From the cinema verité of the sixties to softer fare like Splash, New York has provided some of the most iconic moments on film. Beginning with a survey of such classics as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Scenes from the City captures how the changing face of New York, as well as the founding of the MOFTB, have contributed to a particular school of film characterized most emphatically in the street-style work of directors as diverse as Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. With over 200 stills and contributions from noted New York film personalities such as Sidney Lumet and Nora Ephron, the book also includes rare, unpublished, behind-the-scenes shots and stories from the quintessential New York filmmaker himself—Woody Allen. With a special section on the landmark TV series, commercials and music videos filmed in New York, Scenes from the City is an affectionate and vivacious ovation for this captivating "character" that rarely receives billing but always steals the show.
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Editorial Reviews
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-- "A moving collection of location photographs covering four decades of iconic New York movies and capturing the city's ceaseless change." -- 12/10/06 NEW YORK TIMES
-- "It's a lively, fetching, and addictive read." -- 10/17 DAILYCANDY.COM
-- "Perfect for the movie buff..." -- 11/29/06 AM NEW YORK
-- "fascinating behind-the-scenes look" -- Apr ARRAY
"Can any self-respecting film fanatic go wihtout this beautiful collection of gorgeous stills..? In unison, everyone: fuhgeddaboudit!" -- 11/24/06 TIME OUT NEW YORK
In 1966, New York City Mayor John Lindsay established the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. Encouraging directors and producers to use the city as a context for film and television products... Sanders offers here a volume that is both a Baedeker-like guide to urban film and a glossy promotional publication. In text and images, the book explores landmark films shot before Lindsay stepped in... -- Choice, Middletown, CT May 2007
-- "It's a lively, fetching, and addictive read." -- 10/17 DAILYCANDY.COM
-- "Perfect for the movie buff..." -- 11/29/06 AM NEW YORK
-- "fascinating behind-the-scenes look" -- Apr ARRAY
"Can any self-respecting film fanatic go wihtout this beautiful collection of gorgeous stills..? In unison, everyone: fuhgeddaboudit!" -- 11/24/06 TIME OUT NEW YORK
In 1966, New York City Mayor John Lindsay established the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. Encouraging directors and producers to use the city as a context for film and television products... Sanders offers here a volume that is both a Baedeker-like guide to urban film and a glossy promotional publication. In text and images, the book explores landmark films shot before Lindsay stepped in... -- Choice, Middletown, CT May 2007
About the Author
James Sanders, an architect, co-wrote the Emmy Award-winning PBS series New York: A Documentary Film and its companion volume, New York: An Illustrated History, as well as Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies. He has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair and Architectural Record. He has also participated in several important design projects in and around the city.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Open the first page and listen: you can hear the heartbeat of the world's greatest city pumping with a rythem determined and powerful.
'Scenes from the City: Filmmaking in New York by James Sanders is a rare introspective on the filmmaking world of New York City as much as it is of New York City itself. Darting from time period to time period the reader travels not only to the location of many film locations, but through the careful selection of the photographs chosen, the reader is in many cases brought directly to the social causes/events that were part of the filmmakers reasoning in making a particular film. So, not only does the photographs tell a historical story of New York over the past decades, but it tells of the social changes and issues occuring at the time. Adding in commentary by some of New York's more notable filmakers like Woody Allen and Marty Scorsese adds breath to the pounding heartbeat that is Town. As a person working in the trades of film and publishing, I found James Sander's 'Scenes from the City: Filmmaking in New York' to be wonderfully presented, informative, and outright fun to read and review! Well done Mr. Sanders.
'Scenes from the City: Filmmaking in New York by James Sanders is a rare introspective on the filmmaking world of New York City as much as it is of New York City itself. Darting from time period to time period the reader travels not only to the location of many film locations, but through the careful selection of the photographs chosen, the reader is in many cases brought directly to the social causes/events that were part of the filmmakers reasoning in making a particular film. So, not only does the photographs tell a historical story of New York over the past decades, but it tells of the social changes and issues occuring at the time. Adding in commentary by some of New York's more notable filmakers like Woody Allen and Marty Scorsese adds breath to the pounding heartbeat that is Town. As a person working in the trades of film and publishing, I found James Sander's 'Scenes from the City: Filmmaking in New York' to be wonderfully presented, informative, and outright fun to read and review! Well done Mr. Sanders.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This handsomely produced volume traces forty years of film-making in New York City with a rich variety of photographs and anecdotes. There are lots of behind-the-scenes photos, plus essays and epigrams from directors, actors, producers, and other film professionals. Though the organization is chronological, the materials are organized by theme: "Chases," "Central Park," "Backlit Streets," etc. It's eminently browsable and consistently entertaining.
At the same time, serious film buffs will find the book light on analysis and somewhat haphazard in organization. The filmography, for instance, does not include casts. Its publication marks the 40th anniversary of the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting -- the City agency renowned for its ability to cut through red tape and otherwise ease filmmakers' lives -- and, not incidentally, the launch of a wildly successful new program of tax and promotional incentives. So the book is, in a sense, a print infomercial. But the presentation is so engaging and the "product" so fascinating that it's an infomercial you'll gladly stay up late to see.
At the same time, serious film buffs will find the book light on analysis and somewhat haphazard in organization. The filmography, for instance, does not include casts. Its publication marks the 40th anniversary of the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting -- the City agency renowned for its ability to cut through red tape and otherwise ease filmmakers' lives -- and, not incidentally, the launch of a wildly successful new program of tax and promotional incentives. So the book is, in a sense, a print infomercial. But the presentation is so engaging and the "product" so fascinating that it's an infomercial you'll gladly stay up late to see.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a great book for NYC & Film Lovers!! Images are beautiful and it's so great to see all these amazing projects together in one compilation. I love NYC, it just makes you wanna grab a camera and start filming. Highly recommended!!
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was born and raised in NYC and this book is great to see the City from the filmmaker's point of view. I have read it over and over again.
By Laura
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a gem! If you a New Yorker, a movie enthusiast this is the perfect gift for yourself or your friends. Stunning images of New York from the some of the most incredible films ever made. I like to look at it and read over the various anecdotes on rainy afternoons and my friends worldwide have told me it was their best (and belated) Christmas gift ever.
By John Matlock
Format:Hardcover
Almost an infomercial on filmmaking in New York City, this book suceeds because it is filed not with the details of movie making, but with scenes from the movies made in New York.
The book was published as part of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. This organization, set up by Mayor John Lindsay to streamline movie production in the city. Here for the first time was an organization with the authority and power to handle the interface between the city and the movie maker. Before this separate permits had to be obtained from dozens of different departments, i.e. each police precinct where the movie would be shot, and 'about ninety different kinds of inspectors' would show up at shoots and threaten to shut down production unless they were compensated, i.e. bribed.
As can be seen in this book the number of movies made in the city since has skyrocketed as the city made filming easier. And here we see the results in more than 250 stills from many, many memorable movies who had an uncredited additional actor - the city itself.
The book was published as part of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. This organization, set up by Mayor John Lindsay to streamline movie production in the city. Here for the first time was an organization with the authority and power to handle the interface between the city and the movie maker. Before this separate permits had to be obtained from dozens of different departments, i.e. each police precinct where the movie would be shot, and 'about ninety different kinds of inspectors' would show up at shoots and threaten to shut down production unless they were compensated, i.e. bribed.
As can be seen in this book the number of movies made in the city since has skyrocketed as the city made filming easier. And here we see the results in more than 250 stills from many, many memorable movies who had an uncredited additional actor - the city itself.
By C. Simoneau
Format:Hardcover
Wonderful book for a stroll down New York memory movie lane. This book takes you through the generations of movies filmed in NY and conjures up some great memories. A great gift or just fun to own yourself!
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Telena Spies
Format:Hardcover
I gave the book as a gift at Christmas. The "5" I gave it is based on the receivers accolades about the book. It appeared to be a woderful gift.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!
I am very pleased with this purchase. It is a great coffee table book, and also a great gift!
Published on January 15, 2007 by Debbie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great gift book
Really nice coffee table book. Gave this as a gift to a New Yorker living out-of-state and she loves looking back through the memories and familiar places.
Published on January 9, 2007 by K. Lopatowski
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