New York in the movies

Who could forget the iconic image of Audrey Hepburn peering through the shop window in Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Streisand and Redford’s goodbye scene in The Way We Were. Both were shot 40-plus years ago in the City That Never Sleeps—but journalist Christopher Maloney, on his addictive website FILMography, has shown that New York is also the city that never changes.

Using printed movie stills from films dating back to the 40s to present day, Maloney has reproduced more than 250 scenes from around the city. The restaurant shared by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail (1998) still looks the same, and the building flanked by a young Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969) hasn’t changed a bit.

New York City remains the cultural hub of the United States, and directors like Martin Scorcese and Woody Allen are determined to showcase it in their films. Lucky for us viewers, we can see the Big Apple over and over—window-dressed differently by any given filmmaker—and still believe we’re seeing it for the first time.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

The Way We Were (1973)

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Annie Hall (1977)

Home Alone 2 (1992)

The Avengers (2012)

Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)

How to Murder Your Wife (1965)

For Love or Money (1993)

Cindarella Man (2005)

Fever Pitch (2005)

American Psycho (2000)

Doctor Who: The Angels Take Manhatten (2012)

Godspell (1973)

Factory Girl (2006)

Men in Black II (2002)

The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

The French Connection (1971)

Marathon Man (1976)

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)

Shaft (1971)

Weekend at Bernie’s (1989)

Carlito’s Way (1993)

Little Manhatten (2005)

The Warriors (1979)

North by Northwest (1959)

Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

On The Town (1949)

Which photo is your favourite? Have you ever visited the locations from your favourite movies? Let us know in the comments.

Stacey Kole

Stacey Kole is a freelance writer and former magazine editor. When she’s not crafting copy or chasing after her two little boys, Stacey can be found drinking coffee, tea, or anything else with caffeine. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter.