History Film / Manhattan

* TriangRelations: Where to begin?...
** Type 1: Ike (a), Tracy (b) and Mary (c).
** Type 3: Mary (a), Ike (b) and Yale (c).
** Type 7: for some time, Yale (a), Emily (b) and Mary (c).
** Type 9: Mary (a), Yale (b) and Ike (c).
** Type 10: Emily (a), Yale (b) and Mary (c).

* [[ShoutOut Shout Outs]]: Quite a lot, especially in the first conversation between Ike and Mary, where Mary references a slew of artists such as Heinrich Boll and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: Mary drives Ike nuts by pronouncing things differently, like saying "Van Goccch" instead of "Van Gogh".

In many respects it resembles ''Film/AnnieHall'': not only because a female protagonist is played in both films by Diane Keaton but also because it shows that the most important problems associated with relationships simply cannot be solved once and for ever - all this in a typical Allenian sweet-and-sour, self-ironic mood. However, in ''Manhattan'' the distinction between primary and secondary characters is much more fluent, so the movie is more about the particular situations than persons. One of the important subjects explored is maturity and its relation to the conflict between emotions and reason; however, this being a Woody Allen movie, it is mainly about love, human imperfection and the difficulties which stem from them.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Mary breaks up with Isaac to return to Yale, despite her saying she didn't want to be a mistress and that she thinks he's a manchild, and the men's friendship is over. Isaac realizes Tracy is his true love, and though he's able to reconcile with her, she's still leaving for London for six months; however, she admits she hasn't had another boyfriend and assures him she'll be faithful to him, and he smiles coyly at the camera.]]

* DidNotGetTheGirl: Everyone, in the end.

* ItsPronouncedTropay: Mary drives Ike nuts by pronouncing things differently, like saying "Van Goccch" instead of "Van Gogh".

* {{Letterbox}}: ''Manhattan'' has never been seen in PanAndScan, because Allen had it written in the contract that if shown on TV, the original aspect ratio ''must'' be used. Original TV airings had ''gray'' letterboxes due to technical reasons.

The plot revolves around a group of intellectual, semi-bohemian friends living in Manhattan, every one of whom has his own problems, intertwining with those of the others. Isaac "Ike" Davis (Allen) is a [[AuthorAvatar neurotic, self-ironic]], impulsive, middle-aged aspiring writer, whose wife Jill (Creator/MerylStreep), the mother of his son Willie, divorced him after discovering that [[IncompatibleOrientation she's in fact a lesbian]] and now is writing an autobiographical novel about their former relationship. Tracy (UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominated Mariel Hemingway), his 17-year-old lover, has to deal with her growing love towards Ike and the age difference between her and the majority of Ike's friends. Ike's friend Yale (Creator/MichaelMurphy) dreams of becoming a writer, even though his wife Emily (Anne Byrne) strongly suggests that it's time to settle down and have kids; his life changes even more when he meets Mary (Creator/DianeKeaton), an extroverted, erudite journalist. Mary quickly becomes infatuated, but it is hard for her to say whether the object of her feelings is Ike or Yale. Also in the mix are Mary's ex-boyfriend Jeremiah (Creator/WallaceShawn) and Jill's new partner Connie (Karen Ludwig). First, HilarityEnsues, then, as usual in Allen's works, things become more complicated.

The plot revolves around a couple of intellectual, semi-bohemian friends living in Manhattan, every one of whom has his own problems, intertwining with those of the others. Isaac "Ike" Davis (Allen) is a [[AuthorAvatar neurotic, self-ironic]], impulsive, middle-aged aspiring writer, whose wife Jill (Creator/MerylStreep), the mother of his son Willie, divorced him after discovering that [[IncompatibleOrientation she's in fact a lesbian]] and now is writing an autobiographical novel about their former relationship. Tracy (UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominated Mariel Hemingway), his 17-year-old lover, has to deal with her growing love towards Ike and the age difference between her and the majority of Ike's friends. Ike's friend Yale (Creator/MichaelMurphy) dreams of becoming a writer, even though his wife Emily (Anne Byrne) strongly suggests that it's time to settle down and have kids; his life changes even more when he meets Mary (Creator/DianeKeaton), an extroverted, erudite journalist. Mary quickly becomes infatuated, but it is hard for her to say whether the object of her feelings is Ike or Yale. Also in the mix are Mary's ex-boyfriend Jeremiah (Creator/WallaceShawn) and Jill's new partner Connie (Karen Ludwig). First, HilarityEnsues, then, as usual in Allen's works, things become more complicated.

One of Creator/WoodyAllen's best-known films, the 1979 comedy-drama ''Manhattan'' is almost universally beloved by fans and critics and famously [[CreatorBacklash loathed by the director himself]], to the point of asking Creator/UnitedArtists not to release it.

One of Creator/WoodyAllen's best-known films, the 1979 comedy-drama ''Manhattan'' is almost universally beloved by fans and critics and famously [[CreatorBacklash loathed by the director himself]].

* WritersBlock: The movie begins with a mild case of this, with Isaac unablet o get moving on his book.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/woody_allen_manhattan_1979_still.png]]

->''"An idea for a short story about, um, people in Manhattan who are constantly creating these real, unnecessary, neurotic problems for themselves cos it keeps them from dealing with more unsolvable, terrifying problems about... the universe."''

* JailBait: Ike (42) is in a relationship with Tracy who is only 17. At some point, he says that he really enjoys this relationship as long as the cops do not show up. The film was rated R precisely for this reason; even with the (admittedly few) F bombs sprinkled in the dialogue, this might have been rated PG if not for this trope being a key plot element.

* JailBait: Ike (42) is in a relationship with Tracy who is only 17. At some point, he says that he really enjoys this relationship as long as the cops do not show up.

* {{Letterbox}}: ''Manhattan'' has never been seen in PanAndScan, because Allen had it written in the contract that if shown on TV, the original aspect ratio ''must'' be used. Original TV airings had ''pink'' letterboxes due to technical reasons.

The plot revolves around a couple of intellectual, semi-bohemian friends living in Manhattan, every one of whom has his own problems, intertwining with those of the others. Isaac "Ike" Davis (Allen) is a [[AuthorAvatar neurotic, self-ironic]], impulsive, middle-aged aspiring writer, whose wife Jill (Creator/MerylStreep), the mother of his son Willie, divorced him after discovering that [[IncompatibleOrientation she's in fact a lesbian]] and now is writing an autobiographical novel about their former relationship. Tracy (UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominated Mariel Hemingway), his 17-year-old lover, has to deal with her growing love towards Ike and the age difference between her and the majority of Ike's friends. Ike's friend Yale (Michael Murphy) dreams of becoming a writer, even though his wife Emily (Anne Byrne) strongly suggests that it's time to settle down and have kids; his life changes even more when he meets Mary (Creator/DianeKeaton), an extroverted, erudite journalist. Mary quickly becomes infatuated, but it is hard for her to say whether the object of her feelings is Ike or Yale. Also in the mix are Mary's ex-boyfriend Jeremiah (Creator/WallaceShawn) and Jill's new partner Connie (Karen Ludwig). First, HilarityEnsues, then, as usual in Allen's works, things become more complicated.

* BettyAndVeronicaSwitch: Ike (Archie) has to chose between Tracy and Mary. At first, Tracy seems to be the Veronica. She is only 17 and Ike thinks that she is just a kid and that she will dump him as soon as she meets a boy of her age. Mary seems to be a safer choice, because she is older. Actually, just after starting a relationship with Ike, Mary meets Yale again in secret and soon she dumps Ike to get back with Yale. Ike realizes that Tracy really loved him, so he tries to convince her to resume their relationship. Tracy tells her that she does not have had a new boyfriend in the meanwhile, that she has to go to London for 6 months, but that she will remain faithful to him, so they can resume their relationship when she comes back.

* BettyAndVeronicaSwitch: Ike (Archie) has to chose between Tracy and Mary. At first, Tracy seems to be the Veronica. She is only 17 and Ike thinks that she is just a kid and that she will dump him as soon as she meets a boy of her age. Mary seems to be a safer choice, because she is older. Actually, just after starting a relationship with Ike, Mary meets Yale again in secret and soon she dumps Ike to get back with Yale. Ike realizes that Tracy really loved him, so he try to convince her to resume their relationship. Tracy tells her that she does not have had a new boyfriend in the meanwhile, that she has to go to London for 6 months, but that she will remain faithful to him, so they can resume their relationship when she comes back.

* BettyAndVeronicaSwitch: Ike (Archie) has to chose between Tracy and Mary. At first, Tracy seems to be the Veronica. She is only 17 and Ike thinks that she is just a kid and that she will dump him as soon as she meets a boy of her age. Mary seems to be a safer choice, because she is older. Actually, just after starting a relationship with Ike, Mary meets again Yale in secret and soon she dumps Ike to get back with Yale. Ike realizes that Tracy really loved him, so he try to convince her to resume their relationship. Tracy tells her that she does not have had a new boyfriend in the meanwhile, that she has to go to London for 6 months, but that she will remain faithful to him, so they can resume their relationship when she comes back.

* YourCheatingHeart: Ike's ex-wife, Jill, cheated on him with Connie. Yale cheats on his wife Emily with Mary. Then Ike cheats on Tracy with Mary. Later, Mary cheats on Ike with Yale.

* AuthorAvatar: As usual in Allen's movies.

In many respects it resembles ''Film/AnnieHall'': not only because a female protagonist is played in both films by Creator/DianeKeaton but also because it shows that the most important problems associated with relationships simply cannot be solved once and for ever - all this in a typical Allenian sweet-and-sour, self-ironic mood. However, in ''Manhattan'' the distinction between primary and secondary characters is much more fluent, so the movie is more about the particular situations than persons. One of the important subjects explored is maturity and its relation to the conflict between emotions and reason; however, this being a Woody Allen movie, it is mainly about love, human imperfection and the difficulties which stem from them.

The plot revolves around a couple of intellectual, semi-bohemian friends living in Manhattan, every one of whom has his own problems, intertwining with those of the others. Isaac "Ike" Davis (Allen) is a [[AuthorAvatar neurotic, self-ironic]], impulsive, middle-aged aspiring writer, whose wife Jill (Creator/MerylStreep), the mother of his son Willie, divorced him after discovering that [[IncompatibleOrientation she's in fact a lesbian]] and now is writing an autobiographical novel about their former relationship. Tracy (UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominated Mariel Hemingway), his 17-year-old lover, has to deal with her growing love towards Ike and the age difference between her and the majority of Ike's friends. Ike's friend Yale (Michael Murphy) dreams of becoming a writer, even though his wife Emily (Anne Byrne) strongly suggests that it's time to settle down and have kids; his life changes even more when he meets Mary (Keaton), an extroverted, erudite journalist. Mary quickly becomes infatuated, but it is hard for her to say whether the object of her feelings is Ike or Yale. Also in the mix are Mary's ex-boyfriend Jeremiah (Creator/WallaceShawn) and Jill's new partner Connie (Karen Ludwig). First, HilarityEnsues, then, as usual in Allen's works, things become more complicated.

* BiTheWay: Ike's former wife dumps him for a woman.

* IncompatibleOrientation: Jill towards Isaac. (However, it is suggested that it may also be a case of BiTheWay in connection with SorryImGay.)

* TheCameo: Creator/WallaceShawn as Mary's ex-boyfriend Jeremiah. She's spent all film hyping his intelligence and sexual prowess, and Ike is astonished to meet what he calls "a humunculous".

* NeverLiveItDown: InUniverse, Ike trying to run over Jill's lesbian lover with his car, as well as Jill's eventually tell-all book.

* BettyAndVeronicaSwitch: Ike (Archie) has to chose between Tracy and Mary. At first, Tracy seems to be the Veronica. She is only 17 and Ike thinks that she is just a kid and that she will dump him as soon as she meets a boy of her age. Mary seems to be a safer choice, because she is older. Actually, just after starting a relationship with Ike, Mary meets again Yale in secret and soon she dumps Ike to get back with Yale.

%%* AllWomenArePrudes: Strongly subverted.

* BettyAndVeronicaSwitch: Ike (Archie) has to chose between Tracy and Mary. At first, Tracy seems to be the Veronica. She is only 17 and Ike thinks that she is just a kid and that she will dump him as soon as she meets a boy of her age. Mary seems to be a safer choice, because she is older. Actually, just after starting a relationship with Ike, Mary meets again Yale in secret and soon she dumps Ike to get back with Yale. Ike realizes that Tracy really loved him, so he try to convince her to resume their relationship. Mary tells her that she does not have had a new boyfriend in the meanwhile, that she has to go to London for 6 months, but that she will remain faithful to him, so they can resume their relationship when she comes back.

%%* BittersweetEnding

%%* {{Bookworm}}: Ike, Yale and Mary.

%%* DidNotGetTheGirl: Everyone, in the end.

%%* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Mary, most of the time.

%%* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Jill and Isaac like to engage in this.

%%* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: Ike and Mary have their moments.

%%* VisitByDivorcedDad: Ike and Willie.
%%* WideEyedIdealist: Tracy.