Manhattan - Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin

The opening sequence from Woody Allen's Manhattan is the ultimate love letter to New York City. I thought it would be a fun experiment to shoot new footage of the city, and edit it to Allen's monologue and George Gershwin's wonderful Rhapsody in Blue. Much of NYC has changed since 1979 (when the film was released), but I think if you listen to the monologue you'll see that its heart and soul are the same even 30-40 years later. Enjoy!

Shot and edited by Dustin Lee
Panasonic GH4
Lumix 12-35mm 2.8, 35-100mm 2.8, Nikkor 50mm 1.4

Music by George Gershwin- "Rhapsody in Blue"
Inspired by and featuring dialogue from Woody Allen's "Manhattan (1979)"

Link to the original sequence:

[JoeTheDude]

This is a beautiful example of how timeless this city is. Wow.

[Frankya]

This composition is pretty fire. It definitely gave NYC its flavor. I can really see some aspects of this in some music from New York artists today, especially the amazing piano pieces. I’ll never forget hearing this for the first time on Disney’s Fantasia 2000 when I was a kid and then be in awe after realizing it wasn’t meant to be for the animation. Absolute piece of art 🔥

[davidlabarca]

Woody is brilliant and Manhattan's is as great an opening as there is.  This is pretty darned good.

[axiomist]

Excellent rendition of the best city that used to be. I know these are more recent images of New York, but being in black and white and with the Gershwin tune over the night sky, it looks like classic Manhattan. Very good.

[kmac]

NYC has been though so much. God bless all you folk. It will be a very long day, but this comeback will be one for the ages.

[countalucard]

I love how he photographed NYC and then look how he showed you Los Angeles in Annie Hall. Fantastic!

[thomaswilliams]

The streets in Manhattan has always been attractive to me much
like how they also inspire George Gershwin music about them too.

How the tall buildings lined up on both sides of the wide streets that seem to fit perfectly as all the people keep walking back and forth. Reflecting all of the many generations that made New York City what it is today. And how everything you might want seems to be so close at hand. The best food, music, fashion, and the places to visit that created the historical heritage of our Nation. It would take my lifetime to visit them all.

[samarjeetsule]

Absolutely wonderful rendition! Great job!

[AJL]

I didn't realise it wasn't the original until I started to read the comments. Well done!

[yenishell]

Wow !! New York is amazing city...♡♡Love it

[Ackermix]

Very well done... excellent, Thank you

[claralira]

Born in Guatemala, but my heart is in NYC♥️

[argus]

I must compliment your additting this piece' being a 'New-yorker' at heart.I'll never forget my first visit to N.Y.C in 1980-
wow, , , it was
great.
I've been there manny times after, last time in Feb. 2017 took my own pics from under the bridge

[ScottStingel]

Wow! I just came across this - really well done! :)

[sleuthentertainment]

Chapter 1: He adored New York city, he idolised it all out of proportion...emm, no, make that: "he romanticized it all out of proportion".
Yeah. To him, no matter what the season was, this was still a town that existed in black and white and pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin...

Ammmm...no, let me start this over.
Chapter 1: He was too romantic about Manhattan, as he was about everything else. He thrived on the hustle, bustle of the crowds and the traffic.
To him New York meant beautiful women and street-smart guys who seemed to know all the angles...

Ahh...corny, too corny for a man of my taste. Let me try and make it more profound.
Chapter 1: He adored New York city; to him it was a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture.
The same lack of integrity to cause so many people to take the easy way out was rapidly turning the town of his dreams...

No, no, it's gonna be too preachy. I mean, yeah, let's face it, I wanna sell some books here.
Chapter 1: He adored New York city, although to him it was a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture.
How hard it was to exist in a society desensitised by drugs, loud music, television, crime, garbage!...

Hmm, too angry, I don't wanna be angry...
Chapter 1: He was as tough and romantic as the city he loved. Behind his black-rimmed glasses was the coiled sexual power of a jungle cat...I love this!

New York was his town and it always would be.

[paulsergeant]

Born in Liverpool, live in Wales, but my heart is still in Manhattan 😪

[plockso]

This movie is a total masterpiece honestly idk why woody Allen don’t like it

[admirzurnaxhiu]

"Behind his black-rimmed glasses was the coiled sexual power of a jungle cat." I feel that this combination of words is so noteworthy that it has to be written down. Cheers

[insimonia]

Beautiful! I just visited NYC for the first time with my camera and wanted to do something like this which led me to your video! I love how you incorporated the timelapses at the crescendo! I was wondering what would top Gordon Willis's brilliant wide firework shot in sync with the music but boy have you delivered!

[lluiscornet]

Excellent rendition!! I only missed the beautiful women and the smart guys who know all the angles! Apart from that, New York was his town and, for what you've filmed, I'm sure it still is.