In addition to being one of the most interesting cities in the world, the monuments, parks, museums, theaters and streets of New York have formed the backdrop for countless films, the vast majority of them filled with life and color. Here are some of the most representative films shot in the Big Apple.
The Seven Year Itch (1955)
As shot on the set of New York
Although you might not have seen the film, everyone’s seen the photo that immortalized Marilyn Monroe. It was taken in 1954 on Lexington Avenue and 51st Street in front of the Trans Lux Theater. Director Billy Wilder struggled with Monroe as she had forgotten her lines. In the end, the film take was never used due to the noise of a passing subway training in a tunnel below—the same train that sent a blast of air that lifted up Monroe’s dress while drowning out the take’s dialogue. The resulting image is as immortal as the iconic actress.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
As shot on the set of New York
This is a film for the romantic at heart, known best for it’s final scene shot in the rain. The indisputable star of the film, Audrey Hepburn, plays a charming and ambitious young woman who, each Sunday morning, admires (and dreams of owning) the jewels in the windows at Tiffany’s on Fifth Ave. and 57th Street while enjoying a Danish pastry and coffee.
Manhattan (1979)
As shot on the set of New York
This is one of Woody Allen’s must-see films, in part because the characters stroll through some of the city’s most romantic spots. Some film critics mention that the city of Manhattan is not just a stage but a character, as well. The movie was filmed in black and white, giving it a nostalgic and unforgettable tone. The picture on the film’s promotional poster represents one of the work’s most memorable scenes and was taken almost completely in natural light at 4 o’clock in the morning at a 58th Street bench overlooking the Queensboro Bridge.
Ghostbusters (1984)
This film was a blockbuster in the 1980s, partly because of its original plot including funny green ghosts and other eccentricities. The film features many locations in the city, including Columbia University, the iconic New York Public Library, and the apartment on Central Park and 66th Street, home to one of the film’s main characters, a beautiful girl in distress, played by Sigourney Weaver.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
As shot in an imaginary New York
A film in which literally the northern part of the planet, including New York City, is under water and then under snow. The images are impressive: we see the Statue of Liberty practically buried in snow and the protagonists survive thanks to the heat from a fire that is fed with books from the city’s Public Library, which, by the way, is an imposing place both in terms of its architecture and collection of books, one of the most important in the world.
Birdman (2014)
As shot in a mythical New York
This film takes place in the legendary theater district, Broadway, principally in one of the districts most prestigious venues and its surroundings, the St. James Theater. Opened in 1927, the theater is located on 44th Street, between Seventh and Eighth avenues. The film’s plot revolves around the world of Hollywood and its stars.
As you can see, this is just a short list of the hundreds of movies that have been made in Manhattan. We invite you to visit some of these famous locales or others featured in your favorite films while traveling with your Royal Holiday membership benefits.
For accommodations, choose between The Manhattan Club or The Roosevelt Hotel, both offering the best locations, very close to all of the city’s main attractions and best-known locales.