Slaves of New York * (1989, Bernadette Peters, Madeleine Potter, Adam Colman Howard, Chris Sarandon, Mary Beth Hurt) – Classic Movie Review 11,979

Bernadette Peters.

Director James Ivory’s 1989 American comedy-drama Merchant Ivory Productions film Slaves of New York is a disappointing version of Tama Janowitz’s stories of life and love in New York City’s struggling chic art set.

Slaves of New York is miscast, too long (125 minutes) and lacking in passion, humour or substance, but with a strong definite flavour of the Big Apple in mid-1980s.

Slaves of New York is a rare misfire from Ivory, misusing Broadway’s great musical comedy star Bernadette Peters as aspiring hat designer, Eleanor, a woman treated with mean indifference by a younger lover, the unknown artist Stash (Adam Colman Howard).

Eleanor is living with Stash, who is waiting for his big break, while she is a ‘slave’, once attracted to him because she thought he was dangerous, and now staying with him because she has nowhere else to live. But then clothing designer Wilfredo (Steve Buscemi) discovers her hat designs and uses them in a fashion show, so she gets her break and can leave Stash.

Also in the cast are Chris Sarandon, Mary Beth Hurt, Nick Corri, Charles McCaughan, Jonas Abry, Mercedes Ruehl, Steve Buscemi, Anthony LaPaglia and Betty Comden.

It is written by Tama Janowitz, shot by Tony Pierce-Roberts, produced by Ismail Merchant and Gary Hendler and scored by Richard Robbins.

The cast are Bernadette Peters as Eleanor, Chris Sarandon as Victor Okrent, Mary Beth Hurt as Ginger Booth, Madeleine Potter as Daria, Adam Coleman Howard as Stash, Nick Corri as Marley, Charles McCaughan as Sherman, John Harkins as Chuck Dade Dolger, Mercedes Ruehl as Samantha, Joe Leeway as Jonny Jalouse, Anna Katarina as Mooshka, Bruce Peter Young as Mikell, Michael Schoeffling as Jan, Jonas Abry as Mickey, and Steve Buscemi as Wilfredo.

Ismail Merchant, lyricist Betty Comden and Adam Green, son of her writing partner Adolph Green, and Tony Award-winning actress Tammy Grimes appear in cameos in party scenes. The real-life New York City graffiti artist Stash, a friend of Janowitz, can also be seen in the party scenes.

It was shot in 10 weeks in New York City, in the Lower East Side, a downtown gallery and a club, starting on 4 April 1988.

The fashion show has costumes designed by Stephen Sprouse.

A drag act performs The Supremes’ song ‘Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart’ while making their way down a street in full evening gowns. The theme song ‘Girlfriend’ is by Boy George.

It earned only $463,972, despite the modest budget of $5 million, so there was only one read-through before shooting.

James Ivory chose Bernadette Peters because: ‘We wanted someone unusual and different but also ingenuous and not too knowing.’

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,979

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