Manhattan (film) Manhattan (film) Manhattan is a 1979 American romantic comedy film directed by Woody Allen and produced by Charles H. Joffe. The screenplay was written by Allen and Marshall Brickman. Allen co-stars as a twice-divorced 42-year-old comedy writer who dates a 17-year-old girl (Mariel Hemingway) but falls in love with his best friend's (Michael Murphy) mistress (Diane Keaton). Meryl Streep and Anne Byrne also star. "Manhattan" was filmed in black-and-white and 2.35:1 widescreen. The film features music composed by George Gershwin, including "Rhapsody in Blue", which inspired the idea behind the film. Allen described the film as a combination of his
Woody Allen years, Allen wanted to make a film about the origins of jazz in New Orleans. The film, tentatively titled "American Blues", would follow the vastly different careers of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet. Allen stated that the film would cost between $80 and $100 million and is therefore unlikely to be made. Allen has been married three times: to Harlene Rosen (m. 1956–1959), Louise Lasser, (m. 1966–1970) and Soon-Yi Previn (m. 1997–present). He had a 12-year relationship with actress Mia Farrow and relationships with Stacey Nelkin and Diane Keaton. Allen married 17-year-old Harlene Rosen when he was 20 in 1956;