Fun City Cinema: New York City and the Movies that Made It

by Jason Bailey

A visual history of 100 years of filmmaking in New York City, featuring exclusive interviews with NYC filmmakers

Fun City Cinema gives readers an in-depth look at how the rise, fall, and resurrection of New York City was captured and chronicled in ten iconic Gotham films across ten decades: The Jazz Singer (1927), King Kong (1933), The Naked City (1948), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), Midnight Cowboy (1969), Taxi Driver (1976), Wall Street (1987), Kids (1995), 25th Hour (2002), and Frances Ha (2012). A visual history of a great American city in flux, Fun City Cinema reveals how these classic films and legendary filmmakers took their inspiration from New York City’s grittiness and splendor, creating what we can now view as “accidental documentaries” of the city’s modes and moods.

In addition to the extensively researched and reported text, the book includes both historical photographs and ephemera, as well as still-frames, behind-the-scenes photos, production materials from each film and original interviews with Noah Baumbach, Larry Clark, Greta Gerwig, Walter Hill, Jerry Schatzberg, Martin Scorsese, Susan Seidelman, Oliver Stone, and Jennifer Westfeldt. Extensive "Now Playing" sidebars spotlight a handful of each decade’s additional films of note.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, History, Pop Culture, New York, Politics

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 12, 2021

Reviews

[John Mullarkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second part of the title is very appropriate = New York City and the Movies that Made It. This is a well-researched, detail-laden, heavily illustrated, deep dive into the 100 years of making movies and film history in and about New York City. Jason Bailey has selected a film that best symbolizes each decade by putting into context with the social/economic/political/cultural history of the period/decade (ex. 1920's= "The Jazz Singer"; 1950's= "The Sweet Smell of Success"; 1980's="Wall Street") It is a unique way to analyze the vast growth - both physically and socially of an ever-changing metropolis and what takes place on the streets below the tall buildings. Along the way, Bailey includes synopses and details of several additional films each decade, along with interviews of directors, writers, and production staff. As a fan of 70's films, the focus was on Martin Scorcese and "Taxi Driver" (1976) - a film that truly captures the outright grim seediness and urban decay of the Midtown area during the 70's. As a teenager living in nearby suburban New Jersey, the New York City of the mid-70's was, like "Taxi Driver" - in many ways too much of a dangerous (but albeit exciting) place to be where one could easily find plenty of trouble wandering around after dark - much different than it is today. Another gem given the decade-treatment is "Naked City" - a classic from 1948 where epic location filming created a edgy relationship between the storyline of the film and realty - watching the film is close to watching a documentary; the city itself almost becomes one of the actual characters. So much of the book focuses on location filming and how difficult it can be in a "city that never sleeps"; so much in fact that special governmental departments were created that helped regulate and modify times and places around the city where filming can be done effectively. Why build a NYC set in Hollywood when one can have the real thing - even at 4 am on a weekend? In the 80's and 90's places like Vancouver and Toronto would substitute for New York settings, but those who live in "Fun City" (a name given NYC by then Mayor, John Lindsay in the late 60's) could usually spot the difference.

[Timothy Hoiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read a proper coffee table book in a while, so recently I dusted off this one by Jason Bailey, which I’d received as a gift last year. It’s a physically imposing book (3.85 pounds!) guiding us decade by decade through the history of New York and the history of movies, which in Bailey’s telling is very much one symbiotic history.

As part of the fascinating story of filmmaking in New York, Bailey picks ten films that in some way symbolize the decades in which they were made, beginning with The Jazz Singer—a 1927 musical with an Al Jolson performance in blackface—and culminating with Frances Ha—a 2012 comedic drama starring the inimitable Greta Gerwig as a struggling dancer.

The Vox film critic (and transplanted New Yorker) Alissa Wilkinson has this to say: “Fun City Cinema is my favorite sort of film book. Jason Bailey takes us on a tour through not just New York cinema, but the city that gave birth to it and the fantastic, absurd, glorious ways in which New York’s history is, all on its own, stranger than fiction. New York owes much to the cinema, and the cinema owes much back, and Fun City Cinema is a wild and gorgeous ride through that brilliant relationship.”

So far I’ve made it through King Kong and the Great Depression. Next up, the films made to reflect a world forever marked by World War II.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so full disclosure: Jason is a friend. He worked on this book for quite a while and I was super excited to read it once it was released.

Luckily, I don't have to lie and say "Oooohhh, it's soooo....goooood?" It really is that good. It's a 100 year history of NYC through film and the people who brought it to the city, whether filmmaker or politician. Bailey also chooses one movie to define each decade. You may not fully agree with his choices, but he makes a really good case every time.

New York City is ever-changing. It's not what it was 100 years or even 10 years ago. The skyline and what's beneath it change constantly. It's obvious that Bailey loves NYC and the films that are made there. This is his love note to them, even if it's sometimes a love/hate relationship. That's the price you pay for falling in love with a city. (I get it, man. I feel the same about Austin.)

[Gavin Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any reader's interest in this book will hinge on their engagement with the fairly niche subject matter. Luckily, despite not being a New Yorker (or even an American), I have been fascinated by New York City as a cinematic backdrop since I was a teenager. Both this book and the podcast that shares a title feel like they were produced exactly for my particular tastes. The book itself is beautifully presented with lots of gorgeous photographs, which are absolutely necessary to give visual context to the changes of both fictional and real life New York City. Unfortunately, there were a couple of typographical errors in the final chapter of my copy, with one side bar repeated and another presented out of sequence. Not a disaster but a little annoying since this book was quite expensive to buy in Japan.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off strong but was ultimately a disappointment. Lot of attention to early films made in New York, which was great. Then way too much attention to "Midnight Cowboy" and "Wall Street". Finally, the last chapters seemed very rushed, as though the author needed to make his deadline or was limited to a certain number of pages. Still and all, I managed to compile a list of movies I've either never seen or haven't seen in a long time and want to see again.

[EVAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating history of New York City over the past 100+ years, told via the movies made here. Jason Bailey picks one movie from each decade and uses it (and, where available, comments from the directors,screenwriters and accrues) to tell the story of the city that decade.

That would be enough but it's also a visually beautiful coffee table book, with stills and posters from the various films. He's done a phenomenal job and deserves all the praise he's received.

[Socraticist · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a Five Star piece of work in how it covers a lot of the subject. I just wish it could have been delivered in a way that wasn’t so depressing.
I know each movie comes from a larger context and yes, that context is often not very good news. But each film, taken on its own, does not make me feel as sad for NYC as this book does.

Maybe I’ll add a star later.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful coffee table book about New York and the movies - how the movies have shaped perception, business, politics, culture of New York City and how those forces have shaped the movies about New York.

[John Bleasdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Craigtator · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice description of films to see that show NYC before it became a mall version of itself.

[Ashley Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read. I didn't expect so much to be dedicated to Midnight Cowboy, but I'm not mad at that.
I lost interest when we hit Wall Street. But that's just me.

[Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As the city moved into a new decade, it would only get lonelier."