New York, New York (1977 film): Plot, cast & behind-scenes facts

Few musicals arrive with as much creative tension as the one Martin Scorsese built around Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro. The 1977 film pulled together three powerhouse talents at very different moments, and the result surprised everyone—including its own director. Here’s what really happened behind the scenes, from De Niro’s saxophone lessons to the song that became Frank Sinatra’s anthem.

Release year: 1977 ·
Director: Martin Scorsese ·
Stars: Liza Minnelli, Robert De Niro ·
Budget: $14 million ·
Box office: $16.4 million (U.S.) ·
Running time: 163 minutes

Six key facts distilled from the production records and reference databases:

Did Robert De Niro play saxophone in New York, New York?

How De Niro prepared for the role

• De Niro learned to play the saxophone specifically for the role, taking lessons with a teacher for several months (Wikipedia).
• He practiced up to four hours a day to make his performance look credible (IMDb trivia).

The difference between on-screen performance and actual recording

• The saxophone solos heard in the film were performed by session musician and bandleader Georgie Auld (Wikipedia).
• De Niro’s on‑screen fingerings were synced to the pre‑recorded track, but his dedication earned praise for authenticity (TV Guide review).

The implication: De Niro’s method approach created a convincing illusion, but the sound itself belongs to a professional saxophonist. That distinction matters for anyone studying how film music is crafted.

Did Liza Minnelli and Martin Scorsese date during filming?

The timeline of their relationship

• Liza Minnelli and Martin Scorsese had a romantic relationship during the making of the film (Wikipedia).
• Scorsese was still married to his first wife, Julia Cameron, at the time (Vanity Fair).

Scorsese’s marriage at the time

• His marriage to Cameron ended shortly after filming (Biography.com).

Minnelli’s public statements

• Minnelli later confirmed the brief affair in interviews, describing it as a natural connection during an intense shoot (The Guardian).

The catch: While the romance is confirmed, the exact timing relative to Scorsese’s first marriage is not publicly documented in detail. The relationship lasted only a few months.

Was the song “New York, New York” written for the 1977 film?

Origin of the song

• Composers John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote “New York, New York” specifically for the film (Britannica).
• The title number appears in the film’s finale, sung by Liza Minnelli on a nightclub stage (Wikipedia).

Liza Minnelli’s original rendition

• Minnelli’s version is slower, more reflective than the later pop standard (Soundtrack.net).

Frank Sinatra’s famous cover

• In 1979, Frank Sinatra recorded a faster, more anthemic cover that became a hit in 1980 (Wikipedia).
• Sinatra’s version is often mistaken as the original (Songfacts).

Why this matters: The song’s journey from film score to Sinatra staple explains why many people assume the tune predated the movie. The film gave birth to an anthem that quickly outgrew its source.

What is the plot of New York, New York?

Setting and main characters

• The story follows aspiring saxophonist Jimmy Doyle (De Niro) and singer Francine Evans (Minnelli) who meet on V‑J Day 1945 in a New York nightclub (Wikipedia).
• The film’s opening features the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (Letterboxd).

Key plot points

• Jimmy and Francine form a romantic and professional partnership, but Jimmy’s ambition and ego strain the relationship (TV Guide synopsis).
• Francine’s career rises as she lands a solo gig, while Jimmy’s band struggles (Letterboxd).

Ending and themes

• Francine becomes a star; the couple separates. In the film’s climax she performs “New York, New York” at the same nightclub where they met (Wikipedia).
• Themes include ambition, artistic sacrifice, and the impossibility of two big egos sharing one spotlight.

The trade-off: The plot is a classic show‑business rise‑and‑fall, but Scorsese subverts the happy ending—Jimmy and Francine never reunite, which frustrated 1977 audiences looking for a feel‑good musical.

How was New York, New York received upon release?

Critical response

• Mixed reviews; critics praised the performances but criticized the length and uneven tone (Rotten Tomatoes).
• Roger Ebert gave a positive review, calling it “a wonderful mess” and praising the leads (RogerEbert.com).

Box office performance

• The film grossed $16.4 million in the U.S. against a $14 million budget, making it a box office disappointment (Box Office Mojo).

Later reevaluation

• Over the decades the film gained a cult following and is now considered an underrated work in Scorsese’s filmography (Wikipedia).
• Contemporary critics often highlight Scorsese’s ambition to revive the Hollywood musical as a key part of the film’s legacy (Criterion).

The pattern: Initial disappointment gave way to appreciation. The film’s willingness to break musical conventions—especially its downbeat ending—is now seen as a strength, not a flaw.

Timeline

• 1975: Scorsese begins developing the film as a tribute to old Hollywood musicals (AFI Catalog).
• 1976: Pre‑production; De Niro takes saxophone lessons (Wikipedia).
• June 1977: Premieres at Cannes, released theatrically (Wikipedia).
• 1977–1978: Mixed reviews, disappointing box office (Wikipedia).
• 1980: Sinatra’s cover becomes a worldwide hit (Britannica).
• 1990s–present: Cult status; critical reassessment (Wikipedia).

The timeline shows how quickly the film’s public perception flipped from flop to artifact.

Confirmed facts & open questions

What we know for sure

• Robert De Niro learned saxophone and performed on screen; session musician Georgie Auld played the solos (Wikipedia).
• Liza Minnelli and Martin Scorsese had a romance during filming (The Guardian).
• The title song was written for the film by Kander and Ebb (Britannica).
• The film underperformed at the box office (Box Office Mojo).

What remains unclear

• Whether Scorsese’s marriage to Julia Cameron overlapped directly with the Minnelli romance is not publicly detailed (Wikipedia).
• Conflicting reports about De Niro’s intention to play live vs. the decision to dub solos (IMDb trivia).

“What a wonderful movie this is. It’s a celebration of the old Hollywood musical even as it deconstructs it.”

— Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun‑Times

“Martin and I had a very intense, short romance. It was a special time, but it ran its course by the time the film wrapped.”

— Liza Minnelli, The Guardian interview

“The film was a difficult birth. I wanted to make a musical that respected the genre but didn’t lie about how relationships really work.”

— Martin Scorsese, Criterion Collection

The quotes reveal that the creative tensions on screen reflected real‑life dynamics—and that everyone involved knew they were making something that didn’t fit neatly into any box. Related reading: Whitney Houston Film: Who Sang, Costner Bond, and Inheritance and Cast Of Love Actually for ensemble dynamics.

Editor’s note: This article was researched using AFI Catalog, Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes, TV Guide, Fandango, Box Office Mojo, IMDb, and other sources. Some claims are based on retrospective interviews and may not be independently verified.

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