Associates  main and end title sequence designed by (as R/Greenberg Associates, Inc. NYC)
• STEFI Cine & TV Productions  special thanks (segment "Life without Zoe") (as Stefi Cine & TV Production)
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording
• T.A.B. Inc.  negative matching (segment "Life Without Zoe")
• Technovision USA  thanks (as Technovision)
• The Sherry Netherland Hotel  special thanks (segment "Life Without Zoe")
• Todd Thaler Casting  additional casting
• Trabia-MacAffee Gallery  courtesy of (Susan Hambleton's artwork) (segment "Life Lessons")
• Video 35  24 frame video by (as Video 35 New York)
• Vogue  thanks

Also Known As:

New Yorker Geschichten (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Contos de Nova York (Brazil) [pt]
Històries de Nova York (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Histórias de Nova Iorque (Portugal) [pt]
Historias de Nueva York (Spain) [es]
Istories tis Neas Yorkis (Greece) [el]
New York üçlemesi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
New York Stories (Finland) [fi]
New York Stories (France) [fr]
New York Stories (Denmark) [da]
New Yorki történetek (Hungary) [hu]
New york stories - storie di New York (Italy) [it]
Nowojorskie opowiesci (Poland) [pl]
Sippuray New York (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:14 | USA:PG (Certificate No. 29611) | Finland:S | France:U | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | West Germany:12 | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

At 33 minutes, Francis Ford Coppola's segment is the shortest. Woody Allen's clocks in at 40 minutes, while Martin Scorsese's runs to 45 minutes.

Quotes:

Lionel Dobie: I have to pick up my sister at the airport. I don't know why she can't take a cab like everybody else.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Doctor Who Confidential: Making Manhattan (#3.5)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Like A Rolling Stone

The Good, The Bad & The Funny!

You can't really watch NEW YORK STORIES and comment on the

film as a whole, because, much like the three directors involved,

the three stories that make up the whole are so different and have

specific value in their own right. What you can do is applaud the

idea, the approach, and the coming together of three big New York

filmmakers to entertain and delight the viewer each in their unique

way.



Segment one is "Life Lessons", starring Nick Nolte and Rosanna

Arquette, and directed by Martin Scorsese. It's a superbly acted

and tightly directed little film about a cantankerous and love-lorn

old abstract painter and his young female "assistant", the object of

his rejected affections. Nolte and Arquette play off each with great

chemistry (often explosive at that) and the pacing, cinematography

and storyline flow easily creating a real sense of the chaotic inner- psychosis behind artist beauty. {It was also really interesting to

see the large canvas that is the centre-piece of the film take shape

from nothing to a real work of admirable art by the story's end.} 8/ 10 on this one.



The second segment, "Life Without Zoe", by Francis Ford Coppola

is, to put it frankly, horrible! Unbelievably boring, and so poorly

acted that I can only imagine Coppola himself had fallen asleep

somewhere in pre-production and was awakened when the film

was released sometime the next year. Coppola has a knack for

casting young girls with no experience and/or talent in his films

(ie., his daughter in GODFATHER III) and Heather McComb as Zoe

is no exception. I actually stopped it 10 minutes in and fast- forwarded to the last segment. 1/10, truly pitiful in every regard.



The gem of the compilation (and saving grace) comes in the final

segment, Woody Allen's hilarious "Oedipus Wrecks". This was

laugh-out-loud funny. Allen plays a middle-aged lawyer who's life

is made unbearable by his doting/nagging Jewish mother, played

brilliantly by Mae Questel. Not only is this the best piece of the

three shorts that make up NEW YORK STORIES, but one of the

very best of Woody Allen's films, period. The tight interactive

delivery between characters that has become so trademark in

Allen's films is served up so deliciously again by the likes of Julie

Kavner, Mia Farrow, Larry David, and the aforementioned mother &

son team. Every facial expression sported by Woody is a gut- buster as well (special mention goes to Jessie Keosian, as his

deaf Aunt Ceil, for the same reason). Witty, biting, and with one of

THE oddest plot twists I've ever seen, "Oedipus Wrecks" is the

icing on the cake, and a great ending to this film conjunction. 9/10,

has to be seen for the "chicken drumstick love-scene" if nothing

else!



Unfortunately, the film over-all is not an even delivery despite the

noble attempt. Scorsese and Allen shine with their spot-on stories

of intrinsic inhabitants of the Big Apple; Coppola just provides the

worm. I can only recommend portions of the film and as such can

only give it a 7/10 in good conscience. Enjoy what you can!