“The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
As we all reflect on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, I wanted to present a film menu that celebrates New York City’s iconic history, resilience, and character.
This week’s menu is the first of our On Location style lists. In this format, we’ll be finding films to watch via a virtual tour of the city itself.
Subscribe now and you will receive the interactive map of New York via email. From there you’ll receive a new film menu every week.
Filmmaking in New York City dates back to the very early days of cinema. The first documented film shot in the city was 1912’s The Life And Death Of King Richard III directed by André Clamettes and James Keane.
The 55-minute Shakespearian adaptation was shot entirely in New York City, primarily on City Island in the Bronx. Despite major preservation challenges in the late 20th century, the film stands as one of America’s earliest surviving feature films.
Over the next 109 years, New York City would become home to over 7,000 film productions.
As the decades passed, the art and technology of cinema progressed right along with the ever-growing city. The result of this century-plus legacy is a trove of films that, in varying ways, showcase the vibrance and constant evolution of NYC.
Many filmmakers, writers, and actors throughout this city’s rich history have repeatedly looked to New York as a backdrop, and frequently as an inexorable element of the film itself.
Here’s a look at some of New York’s biggest cinematic fans.
As it stands today there are 1,624 films shot in New York City that are currently available to watch, so we’ll let the map do the talking from here. Subscribe now to get the app via email and start your expedition!