Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York used specific filming locations to help bring the historical drama to life. Set in the Five Points section of Lower Manhattan in the 1860s, Gangs of New York gave audiences a New York City history lesson through the lens of Scorsese’s artistic vision. Scorsese drew inspiration from the 1927 book of the same name and depicted the harsh reality for Irish immigrants embroiled in political, social, and religious conflict. The result was one of the best immigrant movies of all time and was rewarded with Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director.
However, production wasn’t without its challenges. That included the set design and filming locations used over the three years it took to complete Gangs of New York. Scorsese clashed with producer Harvey Weinstein as the director pushed to get every last detail to be accurate and authentic to the era of New York City. Yet despite Scorsese’s dedication to authenticity, the primary filming location for Gangs of New York wasn’t the Big Apple.
Rome, Italy
Scorsese Had To Take Production Abroad To Create 19th-Century New York City
The real Five Points slum depicted in Gangs of New York stood for 70 years. It was densely populated and notorious for the type of crime and violence showcased in the film. However, decades of development transformed the area into what is now home to several federal, state, and municipal buildings collectively known as the Civic Center. While Martin Scorses is known for New York movies, there was no chance of the director filming in the actual location while achieving any sort of historical accuracy.
Instead, the primary filming location for Gangs of New York was the Cinecittà Studio in Rome, Italy. Scorsese collaborated with production designer Dante Ferretti to recreate the Five Points and several other New York City locations. More than a mile-long stretch of buildings was constructed to replicate 19th-century New York. That included a five-block stretch of Lower Manhattan featuring the Five Points. The studio also housed two full-size sailing ships, a church, bar, theater, casino, and a replica of Tammany Hall used in Gangs of New York.
While the Roman locations were used to help depict the impoverished and violent area of the city, it was also used to showcase the more affluent side of New York City at the time which is a key aspect of the themes of the movie. When Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Jenny (Cameron Diaz) are in the lavish country estates, the mansion seen is the Insтιтute Marymount Nomentana in Rome. Likewise, the tree-lined park the two characters stroll through is Villa Borghese Park.
New York City
The Movie Didn’t Film Any Full Scenes In New York
Ironically, only two days of filming for Gangs of New York actually took place in New York City. When production relocated to New York, it was filmed at Silvercup Studio in Long Island City. It’s the same studio where other iconic TV series and movies set in New York were filmed, including Mad Men, Sєx and the City, and Gossip Girl. However, Gangs of New York didn’t need to stay there for long.
No part of principal pH๏τography took place in New York City. Months after Gangs of New York finished filming in Italy, reshoots were scheduled to clarify the battle scene at the end of the movie. As one of Martin Scorsese’s best movie climaxes, it was essential to get it right. American Cinematographer reported the scene was initially sH๏τ over a year prior to the reshoot.
In another example of how Gangs of New York paid attention to the details, the sets were seamlessly blended together.
Yet the crew in New York had to recreate the daylight scene filled with grenade smoke on a soundstage, posing several challenges. In another example of how Gangs of New York paid attention to the details, the sets were seamlessly blended together.
Filming Caused All Sorts Of Problems On Set
Martin Scorsese Clashed With Producer Harvey Weinstein
By the time Gangs of New York went into production, Martin Scorsese was already revered as one of the greatest filmmakers ever, thanks to masterpieces like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas. However, even for him, this was an undertaking that proved daunting and chaotic. In fact, Scorsese originally intended to make the film back in the 1980s, but his vision for reconstructing elements of old New York City simply proved too expensive for the time. However, 20 years later, that vision wasn’t much easier to achieve.
Production costs began to grow with the movie reportedly increasing its budget by 25%, taking it over $100 million. With the increased budget, tensions continued to grow between Scorsese and the movie’s now-disgraced producer, Harvey Weinstein. Independent’s look back on Gangs of New York‘s troubled production mentions Weinstein coming to the set to push Scorsese to work fast as well as making demands to improve the movie’s box office potential, including getting rid of the historically accurate gang name of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Rabbits, giving Daniel Day-Lewis a costume that looked better on the poster, and cutting the runtime.
In the end, Gangs of New York earned just shy of $200 million worldwide and earned strong critical acclaim. Despite the contentious relationship, Scorsese reteamed with Weinstein on his next movie with Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator.
Source: American Cinematographer
