Category: 70’s

1977. The mention of that year warms the heart of many a film geek. For that was the year ( May 25 to be exact ) when the first “Star Wars” movie ( now referred to as STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE ) was released to theatres. Ah, but another major movie maker besides George Lucas put out a film that Summer. Just in time for July 4th weekend United Artists brought out Martin Scorsese’s NEW YORK, NEW YORK. It did not give Lucas’s movie a run for it’s money. Most Scorsese aficionados rate his other films much higher on their favorite lists. Now that it’s been issued on Blu-Ray, is it time for a re-evaluation? After all THE KING OF COMEDY  was a 1982 flop, but is now remembered fondly by many film buffs ( and stand-up comics ).

The action begins at the end of ( military ) action. World War II that is. 1945. VJ Day. New  vet and aspiring saxophone player Jimmy Doyle ( Robert DeNiro ) meets strugggling big band singer Francine Evans ( Liza Minnelli ) at a Big Apple victory dance/concert. Soon they’ve formed a nightclub act, but she ditches the team to be part of Freddie Hart’s traveling band.Jimmy follows, joins the band, marries her, takes over the band, and shortly Francine is expecting. As her due date approaches she leaves the band and Jimmy sells it. As he joins a small jazz combo, her star rises as a studio singer. They split afters he gives birth to a son. Francine becomes a big Hollywood movie musical star and Jimmy opens a swanky NYC jazz hot spot. They re-unite at her big Manhattan return concert. We should feel invested in this couple, but Jimmy’s a very abrasive character: moody, hot-tempered, stubborn, arrogant, egotistical. It’s just not one of DeNiro’s compelling roles. It’s hard to understand Francine’s devotion to Jimmy. Liza does her best, but they just don’t click as a screen couple.

Minnelli really comes alive when she’s singing. Years before her camp diva icon status, she was a powerful film presence. She seems so natural in the 40’s fashions and almost leaps off the screen during the big “Happy Endings” movie musical number. There’s some great supporting and cameo actors here. DeNiro and Minnelli share a great scene with the legendary Dick Miller. Lionel Stander has a great role as Minelli’s tough talking agent. Mary Kay Place warbles a great tune as Francine’s replacement. The much missed Clarence Clemons has a few choice scenes as a jazz trumpeter (? ) ! Unfortunately you can sense the actors working very hard in likely improvised scenes. Scorsese wnated to combine his naturalistic style wtih big splashy studio musicals ( one’s that MGM and Fox did so well ). the two bump into each other and never relly mesh. A very unsatisfying ending certainly didn’t help the movie connect with audiences.

The movie’s look is stunning. Scorsese made use of a vibrant color palette ( as Warren Beatty would do many years later in DICK TRACY ). And these hues really pop on Blu-Ray. The sound mixing on the musical numbers is exceptional. The big band standards and the original Kander/Ebb songs ( you’ve got to wait a long while before hearing the now classic title tune ) sound like you’re right in the studio with them. There’s lots of extras here ( not in hi-def though). You get a commentary track with Scorsese and critic Carrie Rickey along with a selected scene commentary with cinematographer Lazlo Kovacs. Also there’s an introduction by Scorsese and a new interview with Minneli, alternate and deleted scenes,and the teaser and theatrical trailer. And of course there’s a making of documentary in two parts  that includes interviews with Kovacs, Scorsese, the producers and editor. Unfortunately DeNiro did not participate in any of these. If you’re a fan of Scorsese, the actors, or classic musicals you may want to give NEW YORK, NEW YORK a look ( and a listen ).