Why Woody Allen tried to stop the release of his own black-and-white masterpiece
In short: Woody Allen was so dissatisfied with Manhattan after finishing it that he offered to make another film for free if United Artists would simply shelve it. He believed if this was his best work, he should not be receiving funding. Instead, it became a critically acclaimed, culturally significant classic.
Released in 1979, Manhattan was a departure for Woody Allen, marking his first foray into black-and-white cinematography. Shot in a 2.35:1 widescreen Panavision aspect ratio, the film was designed to capture New York City as a character in its own right, reflecting Allen's nostalgic memories of the city from his youth. The production famously filmed the iconic Queensboro Bridge scene at 5:00 a.m., where a technical failure—a string of bridge lights burning out mid-take—forced Allen to use the imperfect footage.
The film’s narrative centers on Isaac Davis, a 42-year-old writer navigating complex romantic entanglements with a 17-year-old student named Tracy and his best friend’s mistress, Mary Wilkie. Allen later revealed that the character of Tracy was based on his real-life girlfriend at the time, Stacey Nelkin. While the film received widespread critical praise upon release, earning nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay, its portrayal of a middle-aged man dating a teenager has faced significant retrospective scrutiny in the late 2010s.
Despite Allen’s initial desire to bury the project, Manhattan proved to be a major commercial success, grossing $39.9 million in North America. Adjusted for inflation, it remains his second-highest-grossing film after Annie Hall. In 2001, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry, cementing its status as a work of historical and aesthetic significance. Its legacy is tied to its blend of Gershwin’s music, its visual beauty, and its exploration of the neuroses of New York intellectuals.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Manhattan (1979 film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/art-manhattan-1979-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Film and television · More in Art · Latest · A–Z · All topics
