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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1980s
    Movies - 1980s Movies - N 3 Mins Read

    New York Stories (1989)

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    They say there are a million stories in the naked city. This triple header only tries to tell three – a trio of short movies by three great directors for the price of one.

    First up is Martin Scorsese’s Life Lessons and it’s Nick Nolte disguised as neurotic painter Lionel Dobie, struggling through the pretentious art scene in Soho.

    A big man with big passions – for his art, his independence, and his obsession for his nutty apprentice and roommate, Paulette (Rosanna Arquette).

    He humiliates, compromises and sacrifices himself, and finally learns the New York “lesson” – if one girl exits through one door, another girl will always enter through the next.

    Part Two, Life Without Zoe by Francis Ford Coppola, is a minor trifle about a precocious little rich girl (Heather McComb) growing up in the posh Sherry-Netherland Hotel. Patching up her parents’ broken marriage, returning a diamond tiara to an Arab princess, dining at the Russian Tea Room, charging plane tickets to Paris for the Chanel show, and delivering Hershey’s kisses to the homeless, she’s like Eloise.

    Only Coppola displays no real knowledge or understanding of how actual New York kids behave, and the whole thing is so glossy and superficial it seems photographed through orange juice.

    Last, there’s Oedipus Wrecks by Woody Allen, exploring his favourite New York theme – the neurotic guilt of a 50-year-old corporate attorney with an Oedipus complex, still dominated and terrorised by his Jewish mother.

    Mama Sadie (played by the great Mae Questel) could drive you off the Brooklyn Bridge.

    When she disappears in a magic show, Woody’s sex life gets better, but then she starts floating over the Empire State Building, embarrassing him from the sky, and the fairy tale gets silly.

    But this is New York – and New Yorkers will take anything in their stride. Including Woody Allen movies.

    Lionel Dobie
    Nick Nolte
    Phillip Fowler
    Patrick O’Neal
    Paulette
    Rosanna Arquette
    Reuben Toro
    Jesse Borrego
    Kurt Bloom
    Gregorij Von Leitis
    Gregory Stark
    Steve Buscemi
    Peter Gabriel
    Himself
    Hank
    Mark Boone Jr

    Zoe
    Heather McComb
    Charlotte
    Talia Shire
    Baby Zoe
    Gia Coppola
    Claudio
    Giancarlo Giannini
    Clifford the doorman
    Paul Herman
    Jimmy
    James Keane
    Hector
    Don Novello
    Mr Lilly
    Bill Moor
    Hasid
    Tom Mardirosian
    Lundy
    Jenny Nichols
    Devo
    Gina Scianni
    Margit
    Diane Lin Cosman
    Abu
    Selim Tlili
    Gel
    Robin Wood-chappelle
    Hillary
    Celia Nestell
    Andrea
    Alexandra Becker
    Mel
    Adrien Brody
    Princess Soroya
    Carole Bouquet

    Sheldon
    Woody Allen
    Psychiatrist
    Marvin Chatinover
    Sadie (Mother)
    Mae Questel
    Lisa
    Mia Farrow
    Sheldon’s secretary
    Molly Regan
    Mr Bates
    Ira B. Wheeler
    Aunt Ceil
    Jessie Keosian
    Shandu the magician
    George Schindler
    Rita
    Bridgit Ryan
    Detective Flynn
    Paul Herman
    Edward I. Koch
    Himself
    Treva
    Julie Kavner

    Director
    Martin Scorsese
    Francis Ford Coppola
    Woody Allen

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