Little Manhattan (2005)

A 10-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl find love in New York City.

Director:

Mark Levin

Writer:

Jennifer Flackett

Stars:

Josh Hutcherson, Charlotte Ray Rosenberg, Bradley Whitford

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josh Hutcherson	...	Gabe
Charlotte Ray Rosenberg	...	Rosemary (as Charlie Ray)
Bradley Whitford	...	Adam
Cynthia Nixon	...	Leslie
Willie Garson	...	Ralph
Tonye Patano	...	Birdie
J. Kyle Manzay	...	Master Coles
Josh Pais	...	Ronny
John Dossett	...	Mickey Telesco
Talia Balsam	...	Jackie Telesco
Jonah Meyerson	...	Sam
Michael Bush	...	Max (as Michael Anthony Bush)
Brian W. Aguiar	...	Jacob
Nick Cubbler	...	Daryl Kitzens
Anthony Laflamme	...	Tim Staples

Storyline

In Manhattan, 10-year-old Gabe finds his first love when he meets his former kindergarten mate, eleven-year-old Rosemary, in his karate classes. Confused with his new feelings and with the divorce process of his beloved parents, Leslie and Adam, he experiences the delightful unknown sensation of being in love for the first time.

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Plot Keywords:

first love | beating heart | karate | school | boy riding a razor scooter | 

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Taglines:

A romantic comedy for the whole family

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements, language and brief action

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the first version of the script (which would be the one written and then thrown out during the 8 weeks of conceiving and writing the spec script) Gabe's parents Adam and Leslie ended up not being together (1:24:55 in the DVD commentary). But the two directors/writers decided they should get back together at the ending of the movie. Despite Adam and Leslie who were being reunited with each other they never actually told Gabe what ever happened to Ronny (Leslie's date) and Rosemary never knew Gabe's parents got back together. Mark Levin mentions (at 1:23:55 in the DVD commentary) that the ending that reveals the parents as their young selves "was always a part of the original conception." It hints at reconciliation without dictating the future. It doesn't say what Leslie tells Gabe about Ronny, nor what is or isn't told to Rosemary. Loose ends are left for viewers to imagine or for a sequel to show. A slightly different version of the ending was shot where the actors portraying the older parents replaced the shots of the younger "parents" in case the shots with the younger parents didn't work to suggest a rekindling of young emotions. At 0:39:32 in the DVD commentary, Mark Levin says that only very minor revisions were made in the spec script during the making of the movie.

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Goofs

Gabe claims that he didn't know anyone else but Rosemary on his first day of Karate class. But later when he gets partnered with David Betanahu he comments on how David has had a mustache since nursery school. And the photo shown of young David is the exact same class photo that included young Gabe and young Rosemary. Since you can spot David among the others in the first day of karate class, it can't be argued that David joined later.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Gabe: For those of you out there less experienced that me let me tell you something about girls. They're basically gross. See this is pretty much black and white from where i'm standing. Used to be back in the day maybe first or second grade popular wisdom was they give you cooties.

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Connections

Spoofs The Graduate (1967)

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Soundtracks

Polly Wolly Doodle
Traditional
Performed by Susannah Blinkoff

User Reviews

Great movie to see with the kids

Little Manhattan was a fun ride from beginning to end.

I took my wife and daughters who are 13 and 11 years old and everyone had a good time. I really lost my self in this story. It was good natured without being corny.

This is the first time I saw a movie that makes me want to visit New York.

With all of the mean spirited movies out today this reminds of how nice it is to enjoy a good story. I would like to see more of this kind of writing in every movie.

I plan to buy the DVD for my 11 year old when it becomes available.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 January 2006 (Puerto Rico)

Also Known As:

Flowergirl

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$36,397, 2 October 2005

Gross USA:

$385,373

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,254,005

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Regency Productions, Epsilon Motion Pictures, Pariah

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1