MANHATTAN

US, 1979, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Woody Allen, Mariel Hemingway, Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Meryl Streep
Directed by Woody Allen.

During the '70s Woody Allen has grown in reputation and success. His comic inventiveness, satiric observation and intelligent verbal humour are expert, used extensively here. with acknowledgement to Ingmar Bergman, he likes to explore inadequacy, fears and the transience and permanence of relationships. This is what Manhattan is about, as well as Allen's city which he loves (and lovingly photographs) and therefore has the right to criticise. Allen mocks the cultural pretentiousness and self-centredness of his characters - who are portrayed by a fine troupe in which Diane Keaton is again outstanding and Michael Murphy reprises his Unmarried Woman role. Manhattan requires more than one viewing.

1. The quality of the film and its reputation at the end of the '70s? One of the films of the decade and representing it?

2. Woody Allen and his growing reputation in the '70s? His status as writer, director, actor? His vision of human nature, America? The quality of his humour.. both verbal and visual, satire and the targets both American and New York? His observation of people especially in New York ? New York culture, art circles., literary circles? Pretensions? His admiration for Ingmar Bergman and his being influenced by him? His approach to intellectuals and yet his being within this situation? Woody Allen as nightclub entertainer, his humorous monologues. music? His status as an Oscar winner and nominee? The blend of the serious and the humorous?

3. The choice of New York and the title of the film? Woody Allen's city? The importance of the variety of openings with the vivid black and white photography and the various aspects of New York life, landscapes, skylines? The humour of the Raymond Chandler-like opening with the author beginning his book? The identification with Manhattan? The audience observing this? The variety of aspects of the city touched on,, their truth.. their falsity? The relative vision offered? The use of the city throughout the film ? as background to the characters and their situations? The overall view of the city itself, the buildings, parks, beauty and ugliness, the interiors of cafes, the planetarium etc.? The importance of the black and white styles of picturing New York?

4. The black and white photography and its quality, the use of Panavision? The emphasis on landscapes and cityscapes. the importance of the contrast with close-ups? The framing of the narrative with the views of Manhattan itself?

5. The use of the music of George Gershwin? Its associations with New York, the moods of the music, the lyrics? The selection of particular songs for particular characters and situations?

6. The importance of the opening and the audience finding the four characters in the club, the manner of their talk, content, interests? The indication of relationships? Authentic, superficial? The strengths of the characters? The oddness of the situations? Isaac with Tracey and her age? The introduction to New Yorkers at how in their city?

7. The film's focus on Isaac? New York being his town, his romanticising of it, his seeing it as a symbol of the 20th. century? Isaac as a Woody Allen persona? Small, 42, successful, his range of interests and judgment? Narcissistic? His work, television shows and the example illustrated, his humour? His resigning? Others' admiration for it? The repercussions for him? his love for writing, his inability to pay his bills, the new apartment? His ex-wives - especially Jill? His concern about her book, going to see her, the clash? His son and the outings, his son wanting the boat? His attitude towards the lesbian couple and arguing with them?

8. Isaac and American culture: museum and the discussion about art, his taste, the discussions with Mary at the opening,. at the museum, at the planetarium? Discussions with Yale at the bookshop? Yale's wanting to write a biography of O'Neill? The various outings? Restaurants? Isaac out, at hone? Isaac and his relationships? his dislike of Mary and her pretensions, her lack of seriousness in novelising film scripts etc.? His friendship with Yale and Yale's betrayal of Emily? His helping both Yale and Emily? Phone calls? Chatting with Emily and trying to understand the blame, taking the blame? The argument with Yale about playing God? The confrontation with Mary for her options? The visit to Jill and his antagonism, worry about the book? The liaison with Tracey, her adolescent and innocent approach, her being trained for art and drama? The nights with Tracey at how? Yet his ability to let her leave? Not getting in contact with her? The build-up to the final encounter with Tracey, his plea to her and her leaving? Allen's sympathy with his Isaac character? How much did he identify with Isaac? Isaac and the critique of this kind of character? How much was Isaac a New Yorker?

9. The complications of relationships and their patterns? Questions of fidelity and infidelity, love and commitment, confusion, planning relationships and planning the future?

10. The character of Yale as a New Yorker? Michael Murphy's presence and style compared with that of Allen? His work, his book and his unfulfilled ambitions? His love for Emily, not having any children? The outings and the lies? The relationship with Mary and the pretentious patter about culture and things not liked? Bloomingdale's? The break with Mary, Emily's suspicions? The phone calls? His seeing Mary again? The false introduction of Mary to Emily? His own personal torment and self-preoccupation? The argument with Isaac? His being left locked in himself? Whom did he care for? The film's comment on him as a human being, New Yorker?

11. Diane Keaton's presence in the Woody Allen film? Her characterisation of Mary? First impressions of her, her talk, her discussions about taste and pretentiousness? The long tracking shot in the New York street and Isaac's reaction to Mary and Yale's comments? Her hopes for being a novelist? Her actual work? Her Philadelphia background, manner of speaking, using Philadelphia as an explanation? Her relationship with Yale and then the separation? Isaac's attacks on her? The importance of his interest in her. the possibility of a commitment, their outing ? the walks with the dog, the streets, the planetarium? Their boosting each other's confidence? Sequences at home? The relationship and Mary still seeing Yale? Her lack of commitment, achievement? Her being all talk?

12. The contrast with Tracey, young, involved with Isaac, supporting him, interested in him, her adolescent chatter, her direct seeing of things especially the sexual relationship? Isaac seeing her as a compliment to him and his age? His decision to leave her be and take up with Mary? Her feeling thrown out, hurt? Isaac's seeking her out at the end? Her following his advice about drama school and London? His hurting her at the end? Her handling of the situation, Isaac's failing?

13. The presentation of Emily and Yale? their love for one another, Isaac being used, their both being hurt? His attempt to hold them together? Mary's presence at the outing? especially with the sequence about Jill's book?

14. The brief characterisation of Jill, her past relationship with Isaac, her self-discovery, criticism of Isaac? The clash in the street? The lesbian relationship and her lover? The son being brought up by the two women? The significance of the book and the arguments at Jill's house?

15. The New York background of restaurants, parties, openings? The guest appearance of Bella Abzug and her being a New Yorker? The film director and his talk? Interests, authenticity, phoniness?

16. So many sequences of walking in New York, communicating and not communicating?

17. The way the city was used ? the landscapes for these characters? How much did they explain them? The environment for their self-searching, relationships, self-preoccupation?

18. The importance of visuals for Woody Allen? Visual humour? The one-liners and their effect? A satisfying blend of laughter and seriousness?

19. The portrait of a significant group of people? Representative group? Strengths and weaknesses? Educated people, over-educated, literary? The importance of education and direct experience of life? What was the audience left with in terms of understanding Allen, New York, these characters?