Lee's tender semi-autobiographical reminiscence of growing up in
1970s Brooklyn has an opening sequence of streetplay, including skully
and double dutch.
Saturday Night Fever
Starring: John Travolta
Director: John Badham
Price: $18.74 (DVD)
Tony Manero defined the disco era and was about as Brooklyn as you can get.
Watch as Travolta and his polyester clad cronies dance their way to adulthood
and use the Verrazano Bridge as a super-sized jungle gym. Don't miss
scenes of the boys shooting hoops, as well as a brief background shot of kids
playing Ace-King-Queen!
On the Waterfront
Starring: Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden
Director: Elia Kazan
Price: $17.98 (DVD)
This cornerstone of American film is finally available in a beautiful DVD
edition. Not only do you get the gritty tale of life on the NY/NJ
waterfront in the 1950s, but also DVD goodies like 2 short pieces about the
film's creation, and an optional audio commentary by noted film critics.
The Godfather DVD Collection
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Price: $74.95 (5 disc DVD boxed set)
Getting to see this brilliant trilogy in its definitive DVD glory is an
offer you can't refuse. Get your dose of streetplay goodness with the
incredible New York City period cinematography, including kids cooling off in
fire hydrant spray.
The Wanderers
Starring: Ken Wahl, Karen Allen
Director: Philip Kaufman
Price: $19.98 (VHS only in USA)
Early 60s Bronx adolescent existence is allegorized in this near-cult
neoclassic. Look for great Bronx footage, notably the intersection of Fordham
Road and Valentine Avenue--at the Marine recruiting office!
Coming To America
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall
Director: John Landis
Price: $25.49 (DVD)
Where does an African prince come to find a wife? Queens, naturally.
Murphy's virtuoso performance is set amidst a great urban backdrop. Of
course, any movie with the line, "Is it just me, or does every woman in New
York have some kind of an emotional problem?" gets the nod from us.