The Happy Endings sequence ruined the flow of the movie...
it was far too long.
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MovieChat Forums > New York, New York (1977) Discussion > The Happy Endings sequence ruined the fl...
While one may feel it is too long it's a great production number that echoes the productions done by her Mom, especially the ones in A Star Is Born. Everytime I see it I imagine her Mom yelling "GO LIZA GO!
shareIt is virtually unwatchable. Sorry, but so many musicals are now. Those lumbering mammoths of the 40s and 50s are extinct, and so is NYNY. It just doesn't have any relevance anymore.
shareCould you clarify what you mean by "those lumbering mammoths"?
Personally, I think I have too much bloom. Maybe that's the trouble with me.
The movie was made in 1977 and you're bickering in 2008 about NYNY having no relevance and musicals now being unwatchable. I think if you watch a movie over 30 years old you should think about how it was for its time. You can't compare it to something modern and complain about relevance.
shareHaving seen the original theatrical cut prior to seeing the "restored" version, I feel "Happy Endings", along with "And the World Goes Round", picks up the movie and gives it back to Liza, after DeNiro (with all due respect) has run gunshot over the first half, or so. It also gives the film an an upbeat moment toward the end, without the couple having to reunit. I also feel that several scenes in the first half could've benefited from a wee bit of trimming.
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I thought it was one of the best parts of the movie. Obviously a throwback to better studio musicals of the 1950s, and more importantly, it refueled this movie. The story was so simple that it felt like nothing really happened despite the film's excessive length. This number showed that Francine became a star and finally gave Liza Minnelli a chance to showcase her charisma and singing chops after being given little material for the rest of the movie. It's also a good lead-in to the theme song.
shareI saw "New York, New York" upon its release, then a second time not long afterwards. Upon the film's original release, "Happy Endings" was cut, but was contained on the soundtrack, which made viewers wonder what they had missed. Then as now, I wish that the very long opening sequence had been trimmed (evidently it was intended to be even longer) and that "Happy Endings" had been retained. Had the road show era still existed perhaps the film could have been shown complete, but that era is long gone. I do have the DVD version which contains the musical number plus various cut segments. I found, and I find, the film to be fascinating albeit a very flawed one, and it is, in my view, Ms. Minnelli's best film (and not a bad one for Mr. DeNiro).
shareI disagree. I love "Happy Endings". I think it's a great tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood, and it's a nice contrast to the grittiness of the film. Plus, it gives the last section of the film to Liza from the overbearing DeNiro character. She's absolutely fantastic with three knockout performances: "Happy Endings", "But the World Goes Round" and the title song.
shareThe best part of the movie was "happy endings" sequence. Yes it was long, but in a good way. It was an epic, fantasy musical sequence that reminded me of classic musicals like Singing in the Rain and Guys and Dolls. The movie at that point was really dragging on and I was getting bored, but then this sequence comes on and it was glorious. Liza dazzled beyond words!
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I did like that sequence. It was an homage to the great MGM musicals from the 50's. Remember the last "ballet" from 'An American in Paris', it lasts about 20-25 min. non-stop!
Besides the true "ending" counterbalance to some extent the flamboyancy of that sequence.