6 - Manhattan

“That's how I remember it from when I was small. Maybe it's reminiscence from old photographs, films, books and all that. But that's how I remember New York. I always heard Gershwin music with it too" (Palmer, 1980, p.112).

In contrast to Futurism and Expressionism, films from the romantic comedy genre present a much more idealised look at the city. In this genre of films, cities are seen only to heighten an old-fashioned, demagogic idea of being in love. There seems to be no particularly interesting relationship between the architecture of the city and the characters in the film.

Woody Allen’s Manhattan (1979) opens with a montage of scenes of Manhattan, accompanied by George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. According to Allen, he decided to shoot the film in black and white as it was how he saw New York from old photographs, films and books to give the sense of nostalgia.

In one iconic scene, Manhattan Bridge is seen as a beautiful, bold structure, covered in twinkly fairy- lights. Mist rises from the Hudson River and a couple are sitting on a park bench.

It is interesting to note that romantic settings are usually filmed on well known locations. Whereas the Futurists and German Expressionists recreated the city through building and painting elaborate set designs to show optimism or anxiety, the romantic film uses the actual city location as a backdrop. Love Actually (2003) and Notting Hill (1999) are romantic comedies filmed on location in busy parts of London. The main aim of filming in these locations is not to express a particular attitude towards city life, but focus on the relationships that people have with each other in the city.