There is in the cinema, but not on the map: the amazing mystery of New York lanes

In films and TV series, New York is often shown as not the safest city. Sometimes movie heroes turn into one of the dark alleys, where trouble awaits them. It is there that robberies, fights and murders constantly take place, according to the directors. But is it really so? The author of the blog Levik on the site tried to figure it out. LiveJournal.

“We all know what they look like: poor lighting, debris, stairs everywhere, steam coming from somewhere. Such places do not bode well for anything good, and every time we wonder why the main characters generally turn into them, - the author writes. - It would seem that everything is clear with the side streets in New York. And only one small detail breaks this ominous picture: there are no alleys in New York. "

Here are some interesting facts about how New York works, and where all this footage about bandits and their crimes was actually filmed.

1. There are no lanes in New York

Of course, you have seen hundreds of times how in a movie about New York criminals drive through the alleys in cars, or how the police find corpses there, or how a girl runs away from a maniac and turns into one of these alleys.

“All this is really filmed here in New York, and not among some props in California,” the author writes. “However, if you look at a satellite map of Manhattan, it becomes obvious: there are no lanes in New York. We have avenues and streets that form a strict grid of long rectangular blocks. "

2. The master plan is to blame

This is due to the master plan of Manhattan, approved in 1811. This plan outlined the streets of the future city in advance.

“Then New York occupied only the southernmost tip of Manhattan, but it was clear that it would grow and expand northward. And the authorities developed a master plan that prescribed a neat and easily understandable development scheme. That is why all the confusion remained only in the south, below Houston Street, - the author explained. - According to the plan, numbered streets in the city were located so often that the authorities did not see any need for lanes. The owners, however, played into the hands of the owners, since most of their land could be used for building. "

3. Waste problem

The absence of lanes is, one might say, a feature of New York.

In Montreal, for example, gaps are left between buildings for back doors, debris, etc. In Vancouver, there are entire technical lanes with electric wires running along them. They have entrances to underground garages, and garbage is also displayed here.

“But you never know where there are side streets? In Chicago, Boston, Toronto, added the author. - But in New York, there are no lanes, which is why all tourists are horrified that heaps of garbage bags are being displayed on our sidewalks. There is nowhere else to go! "

4. Fake trash in the movies

The rubbish you see on your TV screens when you watch movies about New York is not real.

“Especially for the cinema, fake Hollywood rubbish is brought here, where, for example, all stickers on bottles are replaced with non-existent brands,” the author noted. - It costs a pretty penny too!

5. The problem of finding movie locations

Movies are often shot in New York. You need to find different locations for different films. Scouts are looking for such locations, in English location scout.

“When filmmakers come to town to shoot a movie, they usually have a list of locations to shoot. Fashionable cafe. Hospital. Metro station. And, for films of a certain genre, almost always in this list there will be a location from the category “dark dangerous lane,” the author writes. - And so, when such a director turns to his New York scout and asks to find such a place, the first thing he hears in response is the explanation that there are no lanes in New York. But the director is not a fool either. He watched many films made in New York. He saw the series "Gotham", where the parents of the protagonist were filled up in just such an alley as he wanted. He knows very well that in this city, wherever you turn, there will be a dark alley, from which an ominous atmosphere flows. "

Nick Carr, who is looking for locations for filming in New York, explained: “If you tell the director that there are no lanes in New York, he will look at you as if you have two heads. And he will decide that you just do not know how to do your job. "

6. And yet: where do they get movie lanes

In situations like the one described above, scouts have to admit that New York City does have lanes. True, this is the greatest rarity, completely uncharacteristic for the city.

There are about five lanes in New York City.

“All of them are located south of Canal Street, in the oldest part of the metropolis, which existed before the master plan appeared. You can literally count them on your fingers, ”the author notes.

7. Toll lanes

One of the lanes you see in New York movies is Franklin Place. The problem is that it is privately owned.

“The owners willingly allow filmmakers to shoot here, but this pleasure comes at a price. Renting this alley costs from 5 thousand to 10 thousand dollars per shooting day. Many film projects do not want to spend that kind of money, ”said the author.

On the subject: 5 most cinema places in New York: what is special about them

There are several other "paid" lanes in New York. But the cost of renting them is no cheaper.

8. Almost free option

For those on a limited shooting budget, there is a better option - Staple Street in Manhattan. As this is an urban property, the filming price here is capped at a $ 300 fee.

“There is a beautiful overground passage between buildings. However, this alley is often too polished for filmmakers. Its clean brick walls create an overly favorable texture for the crime scenes that should take place in the New York side streets, ”the author explained.

9. Perfect lane

Due to the fact that renting some lanes is too expensive, and other locations are not suitable, there is only one option. This alley is called Cortlandt Alley.

“Almost all filmmakers come here, - said the author. “Over the years, Cortland has served as a" dark alley "in so many films that it has become a reference location for this type. All filmmakers, when they imagine a dangerous corner of the city, involuntarily see a picture of this particular alley, because they have already seen it dozens of times in other movies. "

In the video below you can see what films were made there.

Just do not confuse the English word alley with the Russian word "alley", these are different things. "Alley is exactly the alley, the place where the back passages of buildings go," the author specified.

When Hollywood filmmakers are shown photographs of Cortland Lane, they exclaim, “Yes! This is exactly what we need! And you said there were no lanes! "

10. The image of a nonexistent New York

Every time filmmakers decide to shoot a crime scene in Cortland Lane, they further reinforce this image of virtually nonexistent New York into the minds of viewers from around the world.

“According to the movies, we live in a city of dangerous alleys. In fact, almost everything we've seen in the movies is one unfortunate two-block road. Here it is, pure Hollywood deception! " - summed up the author.