NEW YORK, NEW YORK (1977)
Collector's Edition 4K Ultra HD
Label: MVD Marquee Collection
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating:
Duration: 163 Minutes 10 Seconds (Expanded Cut) 137 Minutes 16 Seconds (International Version)
Audio: English DTS-HD 5.1 Surround, LPCM 2.0 Stereo with Optional English Subtitles
Video: HDR10 2160p 4K Ultra HD Widescreen (1.66:1), 1080p HDWidescreen (1.66:1)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Liza Minnelli, Lionel Stander, Barry Primus, Mary Kay Place, Frank Sivero, Georgie Auld, George Memmoli, Harry Northup, Dick Miller, Clarence Clemons, Casey Kasem, Jack Haley, Adam David Winkler
Riding high off the success of Taxi Driver director Martin Scorsese poured himself into this coke-fueled passion project, New York, New York (1977) a visually stylized dark musical drama that paid homage to the dazzling MGM musicals of his youth, set in the euphoric aftermath of World War II, starting off on V-J Day in 1945. The film follows the volatile relationship between Jimmy Doyle (Robert De Niro, Raging bull), a cocksure jazz saxophonist, and talented USO singer Francine Evans (Liza Minnelli, Cabaret). The film follows their turbulent lives as they navigate the jazz scene in New York and across the country, both the exhilarating heights of their combined success as a touring act, and later Francine's wildly successful solo career, as Jimmy's star tarnishes, their clashing personalities and creative differences threatening to unravel not just their relationship, but their careers as well, if they cannot get away from each other.
The film's time frame ranges from 1945 on through to the '70s, most of it set in the 1940s, set against the meticulously recreated studio backdrop of 1940s era New York, it's really a Technicolor splendor, but also pretty gritty in it's Scorsese-ness. De Niro's Jimmy is a highly volatile and unlikable character from the start, he almost forcefully insinuates himself into Francine's life and career through sheer willpower, portrayed as a conniving con man with some actual musical talent for blowing the saxophone, but also impossibly cruel and green with envy at the thought that his wife could find greater success without him.
The film bombed big-time when it screened theatrically, and it doesn't seem to have garnered much positive reappraisal in the last nearly fifty years, at least from what I can tell when polling my friend group. I first saw this on cable TV in the 80's, and I have to say I was thoroughly engrossed by it back then, even in my youth I was fascinated by the psot WWII era and re-watching the longer Expanded Cut of the flick for the first-time I appreciated it even more. The expanded cut reinserts that complete 12-minute "Happy Endings" musical number than sees Minelli's Francine transcend from music to movie star is stunning, that the studio cut most of it out for the widely screen International Version is totally nuts, and we get quite a bit more character development that further delves into the complex and deeply flawed relationship between the two leads. Sure, this is not in my top five of Scorsese flicks, but there's just no denying that this is easily one of Scorsese's most vivid and visually intoxicating films, a mix of dazzling MGM musical nostalgia mixed with his New York abrasiveness. Yes, it is flawed, yes, it is ridiculously long, and at times it's kind of a hot mess, but I am here for all of that, because it's totally engrossing, deeply fascinating, and chock full of stunning visuals and wonderful musical numbers. The film has never looked better; and I say that this new 4K release is a must-own for Scorsese fans and lovers of old school musical. Also, Dick miller shows up, that's reason enough to buy it in my opinion.
Audio/Video: The Expanded Cut of New York, New York makes its 4K premiere 4K Ultra HD from MVD Marque Collection in 2160p with HDR10 color-grade, presented in 1.66:1 widescreen, sourced from a 2025 4K 16-Bit Scan of the Original Camera Negative. The film looks largely terrific, the 4K resolution offers pleasing texture and details, the period costuming, painted skies, New York skylines, and studio sets look wonderful, the artistry of the artifice appears grander and more sumptuous than ever before, with warm, luminous colors, the primaries and bursts of orange really catch the eye with the HDR10 WCG, and black are deep and nuanced. The László Kovács (Ghostbusters) really shines in 4K with the HDR10. Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround or LPCM 2.0 stereo with optional English subtitles. The tracks sound great, clean and well-balanced, though the surround track does open up the sound stage during the musical numbers, while still being primarily a front-centered affair. The musical numbers from Minelli, as well as the jazz standards sounds glorious. Of course, the theme song penned by Kander and Ebb, which was snubbed by the Oscars, three years later became one of the most popular songs of all-time after iconic crooner Frank Sinatra turned it into his signature song.
The accompanying Blu-ray offers the shorter studio-trimmed International Version of the film in HDR with SDR. This is sourced from a previous HD master and has not been sourced from the new 4K restoration that the Expanded Cut is sourced from.
Extras on the UHD include a 6-min Introduction by Martin Scorsese, plus the Audio Commentary by Director Martin Scorsese and Film Critic Carrie Rickey. The Blu-ray features the 137-min International Version of the film in 1080p HD, plus more archival extras. We start off with the 26-min
The New York, New York Stories: Part One, the 27-min The New York, New York Stories: Part Two, 22-min Liza on New York, New York, 19-min of Alternate Takes / Deleted Scenes, and 10-min of Audio Commentary on Selected Scenes by László Kovács, ASC. Disc extras are buttoned-up with a Photo Gallery, 2-min Theatrical Teaser, and the 3-min Theatrical Trailer.
The two-disc UHD/Blu-ray arrives in a black dual-hub keepcase with a Reversible Wrap featuring two original movie poster artworks, including the classic black and white illustration by famed caricaturist Al Hirschfield. The Slipcover O-card, which is limited to the fiorst-pressing is not the Al Hirchfield artwork, which in my opinion is a shame, that black & white caricature of Minelli and De Niro would have look spectacular on a slip.
Special Features:
Disc 1: 4K UltraHD - Expanded Cut + Special Features
- 2025 4K Scan and Restoration of the Expanded Cut of film presented in 2160p in its original 1.66:1 Aspect Ratio in HDR
- Introduction by Martin Scorsese (5:36)
- Audio Commentary by Director Martin Scorsese and Film Critic Carrie Rickey
Disc 2: Blu-ray - International Version + Special Features
- “New York, New York” International Version (HD, 2:17:16)
- The New York, New York Stories: Part One (25:31)
- The New York, New York Stories: Part Two (26:58)
- Liza on New York, New York (22:09)
- Alternate Takes / Deleted Scenes (19:14)
- Commentary on Selected Scenes by László Kovács, ASC (10:14)
- Photo Gallery (2:33)
- Theatrical Teaser (2:07)
- Theatrical Trailer (3:27)
- Reversible Wrap
- Slipcover O-card
Buy it!
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