New York Stories (1989)

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 Gotham tales.

Directors:

Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola (as Francis Coppola)

Writers:

Richard Price, Woody Allen

Stars:

Woody Allen, Nick Nolte, Rosanna Arquette

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Woody Allen	...	Sheldon (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Marvin Chatinover	...	Psychiatrist (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Mae Questel	...	Mother (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Mia Farrow	...	Lisa (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Molly Regan	...	Sheldon's Secretary (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Ira Wheeler	...	Mr. Bates (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Joan Bud	...	Board Member (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Jessie Keosian	...	Aunt Ceil (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Michael Rizzo	...	Waiter (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
George Schindler	...	Shandu, The Magician (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Bridgit Ryan	...	Rita (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Larry David	...	Theater Manager (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Paul Herman	...	Detective Flynn / Clifford the Doorman / Cop (segments "Life Lessons" - "Life without Zoe" - "Oedipus Wrecks")
Herschel Rosen	...	Store Clerk (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")
Lola André	...	Citizen (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")

Storyline

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 Gotham tales.

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Plot Keywords:

12 year old | hotel | artist | three word title | written and directed by cast member | 

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Taglines:

One City. Three Stories Tall.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Life Lessons

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$10,763,469

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Each of the film's three segments was a Manhattan based story.

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Quotes

Mother: What are you, an astronaut?

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Crazy Credits

Coppola's segment introduces cast and crew members only by their first name during the opening titles.

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Connections

References The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1977)

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Soundtracks

I Want A Girl (Just Like The Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)
Written by William Dillon & Harry von Tilzer (as Harry Von Tilzer)
Performed by Frankie Carle
Courtesy of CBS Records
Also performed by Bernie Leighton

User Reviews

Coppola segment drags down otherwise good movie

Three 40 minutes short films by three of the greatest American directors; Scorsese, Coppola and Allen. I personally like Scorsese's introducing segment the most, Life Lesson. Even if I personally is not a fan of Nick Nolte, the movie has depth and it's just as good as you would expect from a director like Scorsese. Unlike many other directors, Scorsese manages to capture sexual attraction, in this case felt by the main character (Nolte). Freshly photographed and good ending that makes you recall upon your own life. Not a masterpiece but indeed great.

Coppola's segment "Zoe" is a total disaster. It is beautifully filmed, but the acting and the story is far below good. Better fit for the children's hour on TV. I don't know if the story was supposed to be ironical, a satire of spoiled extremely rich kids on Manhattan, which could be the fact since there were some scenes where the young girl interacts with a homeless man. That could have been a good theme, if it was Coppola's intention, but no matter the case - it just don't work. It is silly and it doesn't feel satirical at all. Another idea is that it was supposed to be funny, a short comedy, however, neither does it work on that layer. It somewhat makes me lose my respect for the director.

Woody Allen's part however is a pleasant refresher after Coppola's borer. Very funny, typical Allen, good acting from Allen's side and good music.

Overall rating is a mere 6, dragged down by Coppola. Without his segment I would rate this movie an 8.