Liza Minnelli is, of course, one of the finest singers and actresses of the last 40 years. This still is from her role with Robert De Niro in the Martin Scorsese film New York, New York, recently released on DVD. The character, Francine Evans, is a big-bands singer who meets De Niro’s saxophone player Jimmy Doyle after World War II, and fall into a tempestuous love affair. Francine finds happiness and Hollywood success, but only after leaving the abusive Doyle.
This still is from the finale of the fantasy-themed movie-within-the-movie sequence, Happy Endings. Francine’s “character,” having been discovered and given her Broadway break just like in her dreams as an usherette, is in a flashy spangled white gown with a huge net train of red, walking down a mirrored stairway between the chorines. The actual picture is of her in a gradual zoom-in shot, similar to the Gene Kelly “Broadway Melody” sequence in Singin’ in the Rain.
New York, New York has begun to garner second critical looks from the professionals and film buffs, as a Scorsese “film-noir musical” with an upside-down ending; the principals find happiness, but only apart from each other, and there is no true “happy ending” here for them.
Unfortunately, this is the best picture I can come up with (the actual print delivered to you will look better, as the image below is at Web resolution). This accounts for the relatively low price. Still, a nice piece for the fashionista, the 40s-fantasy type, film buffs and Minnelli fans!
Available at my OnRez store for L$75.
