Manhattan (1979)One of cinema’s great opening sequences. Over the stunning city photography of Gordon Willis and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”, we hear Allen as struggling writer Isaac: “Chapter One. He adored New York City. To him it was a metaphor for the decay of contemporary culture. The same lack of individual integrity that caused so many people to take the easy way out was rapidly turning the town of his dreams in... no, it’s gonna be too preachy, I mean, you know, let’s face it, I wanna sell some books here. Chapter One. He was as tough and romantic as the city he loved. Behind his black-rimmed glasses was the coiled sexual power of a jungle cat…”

Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive