MovieChat Forums > New York, New York (1977) Discussion > Jimmy + the Harlem Club Singer

Jimmy + the Harlem Club Singer

posted 16 years ago by Devans00
19 replies | jump to latest

Talk about what a powerful actor De Niro is. In the Halem night club scene, when Jimmy was fooling around with the telephone, a singer walks by on her way to the stage saying something about "family night" to him. I could tell there was chemistry between Jimmy and the Club Singer. To me, the few seconds they interacted on screen had more spark than all the smooching scenes between Jimmy and Francine put together. I thought it was going to turn out that those two were having an affair but nothing ever came of it. The woman did her song and that's the last we saw of her.

So I look up Diahnne Abbott and it turns out she was Robert De Niro's wife at the time. They met on the set of Taxi Driver and married soon afterwards.

Did anyone else pick up a vibe there may be something going on between Jimmy and the Club singer when they watched the movie?

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] artihcus022 16 years ago

So I look up Diahnne Abbott and it turns out she was Robert De Niro's wife at the time. They met on the set of Taxi Driver and married soon afterwards.

She also had a cameo in that film as the manager of the porn theatre whom Travis tries to hit on. She later played opposite her then-husband one more time on The King of Comedy.

I don't think there was anything to suggest that Jimmy was having an affair with her character. What you are seeing is the obvious result of real life chemistry shining through the silver screen. She was also quite beautiful in that rather unique dress(Giorgio Armani once told the director that after seeing the film, he decided to make clothes "like NY, NY") and gives a magnificent rendition of Honeysuckle Rose the song is carefully shot and staged to interact with the action of that scene which is at the end of the line of Jimmy and Francine's relationship.

"Ça va by me, madame...Ça va by me!" - The Red Shoes

[–] gluserty 16 years ago

i thought an affair was implied. but like a lot of moments in this film, it was introduced but never really explored.
anyway, the camera was focused on that singer for too long. also, it was a closeup. i assumed an affair.

[–] artihcus022 16 years ago

The reason the camera was focused on her was because she was about to sing. That's all. New York, New York is a musical you know.

From a simple glance you can't imply any affair. You have to be super-paranoid to do so.

"Ça va by me, madame...Ça va by me!" - The Red Shoes

[–] gluserty 16 years ago

yeah, maybe. but it was a long closeup. i'm just saying the scene seemed to imply something was going on between jimmy and the singer.

[–] artihcus022 16 years ago

No you implied something between the characters. The film simply shot the scene and they just exchanged greetings while Jimmy makes a phonecall. And during the performance, Jimmy's eyes are towards Francine.

However, that brief space they share together, the actors at the time being husband and wife gets charged up by a very real connection between them.

"Ça va by me, madame...Ça va by me!" - The Red Shoes

[–] gluserty 16 years ago

i guess so. personally, i still thought something was implied.

[–] reader_527 16 years ago

I, too, thought an affair or at least a wild and on-going flirtation was implied. His character is womanizer.

My first thought when he tells Minelli's character over the phone that he has something to talk to her about (at the end of the movie) was that he had cooked up some sort of deal in order to make money off of her success. And this right after slamming her success with the snarky remark "sappy ending."

He was awkward and uncomfortable in a room where people were celebrating her success. He wasn't interested in a happy ending. Totally unlikeable fellow, except from a distance.

[–] artihcus022 16 years ago

My first thought when he tells Minelli's character over the phone that he has something to talk to her about (at the end of the movie) was that he had cooked up some sort of deal in order to make money off of her success.

Have you watched the film? He's successful in the end as well. He has a fantastic jazz club with great art decor.

And this right after slamming her success with the snarky remark "sappy ending."

He's happy for her success. But he enjoys her live performance more than that bad film she's in.

I, too, thought an affair or at least a wild and on-going flirtation was implied.

You know you ought to attend a special class that teaches people to watch movies. Usually the requirement was eyes and ears and your brain. Now you have to be taught to use all three at once.

THERE IS NOTHING to suggest any affair between the two characters. It's all in your head. It's as ridiculous as people saying that Jake's brother Joey was having an affair with Vicky in Raging Bull.

"Ça va by me, madame...Ça va by me!" - The Red Shoes

[–] reader_527 16 years ago

You know you ought to attend a special class that teaches people to watch movies. Usually the requirement was eyes and ears and your brain. Now you have to be taught to use all three at once.

THERE IS NOTHING to suggest any affair between the two characters. It's all in your head. It's as ridiculous as people saying that Jake's brother Joey was having an affair with Vicky in Raging Bull.

I've watched this movie several times and your insulting response does not change my opinion -- I picked up on something between those two that the director wanted there. Very wise of him to use the De Niros' pre-existing chemistry.

As for attending a special class -- perhaps you need to take one that teaches the nuances of appropriate posting on a general membership board. You sound a bit like Jimmy here, and probably think that's a compliment.

[–] artihcus022 16 years ago

You sound a bit like Jimmy here, and probably think that's a compliment.

Damn straight!!!

I've watched this movie several times and your insulting response does not change my opinion -- I picked up on something between those two that the director wanted there. Very wise of him to use the De Niros' pre-existing chemistry.

Since Martin Scorsese doesn't make films addressed to paranoiacs, I do doubt that very much. And he was probably more interested in Diahnne Abbott's singing and her presence than her relationship with DeNiro. Besides he cast her again in The King of Comedy as her husband's romantic lead and the film plays against that chemistry, using it as the basis for possible attraction between the two rather than playing up their off-screen romance.

"Ça va by me, madame...Ça va by me!" - The Red Shoes

[–] gluserty 16 years ago

i know that i won't be told any different that deniro's character had an implied affair. nice to see others feel different.
overall, i enjoyed this film. sorry to hear some type anger.

[–] Devans00 16 years ago

artihcus022, you come across as immature since you can't express your opinion without insulting people, but I'll respond anyway.

Some people are extra sensitive and observant. We can pick up non-verbal cues like smiles and body language. We don't always need a big neon sign to explain. By having my eyes open, I noticed there was more heat between Jimmy and the singer than all that smooching with Liza's character.

What that has to do with paranoia is beyond me.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] Ada_Inma 16 years ago

I want to clear up one thing.De Niro didn't meet Diahnne Abbott in the movie "Taxi Driver", he met her in 1973 in NY city,when she was working as waitress in a restaurant.Since De Niro has a crush on black women and Diahnne was highly exotic and pretty,he soon dated her and later,after Taxi Driver,got married.Before,they had been living together in several hotels and flats,with Drena,Diahnne's daughter.I tell you this Just in case you are interested in the story of De Niro and his then wife.

I tought Jimmy could have had a affair with the singer,since he worked every nights there playing the saxo with the other black guys.So,he could have seen that girl some nights and have had something with her, so that's why she says "hello" to him with that sensual and erotic voice,and with " family night?" is something like " today you come with your wife,when i always see you alone".
So,yes,Jimmy was a womanizer and he didn't show much love for Francine,so he could have been sleeping with others.
In fact,in the dvd special edition,there are deleted scenes and in one of them,Jimmy has a conversation with Bernice and she talks about the song they were listening when they made the love the last time.
So,yes,Jimmy had affairs.With Bernice and who knows how many else..even the Harlem Club Singer.

Jimmy Doyle and his orchestra

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] xxx_23_99 15 years ago

...as a side note, I'm pretty sure Abbott was pregnant when they shot those scenes. If you pay attention to her dress and belly and stuff you can tell :)

[–] Ada_Inma 14 years ago

Yeah, she was pregnant in that time, maybe 6 months or so,you can see that when she goes walking towards the stage to sing..

Jimmy Doyle and his orchestra

[–] sfla 13 years ago

Devans00 wrote:

Did anyone else pick up a vibe there may be something going on between Jimmy and the Club singer when they watched the movie?

I think most people did. Probably because the camera closed in on the two passing each other as they gazed at each other flirtingly, and she teasingly said 'family night' and he said 'come here' in a sexually suggestive manner.

But hey - very observant. Maybe you could become a detective.

[–] brookwriter 13 years ago

The DeNiro/Diahanne Abbott sequence at the Harlem Club is one of my favorites from this movie (and I have many).

It is absolutly implied that Jimmmy and the Harlem Club Singer had a fling (and may still be flinging). You're not imagining things. As others have pointed out in this thread, Jimmy Doyle is a womanizer; we clearly see him with Bernice (Mary Kay Place) in the fleabag cabin after they've had a roll in the hay, just before Jimmy turns the band over to Paul (Barry Primus).

Jimmy's "phone call" in the stairwell after Abbott's singer character comes down the stairs is a sham. He isn't making a call; he's merely so overcome with mixed emotions about Francine's record deal and upcoming tour that he needed an excuse to get away from his wife and her new backers. Notice how he keeps an eye on Francine the entire time he pretends to be talking on the phone. It's a brilliant, risky scene; not everyone picks up on it on a first viewing.

This picture gets better every time I see it. I've seen it at least once a year since it was released. I don't think Minnelli and DeNiro have EVER received their due from these performances.

ALWAYS try to see the restored 163-minute version from 1981, NOT the 153- or (heaven forbid) 137-minute versions released in 1977. (I'm not even sure the cut versions ever made it to DVD--hopefully not).

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5958) a year ago

I took it to mean that they hadn't had a fling yet, but that it was likely to happen soon.